by Summary for 29th March
- President Trump backs down after saying he is considering a quarantine on New York and two other states
- UK PM Boris Johnson warns things will get worse
- On Saturday, a top UK official said the UK "will have done very well" if it kept deaths below 20,000
- Number of US deaths doubles in two days to more than 2,000
- Boris Johnson warns the crisis will get worse in a letter to UK households
- Concerns that forcing families to stay indoors could lead to increased cases of abuse
- Australia’s health minister says there are “positive early signs” that the growth in cases is starting to slow
- In Europe, the number of people killed passes 20,000
- Portugal grants residency to all migrants who have applied, because of the pandemic
7:53
Here's what else has been happening over the last few hours:
Hours later, health authorities urged 8.6 million people of New York City, the hardest-hit municipality, and others in the states of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut millions of NYC residents to avoid non-essential travel for 14 days, citing “extensive community transmission”.
The rate of infections there has been surging. The number of confirmed American deaths has now passed 2,000 - more than double the level two days earlier.
All asylum seekers who've begun their applications will now be eligible for resident status.
Officials described it as "an act of solidarity at a time of crisis".
The country has reported about 5,000 infections and 100 deaths.
The baby died in Chicago, Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr Ngozi Ezike said.
A full investigation is under way to determine the cause of death," Dr Ezike said.
"We must do everything we can to prevent the spread of this deadly virus. If not to protect ourselves, but to protect those around us."
The death of a child less than a year old with coronavirus was previously reported in China, but that child had a pre-existing condition.
On Saturday the UK government launched a new messaging service which will send daily texts to new patients who register their symptoms and contact details with the 111 online service.
Imperial College London Professor Neil Ferguson told the Sunday Times: “We’re going to have to keep these measures (the full lockdown) in place, in my view, for a significant period of time – probably until the end of May, maybe even early June.”
He added that even if the lockdown was lifted, people would probably still need to abide by social distancing measures for months to come.
Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove told Sky News that the length of the measures was not something that was "absolutely fixed".
He said: "It depends on all of our behaviour. If we follow the guidelines, we can deal more effectively with the spread of the disease."
At the end of February, children were still in classrooms and adults were still at work. People shook hands and hugged and kissed. In the evening, they went to pubs and restaurants.
Some went on dates and others visited elderly relatives. They assembled in groups and mingled with residents of other households.
But this way of life way of life has ceased to exist entirely within just a few weeks. Read more from Jon Kelly.
Enlarge this image Click to see fullsize
The world's oldest man is celebrating his 112th birthday in self-isolation today.
Bob Weighton, a former teacher and engineer from Hampshire in the south of England, was born in 1908, the year the Wright Brothers made their first public flight.
Mr Weighton lived through the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918 and is now under lockdown like the rest of the UK.
Last year, he marked his 111th birthday with his many friends at his retirement flat. But this year will be a much quieter affair.
"Everything is cancelled, no visitors, no celebration," he said.
"It's a dead loss as far as celebration is concerned."
[Me] - Can't resist commenting on this: Doesn't he look brilliant for 112
(and it's not an old photo either, cos I saw the live video that he did - chatting away in that he was)
That's according to a GP practising in an area run by the Aneurin Bevan health board, one of the worst hit areas of the UK .
The GP, who wishes to remain anonymous, also said doctors often had "no choice" but to wear PPE more than once - describing the situation as "dangerous" and "unacceptable".
Birmingham has also seen a rise in the number of cases in recent days, according to new figures released by the Department for Health.
Use our updated search tool to find out how many cases there are in your area.
Enlarge this image Click to see fullsize
Only one new case in 10 days has been reported in the city of Wuhan, which was the epicentre of the outbreak, Reuters news agency reports. The city is cautiously reopening after a two-month quarantine.
Flights from Hubei province are also to resume, and more than 260 trains have entered Wuhan after the city resumed inbound services on Saturday, Reuters reports.
Read more here.
People should only go out when necessary, and those over the age of 70 should stay home, he added.
All playgrounds and outdoor gyms parks will be closed from Monday.
The country's chief medical officer has also said he is confident Australia is testing the majority of cases in the country.
Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said: "I'm asking the government to provide absolute clarity about what sorts of work are essential, and which are not."
