by Summary for 24th March
For those waking up in the UK, here are the main points from Boris Johnson's speech last night:
People in the UK have to stay at home, except for: shopping for basic needs; exercising a maximum of once a day; travelling to and from work which cannot be done at home; any medical need
Non-essential shops and public places must close - this does not include parks, but does include playgrounds and other "communal spaces" within them
All public gatherings of two or more people are banned - except when essential for work, or when those people live together (eg a family with children going to the shop)
The government's full list of restrictions is available here.
The planemaker said it will shut facilities across Seattle’s Puget Sound region for 14 days from Wednesday.
During that time it will carry out a deep clean of its buildings and equipment.
Washington is one of the US states hit hardest by the outbreak.
Senegalese President Macky Sall said the state of emergency would start on Tuesday midnight, accompanied by a curfew from 8:00pm to 6:00am local time (20:00GMT to 06:00GMT).
The military and police have been ordered to execute the measures.
The announcement was made in an address to the nation on Tuesday in which Mr Sall acknowledged that the country was struggling to contain the spread of the virus.
Senegal has 79 confirmed cases of Covid-19, the respiratory illness caused by coronavirus, including eight people who have recovered.
In Ivory Coast, President Alassane Ouattara said the government would introduce gradual confinement measures and a curfew from 9:00pm to 5:00am local time (21:00GMT to 09:00GMT) from Tuesday.
In the last week we’ve heard Wuhan medics warning the UK and others that they need to do more to protect frontline health workers, citing the mistakes they made early on when some treated patients without wearing proper protective clothing.
But there’s also been reporting in state media of the reported death toll in Italy surpassing that in China. This has been combined with some commentary from prominent media figures that has appeared distasteful, almost triumphalist.
At the same time there is a panic about the threat of a second wave from imported cases; travellers arriving from abroad. This has fuelled the view - right or wrong - that some other countries aren’t taking the threat seriously because they aren’t doing what China did. (Almost all the cases in Beijing that have been made public are of Chinese nationals returning home).
Meanwhile, well away from senior leaders, there are some high profile diplomatic figures using international-facing social media to spread theories that the US may have weaponised and dumped the virus in China. Or that Italy had cases that may have been Covid-19 earlier than China. China is sowing seeds of doubt and questioning assumed truths as it looks to repair its reputation, already.
Other parts of Hubei province, where Wuhan is the capital, will lift travel curbs on 25 March, said China Daily.
I write this post from an apartment block overlooking an eerily quiet Metro Manila.
The only thing that breaks the silence of this city under lockdown is the wail of ambulance sirens.
Today the Philippine Department of Health (DoH) say the country’s total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases stands at 501, with 33 recorded deaths and 19 recoveries.
But according to the DoH’s Covid-19 tracker, in this country of 100+ million, to date only 1,622 tests have been completed.
Compare that to South Korea, with a population roughly half the size of the Philippines.
Health workers there have conducted around 350,000 tests and have recorded just over 9,000 cases and 120 deaths.
That’s led health experts here to warn that the likely total of Covid-19 cases is the Philippines is likely to be far higher.
The DoH say that with donations of test kits from abroad and more testing centres now operational, it will have an average testing capacity of 1,000 cases a day.
Last night the Philippine Congress granted President Rodrigo Duterte special powers to direct operations at private hospitals and redirect government budget funds to tackle the public health emergency.
The country’s main island of Luzon is already under "enhanced quarantine measures" which will enforced by the police and army until 12 April.
Authorities have extended the deadline for domestic travel, so people needing to take domestic flights, trains and ferries will now be able to do so until midnight on Friday.
The government had originally set the deadline as midnight on Wednesday for non-essential workers.
Some Kiwis had originally expressed fears that they wouldn't be able to get home by the original cut-off date.
"We are 900km away from home - 48 hours is not enough time to get back home when you are towing a caravan," one family told Newshub.
But which businesses can stay open?
Read a full list from the government here
A total of 114 people have died, an increase of 28 from the total published on Monday.
They'll also be able to fine people who don't follow the rules and be able to disperse gatherings (public meetings of more than two people are banned)
Home Secretary Priti Patel said the next few weeks would be "testing" for police but that she would make sure they had the resources "they need to keep themselves and the public safe"
We've been by told by the British High Commission that Qantas flights from Perth to London will continue until Friday.
Qatar Airways is also operating - although appears only to have business class seats available, well out of the reach of many of the backpackers we’ve met here.
Ash and Harry, pictured above, are among the many wondering what to do next. Their work has gone and they are living in a hostel.
They say they bought a ticket home with Etihad, but that flight has been cancelled. They've been given credit for a future flight - not a refund - and so they have no way to buy an alternative ticket, even if one were available.
The slowdown in manufacturing and services raises the risk of a sharp downturn in the world’s third-largest economy as the coronavirus pandemic paralyses business and consumer activity.
“If the outbreak were to accelerate, the economic damage could far exceed what we’ve seen so far, particularly if the Olympic Games are postponed,” said Joe Hayes, economist at IHS Markit, which compiles the survey.
The Japanese government is under increasing pressure to roll out stimulus measures after figures showed the economy shrank the most since 2014 in the final quarter of last year as it struggled to overcome a rise in its sales tax.
