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Coronavirus outbreak: Turkey closes border with Iran to stop infection spreading – live news
Coronavirus outbreak: Turkey closes border with Iran to stop infection spreading – live news
(32 minutes later)
Turkey’s move comes after eight deaths in Iran, while in northern Italy towns are on lockdown after jump in cases
Turkey’s move comes after eight deaths in Iran, while in northern Italy towns are on lockdown after jump in cases
Pakistan has closed its land border with Iran, as Afghanistan suspends travel to the neighbouring country amid concerns about the growing numbers of people being infected by new coronavirus.
“To prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus and protect the public, Afghanistan suspends all passenger movement (air and ground) to and from Iran,” the office of the National Security Council of Afghanistan said in a statement posted on Twitter.
A provincial official in Pakistan and the country’s Frontier Corps also confirmed that the country had sealed the land border with Iran.
Iran has now had eight deaths from the virus, the highest toll of any country outside China. The latest three deaths reported on Sunday were among 15 new confirmed cases of the COVID-19 virus, bringing the overall number of infections to 43.
Four new infections surfaced in the capital Tehran, seven in the holy city of Qom, two in Gilan and one each in Markazi and Tonekabon, health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said.
Authorities have ordered as a “preventive measure” the closure of schools, universities and other educational centres in 14 provinces across Iran from Sunday.
Afghanistan and Pakistan share porous borders with Iran that are often used by smugglers and human traffickers, while millions of Afghan refugees currently live in the Islamic Republic. Fears were raised that the virus could easily spread over the border.
Health authorities said that 18 of the 39 South Koreans from the south-eastern region who had made a group pilgrimage to sites in Israel later tested positive for the virus.
Israel’s foreign ministry issued added warnings about travel to South Korea and Japan due to the coronavirus, and the health ministry is ordering Israelis returning from those countries to remain in home quarantine. This was previously ordered for those returning from Hong Kong, China, Macau, Thailand and Singapore.The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, will be adding additional restrictions on entry to Israel from countries including Australia and Japan.
Iran has seen the lowest parliamentary election turnout since 1979, with senior figures blaming the new coronavirus outbreak.
Iran has seen the lowest parliamentary election turnout since 1979, with senior figures blaming the new coronavirus outbreak.
“The turnout across the country was 42.57% ... In Tehran, it was around 25%. Across Iran, over 24 million people voted,” interior minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli told a televised news conference.
“The turnout across the country was 42.57% ... In Tehran, it was around 25%. Across Iran, over 24 million people voted,” interior minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli told a televised news conference.
The final results showed big gains by hardline loyalists close to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the last say on all state matters.
The final results showed big gains by hardline loyalists close to the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the last say on all state matters.
Khamenei, who on Friday said that voting was “a religious duty”, blamed the low turnout on the “negative propaganda” about the new coronavirus by Iran’s enemies.“This negative propaganda about the virus began a couple of months ago and grew larger ahead of the election,” said Khamenei, according to his official website.“Their media did not miss the tiniest opportunity for dissuading Iranian voters and resorting to the excuse of disease and the virus.”
Khamenei, who on Friday said that voting was “a religious duty”, blamed the low turnout on the “negative propaganda” about the new coronavirus by Iran’s enemies.“This negative propaganda about the virus began a couple of months ago and grew larger ahead of the election,” said Khamenei, according to his official website.“Their media did not miss the tiniest opportunity for dissuading Iranian voters and resorting to the excuse of disease and the virus.”
The turnout is seen as a referendum on the popularity of the Islamic republic’s rulers. It was 62% in the 2016 parliamentary vote and 66% of voters cast ballots in 2012.
The turnout is seen as a referendum on the popularity of the Islamic Republic’s rulers. It was 62% in the 2016 parliamentary vote and 66% of voters cast ballots in 2012.
Giuseppe Conte says cases of the the Covid-19 virus in Italy have risen dramatically in the past two days. The prime minister told a press conference Italy would not try and suspend the Schengen treaty as such a draconian measure would be disproportionate.
Giuseppe Conte says cases of the the Covid-19 virus in Italy have risen dramatically in the past two days. The prime minister told a press conference Italy would not try and suspend the Schengen treaty as such a draconian measure would be disproportionate.