He says many non-essential workers are being “forced” to go into work where they are unable to observe social distancing advice, adding that many workplaces are not observing the 2m rule.
Asked how long the UK's lockdown will last, he says: "I can't make an accurate prediction, but everyone does have to prepare for an extended period."
He says the UK's peak is “not a fixed point” in the calendar and timing depends how closely people follow the rules.
After Boris Johnson and a number of other MPs tested positive for the virus, Mr Gove insisted the government had been doing everything to observe the social distancing advice.
"We've been doing everything we can to observe the advice. Within the House of Commons we've been trying to observe that advice."
You should also:
Many places are also recommending and implementing social distancing measures.
You can read the latest UK advice here , and click here to find out more about the symptoms and how to protect yourself.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock tweeted that the UK was on track to reach 25,000 tests a day.
All sport in Italy has been suspended until at least 3 April.
The Juve squad, which includes Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo and Wales midfielder Aaron Ramsey, will not be paid their full salaries in March, April, May and June.
They top Serie A by a point from Lazio.
Earlier this week Downing Street said the UK had decided to pursue its own plan rather than joining the EU's procurement scheme, which will use the EU's buying power to purchase more stock.
But Downing Street later said that officials did not get emails inviting the UK to join. The EU has said the UK can still take part.
Asked whether an email was received by the government, Mr Gove said: "There was some communication confusion, I don't know all the details of that."
He added: "I’ve talked to senior figures in the NHS and they’ve reassured me that there is nothing that we can’t do as an independent nation that being part of that scheme would have allowed us to do.” Rememer Brexit? The UK has left the EU - but remains in a transition period during which it is expected to reach its own trade arrangement with the 27-member bloc.
The UK currently has 8,000 ventilators available and has placed orders for another 8,000, but there are concerns about capacity in hospitals as the spread of the virus worsens.
It brings the number of deaths from the virus to 6,528.
The total number of those infected rose to 78,797 from 72,248.
Foreigners can be deported and South Korean citizens will face fines if they do not comply with the measures, which will come into force on 1 April.
All arrivals must download the quarantine app on their phones, which monitors their symptoms and movements.
Around half of the country's new coronavirus cases in recent days have been people coming in from abroad.
Despite Saturday's news of the largest rise in people dying in the UK with Covid-19, the message is that everything we are all doing now to reduce social contact is having an impact.
We just can't see it in the figures yet.
That's because it takes time for the effects of not going out and not going to work to be felt in hospitals, where the most seriously-ill are being tested and some are, sadly, dying.
The epidemic is expected to peak in the UK in the next two to three weeks.
Until then, it is likely the number of people confirmed to have the coronavirus and the number of people dying after testing positive for the virus will continue to grow at a similar pace - doubling every two or three days.
The hope is that everyone's efforts now to stay at home and reduce the spread of this deadly virus will slow that growth rate at the right time, and, in time, bring it down.
Luck doesn't come into it, people are being told. Only a huge national effort will make the difference. Every one of us now has a part to play in making that happen.
The fast train has been converted into a moving hospital to ferry patients from one part of the country to another.
"We have a lot more space than in an ambulance or a helicopter," says François Braun, president of the Samu emergency service.
Stretchers are attached above the seats and the buffet car has been converted into a medical space.
On Sunday, two medical TGV trains will transfer about 40 patients from eastern cities of Nancy and Mulhouse to the south west, AFP news agency reports.
To catch you up, here's a summary of what's been happening so far - with the death toll worldwide topping 30,000 people.
Enlarge this image Click to see fullsize
The number of confirmed cases has increased to 14,336 from 13,213, it said.
This places Switzerland among the top European countries by number of cases, behind Italy, Spain, Germany, France and the UK.
Amid criticism over the lack of planning ahead of the shutdown which was introduced with less than four hours' notice, Mr Modi apologised for the impact in his weekly radio address.
"Possibly many would be angry at me for being locked in their homes. I understand your troubles but there was no other way to wage war against coronavirus. For a country like India with a population of 1.3 billion it is a battle of life and death and we have to win it."
12:33
Iran has announced 123 more coronavirus deaths, raising the total number to 2,640. The number of infected people has reached 38,309, officials say.