The paper says US government agencies are also thought to be considering ordering airlines to stop running flights.
The industry has suffered a huge hit from the coronavirus pandemic, with people around the world either choosing not to travel abroad, or being ordered not to by their respective governments.
About 80 million US residents in states such as California, New York and Washington are already subjected to mandatory stay-at-home orders.
And aircraft firm Boeing said earlier that it was suspending operations at its plant near Seattle.
The country's education minister said the exams - initially set to be held at the end of the month - carried "more risks than benefits" for students.
ndonesia is currently urging people to practice social distancing, as the death toll there reaches 49 - the highest in South East Asia.
There are 579 confirmed cases nationwide.
Severely ill patients from France's Alsace region are being treated in nearby cities in neighbouring Switzerland and Germany where hospitals still have capacity.
Politicians helping to co-ordinate the transfers have praised the co-operation as an example of European solidarity, while others are warning that the excess capacity might be short-lived as every country in the region expects its medical system to be overwhelmed soon by patients needing care.
On Wednesday, a small group of coronavirus patients were flown from Italy to the German state of Saxony to be treated there. Officials said the hospitals could help as long as they have spare capacity and the treatment of Italian patients might also help medical staff to learn how better to deal with the new illness.
Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said the one-month state of emergency would come into effect on Thursday.
This move will give the government additional enforcement powers.
It's still not clear what these could be. Thailand says they'll will be announced later.
It comes after the country reported 106 new coronavirus cases and three more deaths. The overall number of confirmed cases now stands at 827, with four deaths.
The news rules say all shops selling non-essential goods must close immediately . Retailer Sports Direct initially said it would remain open but has now changed course and will close its stores for now.
Other businesses - such as the construction industry - are unclear if the rules apply to them.
Graham Watts, the chief executive of the Construction Industry Council, tweeted on Monday night: “Officials are working to secure much needed clarity about the position of construction sites."
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has called on the government to clarify which workplaces should close.
Without that, workers fear they may be asked to turn up, despite the lockdown.
Speaking on Radio 4's Today programme, he said:
But it’s unclear how the rules can be made to work.
The first hurdle is to get them onto the statute book. Although the prime minister said the restrictions on travel and gatherings would come into effect immediately, police don’t yet have the powers to enforce them and have yet to be given official guidance.
The second issue, assuming legal regulations are approved later this week, is the practical difficulty of getting groups to disperse, and accurately identifying people who shouldn’t be on the streets, without losing public goodwill and sparking disorder.
When efforts to persuade those who don’t comply have failed, officers will be able to issue fines, with prosecutions likely to be a last resort.
But at a time when police resources are stretched, and officer numbers increasingly depleted through illness and self-isolation, forces will be hoping communities do the right thing without the need for police intervention.
UK PM Boris Johnson has ordered people to leave their homes only for "very limited purposes". Among the restrictions he announced was that of travelling to and from work where "absolutely necessary".
London Mayor Sadiq Khan also urged workers to stay at home and said public transport should only be used by key workers, otherwise "people will die".
Some passengers have said a reduced service means trains are busier.
For the first time, UK mobile networks send out a government message with a link to more information.
Read more
It follows similar moves in the Netherlands and South Korea, where governments can send such alerts directly.
In the UK, the government has had to work with the operators to get the messages sent because an emergency alert system, trialled seven years ago, was never put into practice, the Guardian newspaper reports. .
If it had been, the government could have bypassed the operators and sent messages directly to phone users, as has happened in other countries.
Hollie, who has been stuck on the island for a week, says that as an NHS auxiliary nurse she is desperate to return to the UK so she can help “overworked” colleagues treating Covid-19 patients at home.
On 17 March all domestic flights to and from the capital Manila were cancelled. Since then airlines have been operating limited “sweeper flights” to pick up stranded tourists.
The British Embassy says it is aware of about 170 Britons in the Philippines who are currently adversely affected by travel restrictions ordered by the government.
Consular staff at the embassy say they are “working around the clock” with the authorities and airlines to try to keep routes open.
NHS staff have previously told the BBC there is a dangerous lack of PPE available for medics.
One doctor said it made them feel like "cannon fodder" , while another said the masks, aprons and short gloves that constitute PPE in the UK are short of World Health Organization (WHO) standards . The WHO recommends medics wear a full gown and visor.
The chair of the Doctor's Association UK also told the BBC the lack of adequate PPE made NHS workers feel like "lambs to the slaughter" .
Former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt told the government to "sort this out".
An International Olympic Committee (IOC) spokesperson said: “The IOC is discussing with the Japanese government, the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee and the IOC Executive Board about the scenario planning including the postponement of the Games and will communicate in due course.”
On Monday night, the United States Olympic Committee said it was "more clear than ever" the Games are on "a path to postponement".
The Games are scheduled to start on 24 July.
Infections have been recorded in some 190 countries, with more than 300,000 confirmed cases outside China, according to the latest figures from Johns Hopkins University .
The true figure for the number of people with coronavirus is thought to be much higher as many of those with milder symptoms have not been tested.