Schools in Milan will be closed, however, and people will not be allowed in and out of affected areas. Social and sporting events in Lombardy and Veneto have also been cancelled.
Schools in Milan will be closed, however, and people will not be allowed in and out of affected areas. Social and sporting events in Lombardy and Veneto have also been cancelled.
As of Sunday morning, there were 89 confirmed coronavirus cases in Lombardy (with two in its industrial centre, Milan) 16 in Veneto, three in Piedmont (including two in Turin) and two in Emilia-Romagna
As of Sunday morning, there were 89 confirmed coronavirus cases in Lombardy (with two in its industrial centre, Milan) 16 in Veneto, three in Piedmont (including two in Turin) and two in Emilia-Romagna
The virus can be spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Hand-washing is a first line of defence
The virus can be spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Hand-washing is a first line of defence
Here is a roundup of the areas where cases of COVID-19, the virus’s official designation, have been confirmed:
Here is a roundup of the areas where cases of Covid-19, the virus’s official designation, have been confirmed:
China: 77,000 people have been infected and 2,442 had died.
China: 77,000 people have been infected and 2,442 have died.
South Korea: 602 people have been infected by the virus and five people have died.
South Korea: 602 people have been infected by the virus and five people have died.
Japan: more than 130 people have been infected and four have died.
Japan: more than 130 people have been infected and four have died.
Singapore: 85 people infected.
Singapore: 85 people infected.
Thailand: 35 cases.
Thailand: 35 cases.
Malaysia: 22 cases.
Malaysia: 22 cases.
Taiwan: 26, including one death.
Taiwan: 26 cases, including one death.
Australia: 17 cases.
Australia: 17 cases.
Vietnam: 16 cases.
Vietnam: 16 cases.
Philippines: three, including one death.
Philippines: three cases, including one death.
India: three cases
India: three cases
Nepal: one case.
Nepal: one case.
Sri Lanka: one case.
Sri Lanka: one case.
Cambodia: one case
Cambodia: one case
United States: 35 cases.
United States: 35 cases.
Canada: eight cases.
Canada: eight cases.
Italy: 132, two deaths. On Saturday Italy became the first country in Europe to put some of its citizens under quarantine.
Italy: 132 cases, two deaths.
Germany: 16 cases.
Germany: 16 cases.
France: 12, including one death.
France: 12, including one death.
Britain: nine cases.
Britain: nine cases.
Russia: five cases.
Russia: five cases.
Spain: two cases.
Spain: two cases.
Finland: one case.
Finland: one case.
Sweden: one case.
Sweden: one case.
Belgium: one case.
Belgium: one case.
Iran: 43, eight deaths, the largest number of fatalities of any country outside China.
Iran: 43, eight deaths, the largest number of fatalities of any country outside China.
United Arab Emirates: 11 cases
United Arab Emirates: 11 cases
Israel: one case.
Israel: one case.
Lebanon: one case.
Lebanon: one case.
Egypt: one case.
Egypt: one case.
Turkey will close its border with Iran as a precautionary measure to halt the possible spread of coronavirus.
Turkey will close its border with Iran as a precautionary measure to halt the possible spread of coronavirus.
It comes after reports emerged of 43 cases of the disease in Iran, with eight deaths – the highest death toll outside of China.
It comes after reports emerged of 43 cases of the disease in Iran, with eight deaths – the highest death toll outside of China.
The Turkish health minister Fahrettin Koca said on Sunday that all highways and railways will be closed as of 5 p.m (14:00 GMT). Flights from Iran suspended, he told reporters.
The Turkish health minister Fahrettin Koca said on Sunday that all highways and railways would be closed as of 5pm (14.00 GMT). Flights from Iran were suspended, he told reporters.
The Japanese government faces growing questions about whether it is doing enough to counter the coronavirus, after 773 cases were announced by early Sunday evening.
The Japanese government faces growing questions about whether it is doing enough to counter the coronavirus, after 773 cases were announced by early Sunday evening.
Most of the infected people were from Diamond Princess cruise ship, which was quarantined near Tokyo. A third passenger from the ship –a Japanese man in his 80s – died on Sunday.