It has been one of the countries worst-hit by Covid-19.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has shut down entry and exit into the Jeddah governorate and brought forward a curfew there to begin at 15:00 local time (12:00 GMT) rather than 19:00, the state news agency has said.
Saudi Arabia applied the same measures to Riyadh, Mecca and Medina last week. The kingdom has the second highest rate of infections in the Gulf after Iran.
- President Trump backs down after saying he is considering a quarantine on New York and two other states
- UK PM Boris Johnson warns things will get worse
- On Saturday, a top UK official said the UK "will have done very well" if it kept deaths below 20,000
- Number of US deaths doubles in two days to more than 2,000
- Boris Johnson warns the crisis will get worse in a letter to UK households
- Concerns that forcing families to stay indoors could lead to increased cases of abuse
- Australia’s health minister says there are “positive early signs” that the growth in cases is starting to slow
- In Europe, the number of people killed passes 20,000
- Portugal grants residency to all migrants who have applied, because of the pandemic
7:53
What are the latest developments?
Here's what else has been happening over the last few hours:
- The number of people who have died with coronavirus in the UK has now reached 1,019, with a further 260 deaths announced on Saturday
- British-Iranian charity worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has had her temporary leave from prison in Tehran extended by two weeks, according to her husband. She was released from prison earlier this month because of the outbreak
- A cruise ship - the Zaandam - carrying more than 1,800 people off Panama has begun moving healthy passengers to another ship after four people died and two others tested positive for the virus
- In Europe, the number of people killed by the virus has risen above 20,000, with both Italy and Spain reporting more than 800 deaths in one day
- Australia’s Health Minister has said there are “positive early signs” that the growth in cases is starting to slow. The rate of new infections in Australia has halved over the past week.
- Tokyo has confirmed 68 new coronavirus cases, Japan's record daily increase, broadcaster NHK reported on Sunday
NYC 'avoid travel' warning
We've been reporting about US President Donald Trump's initial suggestion for - and later reversal - of a policy to quarantine New York.Hours later, health authorities urged 8.6 million people of New York City, the hardest-hit municipality, and others in the states of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut millions of NYC residents to avoid non-essential travel for 14 days, citing “extensive community transmission”.
The rate of infections there has been surging. The number of confirmed American deaths has now passed 2,000 - more than double the level two days earlier.
Key developments in the UK
Good morning to those joining us in the UK. Here is a quick summary of the latest developments:- UK households are going to receive a letter from the prime minister warning that the crisis will get worse before it gets better. Boris Johnson, who is in self-quarantine after testing positive on Friday, also says stricter restrictions will be put in place if necessary
- A leaflet will also be sent to the 30 million households, giving more information about government rules on leaving the house, as well as health guidance
- The first of three flights chartered by the Foreign Office to bring home British tourists stranded in Peru will leave the capital Lima on Sunday. The Foreign Office says it is working "around the clock" to support British travellers stranded in India
- On Saturday a further 260 deaths were announced in the UK, taking the total to 1,019
- In Northern Ireland, new powers have come into force to ensure people stay at home and businesses stay closed. Penalties, including fines of up to £5,000, have been brought in
- In Wales, NHS staff will receive free bus travel throughout the nation as part of a government deal with bus companies
- And the Secretary of State for Scotland, Alister Jack, continues to self-isolate after it was revealed he had developed symptoms
Portugal gives migrants residency
Portugal has announced that it will approve all applications for legal residence by migrants, because of a backlog of cases made worse by the coronavirus.All asylum seekers who've begun their applications will now be eligible for resident status.
Officials described it as "an act of solidarity at a time of crisis".
The country has reported about 5,000 infections and 100 deaths.
US records first infant death
The US has recorded its first death from an infant who tested positive for coronavirus.The baby died in Chicago, Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr Ngozi Ezike said.
A full investigation is under way to determine the cause of death," Dr Ezike said.
"We must do everything we can to prevent the spread of this deadly virus. If not to protect ourselves, but to protect those around us."
The death of a child less than a year old with coronavirus was previously reported in China, but that child had a pre-existing condition.