See charts and maps explaining the spread of the virus here in our visual guide to the pandemic
The company also says it has offered its aircraft to all EU governments for rescue flights and the essential movement of medicines, personal protective equipment (PPE) and food supplies.
"As Europe's borders become congested or closed, it is vital Ryanair plays its part to keep vital medicines and food supplies moving," says chief executive Michael O'Leary.
Ryanair also says passengers who have had a flight cancelled because of the measures will receive an email outlining their options in the "next week or two".
Amateur golfers had previously been able to continue playing as long as they adhered to guidance on social distancing.
Scottish Golf has asked golfers in Scotland to “refrain from golfing until further notice”.
Golf clubs in the Republic of Ireland are awaiting guidance from the Irish government.
In an update published yesterday, the Lord Chief Justice said that hearings should either be paused or held remotely.
"We have put in place arrangements to use telephone, video and other technology to continue as many hearings as possible remotely," he said , adding that jury trials - which cannot be conducted remotely - should be postponed.
Some Circuit (regional) Leaders have also urged barristers in their circuits not to attend any hearings in person.
In this spirit, the Supreme Court has been holding a hearing over a video conferencing app - but this hasn't been without it's hiccups.
The BBC's Home Affairs correspondent Dominic Casciani says one Justice "had video, but no voice", while another "had clearer audio but video kept stopping".
New inventions designed to fight the pandemic
Welsh inventors have been among those working on new designs to try to help prevent the spread of the virus.
Mass production has begun of a snood-type mask, which designers say can kill this coronavirus - potentially helping protect frontline workers and the vulnerable.
The company behind it hopes to make as many as a million-a-week and plans to reserve part of that stock for the NHS.
"We have been working on the anti-viral coating since 2011 but it's only in the last five weeks that we have developed the snood in response to the current pandemic," said Anna Roberts, of Virustatic Shield.
Meanwhile, a new ventilator, which took just three days to design, has already successfully treated a Covid-19 patient- and has been backed by the Welsh Government.
Read more about the inventions designed to help tackle the pandemic here .
The capital Madrid continues to be the epicentre of Spain's pandemic, with 1,535 deaths. The north-east region of Catalonia is now also becoming a big cause for concern with 1,939 cases in the past day, higher than Madrid.
Health emergency chief Fernando Simón has stressed that almost 3,800 people have now recovered from the virus but 2,636 remain in intensive care.
"This is a tough week and we are all hoping to see if we are managing to reach the peak and start going down, with these very aggressive measures that have been imposed on Spain".
Attention has also turned to the alarming rate of infection among health professionals. Of the 39,763 infected people around the country, 5,400 are healthcare staff - meaning they make up nearly 14% of those with the disease.
The government has asked MPs to extend the state of alert to 11 April.
Abe said he has agreed the delay with International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach following talks earlier on Tuesday.
BBC sports editor Dan Roan says the IOC's Executive Board will approve the delay this afternoon.
Father Giuseppe Berardelli, 72, died in a hospital in Lovere, Bergamo - one of Italy's worst-hit cities.
The hospital said Father Berardelli's parishioners from the town of Casnigo had brought him a respirator, but he refused to use it, choosing instead to give it away.
Residents of Casnigo are reported to have applauded from their windows and balconies as his coffin was taken for burial. There was no funeral.
Read more about this story here .
So far, the UK government has said it will pay the wages of employees unable to work due to the pandemic. But that does not include the self-employed.
Speaking in the Commons a few moments ago, Chancellor Rishi Sunak said there were "genuine practical and principle reasons" to roll out a similar scheme for freelancers.
"Of course there have been people whose incomes have been impacted by what is happening," he said.
"But there are also millions of people who are self-employed whose incomes may not have been impacted and indeed might be increasing.
"The ability for the government to distinguish between those people based on tax returns that are over a year and a half out of date, poses some very significant challenges in terms of fairness and affordability."
He added that the Treasury had been looking into measures in "intense detail" over the past week, but would not commit to a date when more help would be made available.
- The UK is waking up to new, stricter measures announced by PM Boris Johnson
- Donald Trump insists the US will "soon be open for business", as more states shut down
- China announces 78 new cases - 74 of them from abroad
- Wuhan - the city where the virus emerged - is to partially lift its lockdown next month
- The most populous country without a case until now - Myanmar - announces two cases
- Senegal and Ivory Coast declare states of emergency
- Hundreds of UK citizens stranded in New Zealand come together to ask for help
- A passenger on a cruise ship which docked in Sydney last Thursday has died
For those waking up in the UK, here are the main points from Boris Johnson's speech last night:
People in the UK have to stay at home, except for: shopping for basic needs; exercising a maximum of once a day; travelling to and from work which cannot be done at home; any medical need
Non-essential shops and public places must close - this does not include parks, but does include playgrounds and other "communal spaces" within them
All public gatherings of two or more people are banned - except when essential for work, or when those people live together (eg a family with children going to the shop)
The government's full list of restrictions is available here.