Most of the infected people were from the Diamond Princess cruise ship, which was quarantined near Tokyo. A third passenger from the ship – a Japanese man in his 80s – died on Sunday.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe instructed government agencies to urgently prepare medical provisions and draft a comprehensive plan to curb the spread.
The prime minister, Shinzo Abe, instructed government agencies to urgently prepare medical provisions and draft a comprehensive plan to curb the spread.
Jordan will not allow entry to citizens of China, Iran and South Korea and other foreigners travelling from those countries in response to the deadly coronavirus outbreak.
Jordan will not allow entry to citizens of China, Iran and South Korea and other foreigners travelling from those countries in response to the deadly coronavirus outbreak.
The minister of state for media affairs, Amjad Adayleh, said the decision was part of “preemptive measures... following the rise in cases of coronavirus in South Korea, Iran” and China.
The minister of state for media affairs, Amjad Adayleh, said the decision was part of “pre-emptive measures ... following the rise in cases of coronavirus in South Korea, Iran” and China.
Adayleh said the ban would be “temporary” and imposed on all non-Jordanians coming from the three nations among the worst affected by the illness.
Adayleh said the ban would be “temporary” and imposed on all non-Jordanians coming from the three nations among the worst affected by the illness.
“Jordanians who come from those countries will be placed in quarantine for two weeks to ensure they have not contracted the coronavirus,” he said.
“Jordanians who come from those countries will be placed in quarantine for two weeks to ensure they have not contracted the coronavirus,” he said.
Milan’s fashion week has also been affected by the outbreak. Giorgio Armani, whose show was scheduled for 4pm on Sunday afternoon, announced on Saturday night that guests should not come to the venue. Instead, the collection would be shown to an empty room.
Milan fashion week has also been affected by the outbreak. Giorgio Armani, whose show was scheduled for 4pm on Sunday afternoon, announced on Saturday night that guests should not come to the venue. Instead, the collection would be shown to an empty room.
“The decision was taken to safeguard the wellbeing of all his [Armani’s] invited guests by not having them attend crowded spaces,” said a press release.
“The decision was taken to safeguard the wellbeing of all his [Armani’s] invited guests by not having them attend crowded spaces,” said a press release.
On Sunday, the head of the civil protection department, Angelo Borrelli, said during a press conference that thousands of beds were at the ready in military barracks or hotels to house quarantined or sick individuals, if needed.
On Sunday, the head of the civil protection department, Angelo Borrelli, said during a press conference that thousands of beds were at the ready in military barracks or hotels to house quarantined or sick individuals, if needed.
The number of those infected with the virus had now grown to 132, including the two people who died, Borrelli said.
The number of those infected with the virus had now grown to 132, including the two people who died, Borrelli said.
Italians across the country’s north prepared for weeks-long quarantine on Sunday as lock down measures hit tens of thousands.
More than 100 cases have now been reported in Italy, with two deaths from the virus since Friday.
Most of the reports centred around the small town of Codogno, about 70 kilometres (43 miles) southeast of Milan – where London fashion week is currently taking place.
Over 50,000 residents in eleven towns - 10 in Lombardy and one in the neighbouring region of Veneto - now face what prime minister Giuseppe Conte said on Saturday could be weeks of lockdown.
In Casalpusterlengo, a 10 minute drive from Codogno, locals have lined up outside supermarkets wearing facemasks. Photos have emerged showing them gathering supplies.
Shoppers were made to wait, then allowed to enter in groups of 40 inside the store to stock up on provisions.
“It’s inhuman,” said one man, speaking to AFP, who gave his name as Sante. “Fighting over four sandwiches is just disgusting.”
Another woman, Emanuela, told AFP-TV that residents including her were nervous.
“I’m really scared, we’re going through a really tough situation,” said the woman, a nurse who works in the area.
Blockades have not yet been put up, and cars are still driving around the area of Codogno and Casalpusterlengo, but police are patrolling.
“We’re preparing to set up the checkpoints for the containment zone,” a policewoman told AFP, saying that initially the perimeter would be narrow but could widen over time.
“We’re about ten criminal police teams here, so nothing related to this kind of situation, but we’ve been called in from Bologna, Turin and Genoa to give a hand,” she added.