UK daily check-in text service
People in self-isolation with suspected Covid-19 symptoms are to receive regular check-in texts from the NHS to check how they are.On Saturday the UK government launched a new messaging service which will send daily texts to new patients who register their symptoms and contact details with the 111 online service.
UK lockdown 'could last until June'
Tough measures to tackle the outbreak in the UK have been in force for nearly a week - but a leading government adviser has warned they may need to remain in place until June.Imperial College London Professor Neil Ferguson told the Sunday Times: “We’re going to have to keep these measures (the full lockdown) in place, in my view, for a significant period of time – probably until the end of May, maybe even early June.”
He added that even if the lockdown was lifted, people would probably still need to abide by social distancing measures for months to come.
Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove told Sky News that the length of the measures was not something that was "absolutely fixed".
He said: "It depends on all of our behaviour. If we follow the guidelines, we can deal more effectively with the spread of the disease."
How the UK has changed in a month
In the space of a month, the United Kingdom has transformed beyond recognition.At the end of February, children were still in classrooms and adults were still at work. People shook hands and hugged and kissed. In the evening, they went to pubs and restaurants.
Some went on dates and others visited elderly relatives. They assembled in groups and mingled with residents of other households.
But this way of life way of life has ceased to exist entirely within just a few weeks. Read more from Jon Kelly.
Happy Birthday Bob - world's oldest man marks milestone in isolation
Enlarge this image Click to see fullsize
The world's oldest man is celebrating his 112th birthday in self-isolation today.
Bob Weighton, a former teacher and engineer from Hampshire in the south of England, was born in 1908, the year the Wright Brothers made their first public flight.
Mr Weighton lived through the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918 and is now under lockdown like the rest of the UK.
Last year, he marked his 111th birthday with his many friends at his retirement flat. But this year will be a much quieter affair.
"Everything is cancelled, no visitors, no celebration," he said.
"It's a dead loss as far as celebration is concerned."
[Me] - Can't resist commenting on this: Doesn't he look brilliant for 112
(and it's not an old photo either, cos I saw the live video that he did - chatting away in that he was)
GPs in Wales 'buying their own protective gear'
GPs in parts of Wales are having to buy their own personal protective equipment, with some even asking schools to make it for them with 3D printers.That's according to a GP practising in an area run by the Aneurin Bevan health board, one of the worst hit areas of the UK .
The GP, who wishes to remain anonymous, also said doctors often had "no choice" but to wear PPE more than once - describing the situation as "dangerous" and "unacceptable".
How has your area been affected?
London remains the epicentre of the UK's outbreak - but cases are by no means restricted to the capital.Birmingham has also seen a rise in the number of cases in recent days, according to new figures released by the Department for Health.
Use our updated search tool to find out how many cases there are in your area.
Enlarge this image Click to see fullsize
Fewer imported cases in China
China has reported 45 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, with all but one from overseas. That compares with 54 cases the previous day, which were all imported.Only one new case in 10 days has been reported in the city of Wuhan, which was the epicentre of the outbreak, Reuters news agency reports. The city is cautiously reopening after a two-month quarantine.
Flights from Hubei province are also to resume, and more than 260 trains have entered Wuhan after the city resumed inbound services on Saturday, Reuters reports.
Read more here.
Australia: Public gatherings of two people
Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced more restrictions, including limiting public gatherings to just two people.People should only go out when necessary, and those over the age of 70 should stay home, he added.
All playgrounds and outdoor gyms parks will be closed from Monday.
The country's chief medical officer has also said he is confident Australia is testing the majority of cases in the country.
UK government 'needs to clarify' essential work
UK opposition Labour Party is calling for the government to be "crystal clear" over which firms and are considered essential and should remain open during the lockdown.Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said: "I'm asking the government to provide absolute clarity about what sorts of work are essential, and which are not."
He says many non-essential workers are being “forced” to go into work where they are unable to observe social distancing advice, adding that many workplaces are not observing the 2m rule.
UK to be in lockdown for 'significant period'
The UK needs to prepare to be under strict measures for a "significant period", Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove says.UK government 'following social distancing rules'
Here's a little more from the UK's Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove, who says it's "vitally important" that for weeks ahead people follow social distancing guidelines.Asked how long the UK's lockdown will last, he says: "I can't make an accurate prediction, but everyone does have to prepare for an extended period."