What's happening in the rest of the world
- China announces 78 new cases - 74 of them from abroad
- Talks between Japanese PM and the International Olympic Committee expected this evening
- The most populous country without a case until now - Myanmar - announces two cases
- Hundreds of UK citizens stranded in New Zealand come together to ask for help
- No deal yet on US $2 trillion stimulus package
- A passenger on a cruise ship which docked in Sydney last Thursday has died
Boeing shuts down in Seattle
Boeing is temporarily halting production at its Washington state jetliner factory to help fight the spread of the coronavirus.The planemaker said it will shut facilities across Seattle’s Puget Sound region for 14 days from Wednesday.
During that time it will carry out a deep clean of its buildings and equipment.
Washington is one of the US states hit hardest by the outbreak.
Senegal and Ivory Coast declare emergency
Senegal and Ivory Coast have declared states of emergency over the outbreak of the coronavirus.Senegalese President Macky Sall said the state of emergency would start on Tuesday midnight, accompanied by a curfew from 8:00pm to 6:00am local time (20:00GMT to 06:00GMT).
The military and police have been ordered to execute the measures.
The announcement was made in an address to the nation on Tuesday in which Mr Sall acknowledged that the country was struggling to contain the spread of the virus.
Senegal has 79 confirmed cases of Covid-19, the respiratory illness caused by coronavirus, including eight people who have recovered.
In Ivory Coast, President Alassane Ouattara said the government would introduce gradual confinement measures and a curfew from 9:00pm to 5:00am local time (21:00GMT to 09:00GMT) from Tuesday.
China looks to repair its reputation
China considers itself to be - very nearly - a "post corona" country.In the last week we’ve heard Wuhan medics warning the UK and others that they need to do more to protect frontline health workers, citing the mistakes they made early on when some treated patients without wearing proper protective clothing.
But there’s also been reporting in state media of the reported death toll in Italy surpassing that in China. This has been combined with some commentary from prominent media figures that has appeared distasteful, almost triumphalist.
At the same time there is a panic about the threat of a second wave from imported cases; travellers arriving from abroad. This has fuelled the view - right or wrong - that some other countries aren’t taking the threat seriously because they aren’t doing what China did. (Almost all the cases in Beijing that have been made public are of Chinese nationals returning home).
Meanwhile, well away from senior leaders, there are some high profile diplomatic figures using international-facing social media to spread theories that the US may have weaponised and dumped the virus in China. Or that Italy had cases that may have been Covid-19 earlier than China. China is sowing seeds of doubt and questioning assumed truths as it looks to repair its reputation, already.
Wuhan to lift lockdown in April
After more than two months, the lockdown in Wuhan - the city where the virus emerged - will be lifted on 8 April, says state media.Other parts of Hubei province, where Wuhan is the capital, will lift travel curbs on 25 March, said China Daily.
Philippines: Few tests but many infections?
Howard Johnson - Philippines Correspondent, BBC NewsI write this post from an apartment block overlooking an eerily quiet Metro Manila.
The only thing that breaks the silence of this city under lockdown is the wail of ambulance sirens.
Today the Philippine Department of Health (DoH) say the country’s total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases stands at 501, with 33 recorded deaths and 19 recoveries.
But according to the DoH’s Covid-19 tracker, in this country of 100+ million, to date only 1,622 tests have been completed.
Compare that to South Korea, with a population roughly half the size of the Philippines.
Health workers there have conducted around 350,000 tests and have recorded just over 9,000 cases and 120 deaths.
That’s led health experts here to warn that the likely total of Covid-19 cases is the Philippines is likely to be far higher.
The DoH say that with donations of test kits from abroad and more testing centres now operational, it will have an average testing capacity of 1,000 cases a day.
Last night the Philippine Congress granted President Rodrigo Duterte special powers to direct operations at private hospitals and redirect government budget funds to tackle the public health emergency.
The country’s main island of Luzon is already under "enhanced quarantine measures" which will enforced by the police and army until 12 April.
What's the latest from South Asia?
Here’s a quick wrap-up from South Asia where countries are beginning to impose tough measures.- Pakistan has the highest number of cases in the region – with 878 as of Monday evening. The government has announced sweeping restrictions although it has stopped short of imposing a nationwide lockdown. However, several provinces have announced them independently. The army is being brought in to help enforce the restrictions.
- Almost all of India is under lockdown - 30 states and union territories have now announced a complete lockdown in 548 districts. State borders have been closed, which means interstate buses, trains and other forms of public transport have been suspended. On Monday evening, the country’s civil aviation body announced domestic flights would also be suspended.
- Bangladesh has reported 33 cases of the infection and three deaths, although there are concerns that the real number of cases could be much higher. The government has announced that all public and private offices will be shut from 26 March.
- Nepal shut its borders on Monday until 15 April, refusing entry to even its own citizens.This caused chaos at land borders, with people clamouring to be let in.
- A nationwide curfew in Sri Lanka that was meant to end on Monday evening was extended until Thursday as the number of cases went up to 100. Police have been arresting those caught violating the curfew.
NZ extends domestic travel deadline
Some good news for New Zealanders who are still trying to get home.Authorities have extended the deadline for domestic travel, so people needing to take domestic flights, trains and ferries will now be able to do so until midnight on Friday.
The government had originally set the deadline as midnight on Wednesday for non-essential workers.