The coronavirus is communist China’s “biggest health emergency”, said president Xi Jinping.
The virus has killed over 2,400 people and Xi Jinping said Sunday that it was necessary to learn from “obvious shortcomings exposed” during China’s response.
The new coronavirus has drawn comparisons to the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) outbreak of 2002-2003 which killed nearly 650 people across mainland China and Hong Kong, and led to criticism over authorities’ cover-up.
While China has been praised by the World Health Organization for its handling of the epidemic this time, the death of whistleblower doctor Li Wenliang, who was reprimanded for warning about the virus, sparked calls for political reform and freedom of speech.
In comments reported by state broadcaster CCTV on Sunday, Xi said the epidemic “has the fastest transmission, widest range of infection and has been the most difficult to prevent and control”.
“This is a crisis for us and it is a big test,” he said.
He said it was the “largest public health emergency” since communist China’s founding in 1949
Xi’s comments come as the number of virus infections hit almost 77,000 in mainland China - with countries such as South Korea on high alert and Italy taking containment measures as well.
Xi acknowledged that the epidemic will “inevitably have a large impact on the economy and society”, but he stressed the effects will be “short-term” and controllable.
Some 118 people flown out of Wuhan, the Chinese city at the centre of the outbreak, were leaving Kents Hill Park training and conference centre in Milton Keynes on Sunday for the first time in 14 days.
The group, who were brought back to Britain earlier this month, included about 10 children and a family of four.
Health secretary Matt Hancock said:
Professor Keith Willett NHS strategic incident director, said:
The final two days of the Venice Carnival have been cancelled because of the coronavirus outbreak.
The head of the Veneto region, Luca Zaia, said on Sunday that the event, which draws tourists from around the world, would no longer continue on Monday and Tuesday after more than 100 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Italy.
Zaia told reporters that events scheduled for Sunday in the lagoon city would continue as planned. “But as of this evening there will be a ban on the Venice Carnival as well as on all events, sporting as well, until March 1 inclusive,” he said.
Earlier, Zaia reported the first two cases of coronavirus in Venice as officials struggled to contain an outbreak of the disease.Almost all of Italy’s cases are clustered in the north, with roughly a dozen towns on lockdown meaning that people are not allowed to enter or leave the towns’ boundaries.
The governor of the Lombardy region, Attilio Fontana, said that there were 89 cases in his region, most of which had popped up in small towns in the countryside.
It comes as hotel reservations in Venice were down one-third during the first weekend of Carnival, though the floods in the lagoon city late last year are likely to have scared off visitors.
Despite a decline in cases from China it is “extremely concerning” to see developments elsewhere, experts have said.
Prof Paul Hunter from the University of East Anglia (UEA), said: “The dramatic increase in case in South Korea most of which are associated with a religious sect has been unprecedented so far in the epidemic. Although far less dramatic Japan is the country with most cases after China and South Korea and is also experiencing a growing epidemic.”
He added: “The identification of the large cluster of cases in Italy yesterday is a big worry for Europe and we can expect there to by quite a few more cases identified in the next few days.”
Hunter said the situation in Iran “has major implications for the Middle East”.
“It is unlikely that Iran will have the resources and facilities to adequately identify cases and adequately manage them if case numbers are large,” he said.
He noted that another concern with the Iranian cases is wider armed conflicts in the region. “As we have seen with Ebola in the Democratic Republic and Poliomyelitis in Syria, war facilitates the spread of infectious disease.”
Prof Andrew Tatem from the University of Southampton, said that there was previously a relatively low number of cases outside of China but recent news was worrying.
“The fact that cases have been confirmed in both Canada and Lebanon that seem to have come from Iran suggests that a significant outbreak is ongoing there and may have been occurring for some time.”
He said: “Iran normally has some strong travel connections to countries where health systems may be weaker, such as Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan – importations and outbreaks here would be particularly concerning in terms of capacities to detect the virus and contain spread.”
Dr Robin Thompson from the University of Oxford said we were at an important stage of the outbreak. “Fast isolation of even mild cases in affected areas is important for preventing substantial person-to-person transmission in Europe. It is critical that public health guidelines are followed.”