He says the UK's peak is “not a fixed point” in the calendar and timing depends how closely people follow the rules.
After Boris Johnson and a number of other MPs tested positive for the virus, Mr Gove insisted the government had been doing everything to observe the social distancing advice.
"We've been doing everything we can to observe the advice. Within the House of Commons we've been trying to observe that advice."
How can I protect myself?
Because Covid-19 is a new respiratory virus, scientists and governments all around the world are trying to work out the best way to fight it. Vaccine development is under way but for now the best protection is thought to be regular and thorough hand-washing.You should also:
- Avoid contact with people who are unwell
- Catch coughs and sneezes with disposable tissue
- Throw away any used tissues and wash your hands
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
Many places are also recommending and implementing social distancing measures.
You can read the latest UK advice here , and click here to find out more about the symptoms and how to protect yourself.
UK testing 'ahead of schedule' - Gove
The government has faced criticism about the speed and availability of testing, but Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove says there has been a "significant" acceleration. The UK carried out 10,000 tests yesterday - according to who says that is just ahead of the end-of-March deadline set by the health secretary.Health Secretary Matt Hancock tweeted that the UK was on track to reach 25,000 tests a day.
Juventus players agree pay freeze
Juventus' players and manager Maurizio Sarri have agreed to their pay being stopped for four months to save the club an estimated 90m euros (£80.7m) during the coronavirus pandemic.All sport in Italy has been suspended until at least 3 April.
The Juve squad, which includes Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo and Wales midfielder Aaron Ramsey, will not be paid their full salaries in March, April, May and June.
They top Serie A by a point from Lazio.
'Confusion' over EU ventilator scheme
The UK Government missed the deadline to join an EU-wide scheme to get extra ventilators because of "communication confusion", according to Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove.Earlier this week Downing Street said the UK had decided to pursue its own plan rather than joining the EU's procurement scheme, which will use the EU's buying power to purchase more stock.
But Downing Street later said that officials did not get emails inviting the UK to join. The EU has said the UK can still take part.
Asked whether an email was received by the government, Mr Gove said: "There was some communication confusion, I don't know all the details of that."
He added: "I’ve talked to senior figures in the NHS and they’ve reassured me that there is nothing that we can’t do as an independent nation that being part of that scheme would have allowed us to do.” Rememer Brexit? The UK has left the EU - but remains in a transition period during which it is expected to reach its own trade arrangement with the 27-member bloc.
The UK currently has 8,000 ventilators available and has placed orders for another 8,000, but there are concerns about capacity in hospitals as the spread of the virus worsens.
Spain death spike continues unabated
Another 838 people died in Spain in the past 24 hours, the health ministry has announced - the highest daily rise in fatalities so far.It brings the number of deaths from the virus to 6,528.
The total number of those infected rose to 78,797 from 72,248.
Key developments in Africa
With nearly 4,000 confirmed cases across Africa and 117 deaths, here are the latest updates from the region:- In Mali, people are voting in long-delayed parliamentary elections a day after the country reported its first death from Covid-19. Some opposition parties had called for it to be postponed
- In many countries, churches and other places of worship have closed their doors. In Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, pictures on social media show services taking place outdoors with the worshippers standing or sitting two metres apart
- South Africa has 1,187 cases - the largest number on the continent - and it is now in the third day of a three-week nationwide lockdown. The military has called up medics in its reserve force to help deal with the outbreak
- Zimbabwe and Ghana are set become the latest countries on the continent to impose full or partial lockdowns. On Monday, Zimbabwe, where there have been seven confirmed cases and one death, begins a 21-day stay-at-home period. At the same time, Ghana’s two biggest cities, Accra and Kumasi, will go into lockdown for a fortnight
South Korea introduces new quarantine rules for overseas arrivals
South Korea says all overseas arrivals will have to go into mandatory quarantine for 14 days.Foreigners can be deported and South Korean citizens will face fines if they do not comply with the measures, which will come into force on 1 April.
All arrivals must download the quarantine app on their phones, which monitors their symptoms and movements.
Around half of the country's new coronavirus cases in recent days have been people coming in from abroad.