Some Kiwis had originally expressed fears that they wouldn't be able to get home by the original cut-off date.
"We are 900km away from home - 48 hours is not enough time to get back home when you are towing a caravan," one family told Newshub.
Which businesses are staying open?
Many in the UK are waking up to a strange new world. Non-essential shops have been told to shut and shopping trips should be kept as infrequent as possible.But which businesses can stay open?
- Restaurants, cafes and work canteens - but only for food delivery and takeaway services
- Supermarkets and other premises selling food, including market stalls
- "Health shops" such as pharmacies
- Corner shops, newsagents, pet shops and post offices
- Banks
Read a full list from the government here
Almost 5,000 new cases in a day in Germany
The number of confirmed cases in Germany has risen by 4,764 in a day to reach to 27,436, the Robert Koch Institute for infectious diseases said on Tuesday.A total of 114 people have died, an increase of 28 from the total published on Monday.
What can the UK police do?
Police officers will be given powers to enforce the new rules - including being able to force people with virus symptoms to isolate.They'll also be able to fine people who don't follow the rules and be able to disperse gatherings (public meetings of more than two people are banned)
Home Secretary Priti Patel said the next few weeks would be "testing" for police but that she would make sure they had the resources "they need to keep themselves and the public safe"
Few options for backpackers stranded in Australia
The advice to Brits in Australia is to get on a plane if you can. But the reality is there just aren't many seats left.We've been by told by the British High Commission that Qantas flights from Perth to London will continue until Friday.
Qatar Airways is also operating - although appears only to have business class seats available, well out of the reach of many of the backpackers we’ve met here.
Ash and Harry, pictured above, are among the many wondering what to do next. Their work has gone and they are living in a hostel.
They say they bought a ticket home with Etihad, but that flight has been cancelled. They've been given credit for a future flight - not a refund - and so they have no way to buy an alternative ticket, even if one were available.
Japan's services and factories hit as virus impact deepens
Japan’s services sector shrank at the fastest pace on record in March and factory activity at its quickest in about a decade, according to a newly-released business survey.The slowdown in manufacturing and services raises the risk of a sharp downturn in the world’s third-largest economy as the coronavirus pandemic paralyses business and consumer activity.
“If the outbreak were to accelerate, the economic damage could far exceed what we’ve seen so far, particularly if the Olympic Games are postponed,” said Joe Hayes, economist at IHS Markit, which compiles the survey.
The Japanese government is under increasing pressure to roll out stimulus measures after figures showed the economy shrank the most since 2014 in the final quarter of last year as it struggled to overcome a rise in its sales tax.
British travellers stranded in NZ and Australia
Hundreds of Britons stuck "Down Under" are calling on the UK government to send chartered flights. Read our full story here.US airlines 'preparing for shutdown'
Major airlines in the US are preparing themselves for a voluntary shutdown of essentially all passenger flights, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal.The paper says US government agencies are also thought to be considering ordering airlines to stop running flights.
The industry has suffered a huge hit from the coronavirus pandemic, with people around the world either choosing not to travel abroad, or being ordered not to by their respective governments.
About 80 million US residents in states such as California, New York and Washington are already subjected to mandatory stay-at-home orders.
And aircraft firm Boeing said earlier that it was suspending operations at its plant near Seattle.
Indonesia scraps national exams
National exams in Indonesia are officially off.The country's education minister said the exams - initially set to be held at the end of the month - carried "more risks than benefits" for students.
ndonesia is currently urging people to practice social distancing, as the death toll there reaches 49 - the highest in South East Asia.
There are 579 confirmed cases nationwide.
European cross-border assistance
Despite restrictions on movement across Europe, crucial medical co-operation continues across borders.Severely ill patients from France's Alsace region are being treated in nearby cities in neighbouring Switzerland and Germany where hospitals still have capacity.
Politicians helping to co-ordinate the transfers have praised the co-operation as an example of European solidarity, while others are warning that the excess capacity might be short-lived as every country in the region expects its medical system to be overwhelmed soon by patients needing care.
On Wednesday, a small group of coronavirus patients were flown from Italy to the German state of Saxony to be treated there. Officials said the hospitals could help as long as they have spare capacity and the treatment of Italian patients might also help medical staff to learn how better to deal with the new illness.
Ten of your most-asked coronavirus questions
How long do you have the illness, how does it affect asthmatics and other questions answered.Thailand to declare state of emergency
Thailand's government is set to declare a state of emergency, as the outbreak continues to infect hundreds across the country.Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said the one-month state of emergency would come into effect on Thursday.
This move will give the government additional enforcement powers.
It's still not clear what these could be. Thailand says they'll will be announced later.
It comes after the country reported 106 new coronavirus cases and three more deaths. The overall number of confirmed cases now stands at 827, with four deaths.
UK workers are being asked to turn up despite lockdown
Many non-critical workers in the UK are still turning up to do their jobs because their employers are asking them to.The news rules say all shops selling non-essential goods must close immediately . Retailer Sports Direct initially said it would remain open but has now changed course and will close its stores for now.
Other businesses - such as the construction industry - are unclear if the rules apply to them.