China’s president said measures to deal with the coronavirus outbreak have been effective, but the battle is still at a crucial stage.
On Sunday, state TV quoted Xi Jinping as saying the situation is showing a positive trend after arduous efforts but remains serious and complex.
He said the outbreak will have a relatively big hit on the economy and society but the government will step up policy support to help achieve economic and social development targets for 2020.
More than 100 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Italy, as numbers continued to rise on Sunday following government measures to limit the spread of the outbreak. Here’s a selection of photos from the northern region, which has been worst hit.
The worst-affected areas in Italy are Lombardy – home to Italy’s financial capital, Milan – and Veneto, Italy’s industrial heartland
What’s happening and where? The World Health Organization (WHO) is worried about the number of cases with no clear link – including those with no travel history to China or contact with a confirmed case.
However, the total number of cases outside China remains relatively small, WHO’s director general said on Saturday. It added that there have been more than 1,200 cases in 26 countries.
South Korea
The country declared a “red alert” on Sunday after a surge in coronavirus infections and two more deaths. On Sunday it was confirmed that coronavirus cases in the country jumped to 602 and the death toll rose to five.
China
There have been a reported 76,936 cases of the disease caused by the virus, known as Covid-19, including 2,442 deaths. In mainland China there were 648 new confirmed cases on Saturday, up from 397 a day earlier. The virus epicentre of Hubei province reported 96 new deaths, of which 82 were in the provincial capital Wuhan.
The World Athletics Indoor Championships, scheduled for Nanjing from March 13-15, were postponed until next year. Other sporting events have been postponed. The International Monetary Fund predicted on Saturday the outbreak would lower China’s growth this year to 5.6%.
Hong Kong
There have been 74 confirmed cases, up from 69 on Saturday. The death toll is two.
Italy
In the country’s northern Lombardy region 89 cases were reported on Sunday, up from 54 a day earlier. The total number of cases in the country has now reached more than 100.
Veneto, the other worst hit area, said it had 19 cases, up seven from Saturday. Two people have died. Authorities have banned public events and told workers in affected areas to stay home.
Iran
There have been a further 15 ases of the new coronavirus, health Ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur said, taking the total to 43 with a death toll of eight.
France
It currently had one patient with the virus but new cases were reportedly “very likely”.
Japan
Elderly passengers from aboard a cruise ship moored near Tokyo died, as hundreds more disembarked after two weeks in quarantine. Tokyo Metropolitan Government said it would either cancel or postpone major indoor events it has sponsored for the next three weeks.
Iran has confirmed eight deaths from the the new coronavirus, with the number infected rising to 43.
Most of the infections have been in Qom. The health minister, Saeed Namaki, urged people to avoid travelling to the city, a major site for Shia pilgrims 75 miles (120km) south of the capital, Tehran.
“The virus came from China to Qom city. A Merchant from Qom who died of the virus used to regularly travel to China ... Flights were suspended between the two countries but he used indirect flights,” Namaki said.“Obviously we do not recommend trips to Qom or any other holy Shia cities in Iran,” Namaki said on state television.The health ministry spokesman, Kianush Jahanpur, announced the 15 new cases earlier on Sunday. “So far, we have 43 infected cases and the death toll is eight,” he told the television.Eight of the new infections were in Qom, where authorities have shut down schools and religious seminaries. In Tehran and some other cities, schools have been closed until Tuesday.
The total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Italy had reached 115.
The governor of the Lombardy region, Attilio Fontana, said that there were 89 cases in his region, most of which had popped up in small towns in the countryside.
Almost all of Italy’s cases are clustered in the north, with roughly a dozen towns on lockdown meaning that people are not allowed to enter or leave the towns’ boundaries.
After Lombardy, the next hardest-hit region is Veneto, in the north-east, with at least 17 cases. Sports events in the affected northern areas, including local kids sports team practices to three Serie A soccer matches, were cancelled.
Bishops in several dioceses in northern Italy issued directives that holy water fonts be kept empty, that communion wafers be placed in the hands of the faithful and not directly into their mouths by priests. Congregants were also told to refrain from shaking hands or exchanging kisses during the symbolic “sign of the peace” ritual.