We all have a part to play
Philippa Roxby - Health reporter, BBC NewsDespite Saturday's news of the largest rise in people dying in the UK with Covid-19, the message is that everything we are all doing now to reduce social contact is having an impact.
We just can't see it in the figures yet.
That's because it takes time for the effects of not going out and not going to work to be felt in hospitals, where the most seriously-ill are being tested and some are, sadly, dying.
The epidemic is expected to peak in the UK in the next two to three weeks.
Until then, it is likely the number of people confirmed to have the coronavirus and the number of people dying after testing positive for the virus will continue to grow at a similar pace - doubling every two or three days.
The hope is that everyone's efforts now to stay at home and reduce the spread of this deadly virus will slow that growth rate at the right time, and, in time, bring it down.
Luck doesn't come into it, people are being told. Only a huge national effort will make the difference. Every one of us now has a part to play in making that happen.
French TGV train used to move patients around
To free up intensive care beds in some of the country's worst-hit areas, France has been using specially adapted TGV trains.The fast train has been converted into a moving hospital to ferry patients from one part of the country to another.
"We have a lot more space than in an ambulance or a helicopter," says François Braun, president of the Samu emergency service.
Stretchers are attached above the seats and the buffet car has been converted into a medical space.
On Sunday, two medical TGV trains will transfer about 40 patients from eastern cities of Nancy and Mulhouse to the south west, AFP news agency reports.
To catch you up, here's a summary of what's been happening so far - with the death toll worldwide topping 30,000 people.
- Spain has recorded another 838 deaths in the past 24 hours - the highest daily rise in fatalities so far. It's brought the number of deaths in the country to 6,528. It comes after people in Spain paid tribute to the country's health workers on Saturday night
- A leading adviser to the UK government, Neil Ferguson, has warned the country's lockdown will need to be in place "probably until the end of May, maybe even early June"
- US President Donald Trump has backed away from the idea of quarantining New York after the state's governor, Andrew Cuomo, said the idea was "preposterous"
- South Korea has said all overseas arrivals will have to go into mandatory quarantine for 14 days as of 1 April
- Australia has tightened its rules too, including limiting public gatherings to just two people, and closing all playgrounds, outdoor gyms and parks from Monday
Enlarge this image Click to see fullsize
Swiss death toll reaches 257
The Swiss death toll has risen by 235 in a day to 257, Reuters news agency quotes the country's health agency as saying.The number of confirmed cases has increased to 14,336 from 13,213, it said.
This places Switzerland among the top European countries by number of cases, behind Italy, Spain, Germany, France and the UK.
Latest developments in the UK
As we head towards lunchtime in the UK, here are the latest developments:- The lockdown will be in place for a “significant period” and could last longer if people do not stick to the rules, according to Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove
- Each household will receive a letter from the prime minister warning that stricter measures could be put in place if necessary
- Home Secretary Priti Patel has pledged to protect victims of domestic abuse , who she says are particularly at risk because of the need to stay at home
- The number of people who have died with coronavirus in the UK has reached 1,019, with a further 260 deaths announced on Saturday
- Scotland's Chief Medical Officer Catherine Calderwood says restrictions on movements could last for 13 weeks
- GPs in parts of Wales claim they are having to buy their own personal protective equipment
- In Northern Ireland, new powers have come into force to ensure people stay at home and businesses stay closed
India's Modi apologises for lockdown
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked Indians for forgiveness after imposing a lockdown.Amid criticism over the lack of planning ahead of the shutdown which was introduced with less than four hours' notice, Mr Modi apologised for the impact in his weekly radio address.
"Possibly many would be angry at me for being locked in their homes. I understand your troubles but there was no other way to wage war against coronavirus. For a country like India with a population of 1.3 billion it is a battle of life and death and we have to win it."
12:33
What's the latest in the Middle East?
Iran has announced 123 more coronavirus deaths, raising the total number to 2,640. The number of infected people has reached 38,309, officials say.
It has been one of the countries worst-hit by Covid-19.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has shut down entry and exit into the Jeddah governorate and brought forward a curfew there to begin at 15:00 local time (12:00 GMT) rather than 19:00, the state news agency has said.
Saudi Arabia applied the same measures to Riyadh, Mecca and Medina last week. The kingdom has the second highest rate of infections in the Gulf after Iran.
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