Graham Watts, the chief executive of the Construction Industry Council, tweeted on Monday night: “Officials are working to secure much needed clarity about the position of construction sites."
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has called on the government to clarify which workplaces should close.
Without that, workers fear they may be asked to turn up, despite the lockdown.
UK children can visit separated parents - Gove
UK cabinet minister Michael Gove has been asked to provide more clarity on the government guidelines announced on Monday night.Speaking on Radio 4's Today programme, he said:
- Chancellor Rishi Sunak will outline more help for self-employed workers later
- Deliveries of "non-essential" goods such as toys and clothes can continue
- He says people should work from home "wherever possible" but there will be exceptions. For example, he says plumbers may be called out to emergencies but Sports Direct stores "should not be open"
- Ministers want to "reduce the rate of infection" and will follow scientific advice on whether or not to change the measures after three weeks
- Children under the age of 18 can travel between the homes of separated parents - a point he reiterated on Twitter: wasn’t clear enough earlier, apologies. To confirm - while children should not normally be moving between households, we recognise that this may be necessary when children who are under 18 move between separated parents. This is permissible & has been made clear in the guidance
How will police enforce new UK rules?
The measures announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson represent some of the most far-reaching curbs on personal freedom ever introduced in the UK in peacetime.But it’s unclear how the rules can be made to work.
The first hurdle is to get them onto the statute book. Although the prime minister said the restrictions on travel and gatherings would come into effect immediately, police don’t yet have the powers to enforce them and have yet to be given official guidance.
The second issue, assuming legal regulations are approved later this week, is the practical difficulty of getting groups to disperse, and accurately identifying people who shouldn’t be on the streets, without losing public goodwill and sparking disorder.
When efforts to persuade those who don’t comply have failed, officers will be able to issue fines, with prosecutions likely to be a last resort.
But at a time when police resources are stretched, and officer numbers increasingly depleted through illness and self-isolation, forces will be hoping communities do the right thing without the need for police intervention.
London Tube still busy despite lockdown
Despite the lockdown announced in the UK on Monday evening, London Underground trains are reported to be busy on Tuesday morning.UK PM Boris Johnson has ordered people to leave their homes only for "very limited purposes". Among the restrictions he announced was that of travelling to and from work where "absolutely necessary".
London Mayor Sadiq Khan also urged workers to stay at home and said public transport should only be used by key workers, otherwise "people will die".
Some passengers have said a reduced service means trains are busier.
UK mobile networks send 'stay at home' text
For the first time in the UK, mobile networks are sending out an emergency government text message to your mobile.For the first time, UK mobile networks send out a government message with a link to more information.
Read more
It follows similar moves in the Netherlands and South Korea, where governments can send such alerts directly.
In the UK, the government has had to work with the operators to get the messages sent because an emergency alert system, trialled seven years ago, was never put into practice, the Guardian newspaper reports. .
If it had been, the government could have bypassed the operators and sent messages directly to phone users, as has happened in other countries.
Stranded Britons 'imprisoned in paradise'
“Paradise feels like it is slowly turning into a prison," Briton Hollie Hunt told me today, as she and a reported 200 other tourists remain stranded on the Philippines’ famous Boracay island.Gatherings and swimming along the island's white-sand beaches are currently prohibited.Hollie, who has been stuck on the island for a week, says that as an NHS auxiliary nurse she is desperate to return to the UK so she can help “overworked” colleagues treating Covid-19 patients at home.
On 17 March all domestic flights to and from the capital Manila were cancelled. Since then airlines have been operating limited “sweeper flights” to pick up stranded tourists.
The British Embassy says it is aware of about 170 Britons in the Philippines who are currently adversely affected by travel restrictions ordered by the government.
Consular staff at the embassy say they are “working around the clock” with the authorities and airlines to try to keep routes open.
Latest from the Middle East: Countries tighten restrictions
Across the Middle East, countries are continuing to tighten restrictions - and punish violators. Here's the latest:- Jordan, which indefinitely extended a round-the-clock curfew on Monday, is to begin distributing bread, water and fuel
- Israel is expected to announce a curfew and tough penalties for violations, with people only allowed out to get food, medicine and other essential items
- Syria's Kurdish Regional Government, in the north-east, says it will impose a two-week curfew from Thursday, warning of the risk of the coronavirus spreading through camps for internally displaced people as well as among prisoners, including thousands of Islamic State members and their families
- In Iran - where 1,812 people have died from the virus, and more than 23,000 are infected - the authorities have announced an extension by at least another month to temporary leave already granted to some 85,000 prisoners. British-Iranian charity worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is among those who have been released
- UAE authorities have called for all Emirati students abroad to return home within 48 hours, and for members of the public to stay at home apart from in exceptional circumstances
Army delivers PPE to London hospitals
The British Army has been going to hospitals in London this morning to deliver Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) - the special protective gear you've no doubt seen doctors and nurses wearing while treating coronavirus patients.NHS staff have previously told the BBC there is a dangerous lack of PPE available for medics.
One doctor said it made them feel like "cannon fodder" , while another said the masks, aprons and short gloves that constitute PPE in the UK are short of World Health Organization (WHO) standards . The WHO recommends medics wear a full gown and visor.
The chair of the Doctor's Association UK also told the BBC the lack of adequate PPE made NHS workers feel like "lambs to the slaughter" .
Former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt told the government to "sort this out".
Olympics could be postponed as early as today
The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games could be formally postponed as early as today, BBC Sport understands.An International Olympic Committee (IOC) spokesperson said: “The IOC is discussing with the Japanese government, the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee and the IOC Executive Board about the scenario planning including the postponement of the Games and will communicate in due course.”
On Monday night, the United States Olympic Committee said it was "more clear than ever" the Games are on "a path to postponement".
The Games are scheduled to start on 24 July.
What’s the latest across Europe?
France has begun a two-month health emergency, tightening restrictions on movement. Exercise is now only allowed outside for an hour and within 1km (about half a mile) of your home. Elsewhere in Europe:- Germany has reported a steep increase in the number of cases. The Robert Koch Institute says 27,436 people have Covid-19, a rise of 4,800 in 24 hours. This may include cases over the weekend. The biggest increase was in Baden-Württemberg state. RKI says 114 have died. Meanwhile, a plane carrying eight infected patients from Italy landed in Leipzig overnight for treatment.
- Italy’s civil protection head says as many as 600,000 people have been infected, almost 10 times the official figure. The rate of increase in new cases and deaths has begun to fall and Angelo Borrelli has told La Repubblica “in the next few hours… we will understand if the growth curve really is flattening out”
- Doctors in the Swiss ski resort of Verbier have asked for entire town to be put into quarantine, saying it has become a “hub” for infections. One doctor estimates up to 60% of the town is infected. The local authority says national restrictions are sufficient and quarantine is not a solution
- Spain has so far seen the majority of its 35,000 cases in Madrid and three other areas in the north. After the army found the bodies of care home residents in their beds, nursing homes have been told to tell the authorities immediately if they have a problem
- The Netherlands has banned all gatherings of three or more people until June
- A report from Belgium says the authorities destroyed six million surgical masks in 2019 as they were past their expiry date. The health minister is facing criticism because they were not replaced in time for this pandemic
Spain deaths spike
The number of people dying from coronavirus in Spain has risen by 514 in the past 24 hours - a daily record. A total of 2,696 people have now died and there are 39,637 confirmed cases, the Spanish ministry of health says.The virus spread in numbers
We have the latest figures showing how the disease is spreading around the world.Infections have been recorded in some 190 countries, with more than 300,000 confirmed cases outside China, according to the latest figures from Johns Hopkins University .
The true figure for the number of people with coronavirus is thought to be much higher as many of those with milder symptoms have not been tested.
See charts and maps explaining the spread of the virus here in our visual guide to the pandemic
Ryanair expects flights to be grounded until June
Budget airline Ryanair says it expects most of its flights to be grounded from Tuesday, adding that it is unlikely to run any in April and May.The company also says it has offered its aircraft to all EU governments for rescue flights and the essential movement of medicines, personal protective equipment (PPE) and food supplies.
"As Europe's borders become congested or closed, it is vital Ryanair plays its part to keep vital medicines and food supplies moving," says chief executive Michael O'Leary.
Ryanair also says passengers who have had a flight cancelled because of the measures will receive an email outlining their options in the "next week or two".
What's the latest from around Asia?
- Almost all of India is under lockdown and state borders have been closed. Buses, trains and other forms of public transport are suspended. On Monday, the authorities said domestic flights would also be stopped. The country has reported 485 cases and nine people have died. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation again on Tuesday evening
- Neighbouring Pakistan has almost twice as many confirmed cases - 878 as of Monday evening. Sweeping restrictions are in place although the government stopped short of imposing a nationwide lockdown. However, several provinces have announced them independently. The army is being brought in to help enforce the restrictions
- Bangladesh, which has reported 33 cases and three deaths, is also deploying its armed forces to help maintain social distancing and boost Covid-19 preventive measures. The soldiers will also monitor thousands of expatriate returnees who have been quarantined. Across South Asia, there are concerns that the real number of cases could be much higher.
- In Thailand a month-long state of emergency will start on Thursday which will include curfews and checkpoints. The government has been criticised for failing to take strong action so far. Four people have died and nearly 900 tested positive
- Talks between the Japanese PM and the International Olympic Committee are expected this evening
- The most populous country without any infections until now - Myanmar - has announced two cases
- Indonesia has confirmed another 107 new cases - the country's biggest daily increase to date. A total of 686 cases have now been recorded, with 55 deaths as of Tuesday
Golf courses shut in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
Golf courses in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will shut following the latest government measures.Amateur golfers had previously been able to continue playing as long as they adhered to guidance on social distancing.
Scottish Golf has asked golfers in Scotland to “refrain from golfing until further notice”.
Golf clubs in the Republic of Ireland are awaiting guidance from the Irish government.
The latest news from South America
Here is a round-up of the recent updates for the region:- Brazil's federal indigenous rights agency Funai has revoked a measure that would have loosened restrictions on approaching isolated indigenous tribes, following public backlash
- In Argentina, those who went to the beach last week - before movement restrictions were introduced - have been told by authorities they now have to stay there
- Bolivia’s electoral body has called for a new election date, saying the rescheduled 3 May vote is no longer workable. The country is being led by an interim president after the previous leader, Evo Morales, resigned suddenly in November amid tensions over alleged election fraud.
- Colombia will begin mass “mandatory preventive isolation”, starting at 00:00 on Wednesday, meaning people will have to stay in their homes
How is the UK court system coping?
People in the UK have been told to work from home unless there are exceptional circumstances - but what does this mean for the country's judicial system?In an update published yesterday, the Lord Chief Justice said that hearings should either be paused or held remotely.
"We have put in place arrangements to use telephone, video and other technology to continue as many hearings as possible remotely," he said , adding that jury trials - which cannot be conducted remotely - should be postponed.
Some Circuit (regional) Leaders have also urged barristers in their circuits not to attend any hearings in person.
In this spirit, the Supreme Court has been holding a hearing over a video conferencing app - but this hasn't been without it's hiccups.
The BBC's Home Affairs correspondent Dominic Casciani says one Justice "had video, but no voice", while another "had clearer audio but video kept stopping".
Self-employed set for financial support
- Self-employed people are saying they have not been given support from the government - I think it is going to change, and quickly.
Ministers are under no illusions they have to provide a better package for the self-employed, comparable to the one provided by the chancellor last week for the employed.
I think we will see a package, maybe not today because there is a lot of stuff to be bedded down, possibly not on Wednesday, but certainly this week.
The difficulty seems to be coming up with a way to compensate the self-employed. This can be easily done for the employed through PAYE. The self-employed have different income levels, so how can you create a system which respects the different earnings of different self-employed people?
I suspect that will be done one way or the other through the tax system.
Normally a budget takes the combined brain power of the Treasury months and months to put together. We're talking about something which has never been done before and has to be put in place to safeguard five million people, a massive undertaking which has to be made as secure as possible in days. That is an enormous task.
New inventions designed to fight the pandemic
Welsh inventors have been among those working on new designs to try to help prevent the spread of the virus.
Mass production has begun of a snood-type mask, which designers say can kill this coronavirus - potentially helping protect frontline workers and the vulnerable.
The company behind it hopes to make as many as a million-a-week and plans to reserve part of that stock for the NHS.
"We have been working on the anti-viral coating since 2011 but it's only in the last five weeks that we have developed the snood in response to the current pandemic," said Anna Roberts, of Virustatic Shield.
Meanwhile, a new ventilator, which took just three days to design, has already successfully treated a Covid-19 patient- and has been backed by the Welsh Government.
Read more about the inventions designed to help tackle the pandemic here .
Spain sees record 514 deaths in one day
It's another dark day for Spain with a total of 39,763 cases of coronavirus confirmed across the country.Another 6,582 infections have been announced in the past 24 hours and the number of deaths has now reached 2,696.The capital Madrid continues to be the epicentre of Spain's pandemic, with 1,535 deaths. The north-east region of Catalonia is now also becoming a big cause for concern with 1,939 cases in the past day, higher than Madrid.
Health emergency chief Fernando Simón has stressed that almost 3,800 people have now recovered from the virus but 2,636 remain in intensive care.
"This is a tough week and we are all hoping to see if we are managing to reach the peak and start going down, with these very aggressive measures that have been imposed on Spain".
Attention has also turned to the alarming rate of infection among health professionals. Of the 39,763 infected people around the country, 5,400 are healthcare staff - meaning they make up nearly 14% of those with the disease.
The government has asked MPs to extend the state of alert to 11 April.
Japan asks for Olympics postponement
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has asked for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics to be postponed by a year because of the coronavirus pandemic.Abe said he has agreed the delay with International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach following talks earlier on Tuesday.
BBC sports editor Dan Roan says the IOC's Executive Board will approve the delay this afternoon.
Italian priest who gave respirator away dies
An Italian priest who gave his respirator away to a younger patient he didn't know has died of the coronavirus.Father Giuseppe Berardelli, 72, died in a hospital in Lovere, Bergamo - one of Italy's worst-hit cities.
The hospital said Father Berardelli's parishioners from the town of Casnigo had brought him a respirator, but he refused to use it, choosing instead to give it away.
Residents of Casnigo are reported to have applauded from their windows and balconies as his coffin was taken for burial. There was no funeral.
Read more about this story here .
Self-employed help must be 'fair and affordable' - UK
More now on financial help for the self-employed in the UK. As our assistant political editor outlined a little earlier, things could be about to change.So far, the UK government has said it will pay the wages of employees unable to work due to the pandemic. But that does not include the self-employed.
Speaking in the Commons a few moments ago, Chancellor Rishi Sunak said there were "genuine practical and principle reasons" to roll out a similar scheme for freelancers.
"Of course there have been people whose incomes have been impacted by what is happening," he said.
"But there are also millions of people who are self-employed whose incomes may not have been impacted and indeed might be increasing.
"The ability for the government to distinguish between those people based on tax returns that are over a year and a half out of date, poses some very significant challenges in terms of fairness and affordability."
He added that the Treasury had been looking into measures in "intense detail" over the past week, but would not commit to a date when more help would be made available.
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