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Coronavirus: fourth Diamond Princess passenger dies as Japan closes some schools – live news Coronavirus: fourth Diamond Princess passenger dies as Japan closes some schools – live news
(32 minutes later)
Concerns mount that the spread of Covid-19 cannot be stopped as stock markets fall amid investor fears. Follow latest newsConcerns mount that the spread of Covid-19 cannot be stopped as stock markets fall amid investor fears. Follow latest news
Japan’s prime minister Shinzo Abe said Tuesday that new measures – including companies letting their employees work from home – will determine if Japan can control its coronavirus outbreak. Here is the latest from Lorenzo Tondo, a Guardian correspondent covering Italy and the migration crisis. He reports from Palermo.
“We are at an extremely important time in ending the spread of infection at an early stage,” Abe said at a meeting of a task force on the outbreak.He said sporadic cases of unknown transmission routes and small clusters were occurring, but slowing down the pace of new infections was crucial to stopping its spread. Japan has confirmed 850 cases, third highest among nations behind China and South Korea.They include people infected on the Diamond Princess cruise ship. Abe’s government has been widely criticized after the quarantine of the ship was seen to have failed to stop the virus from spreading. Three former passengers on the ship died, and more than a dozen people who were evacuated from it by their home countries later tested positive for new coronavirus. Italian authorities have announced on Tuesday the first positive coronavirus case in the South of Italy.
A woman from Bergamo, who was on holiday with her friends in Sicily, has tested positive for Convid-19. The patient, who is not in serious conditions, has been transferred to the Hospital Cervello in Palermo.
She had been on holiday in Palermo since before the outbreak of the virus in the country. Her husband and friends have been quarantined for at least the next 15 days as Italian authorities scramble to contain the worst outbreak of the virus in Europe and the third worst in the world.
In the meantime, a 60-year old Italian entrepreneur from Florence, who came back from Singapore, has also tested positive for Convid-19, as the number of confirmed cases in the country rises to over 220, with seven deaths.
All those who have died had underlying health problems.
On Monday, the country’s prime minister Giuseppe Conte blamed the surge on a hospital he did not name, citing that the disease had spread ‘’because safety protocols were not respected’’.
“The economic impact of the virus could be very strong’’, Conte added, “At this moment, we can calculate that there will be a negative economic impact, we are not yet in a position to forecast what will happen’’.
On Saturday, the Italian authorities implemented draconian measures to try to halt the coronavirus outbreak in the north of the country, including imposing fines on anyone caught entering or leaving outbreak areas.
More than 3,000 tests for coronavirus have been carried out over the last few days, although authorities are still trying to identity “patient zero” – the person who brought the virus to the region. The first man infected, a researcher at Unilever, came down with symptoms after attending a dinner at which there was a colleague who had recently returned from China, who tested negative for the virus.
“The peak in Italy is partly due to all the tests being done,” said Roberta Siliquini, a former president of Italy’s higher health council. “We have found positive cases in people who probably had few or no symptoms and who may have overcome the virus without even knowing it.”
Meanwhile, Maltese chandlers and port workers in Paola and Valletta, in Malta, have stopped their operations over coronavirus fears, refusing to board vessels coming from Italy to unload cargo, Malta Today has reported.
According to MaltaToday, “port workers are complaining of a lack of medical staff in the area as they handle cargo that has arrived from Italian ports.’’
The Italian government has been criticised for hastily cancelling flights to and from China as, without coherence across Europe, people have been able to fly to other European cities and enter Italy from there.
A Tenerife hotel withs 1,000 guests is reportedly in lockdown after an Italian tourist tested positive to contracting the new coronavirus.
The holidaymakers have been quarantined inside the complex, and local reports have named the hotel as the H10 Costa Adeje Palace in Adeje, south of the island. It’s a region that is extremely popular with British tourists at this time of the year.
Police are said to be surrounding the hotel to make sure no one enters or leaves to control the virus’ spread.
Italy may need to call on the European Union to offer leeway on its budget targets as it struggles with the impact of the coronavirus outbreak, a senior official said.
Deputy economy minister, Laura Castelli, made the comments a day after prime minister Giuseppe Conte warned that the fallout from the outbreak, which has concentrated in the economic powerhouses of northern Italy, would be “very strong”.
The country’s economy is already on the brink of recession, with one of the highest debt burdens in the eurozone.
“There are resources that the EU can give us in relation to economic events that could lower GDP considerably. We hope we won’t need it but it’s a situation in which the EU should,” Castelli told RAI radio.
Officials from the World Health Organization and the European Union were due to meet in Rome on Tuesday to discuss the crisis.Italy, the country in Europe worst affected, has reported more than 220 cases and seven deaths, mostly in Lombardy, the northern region that includes the financial capital Milan and Veneto. The tourist industry, which accounts for about 13% of GDP, fears a plunge in bookings as the government has ordered a clampdown on public events including soccer matches. The Venice carnival – one of the world’s premier tourist attractions –was shut early for the first time in decades and airlines began restricting flights to Italy.
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Fans of Japanese girl group Perfume wait in line for fan merchandise before the start of the group’s concert outside Tokyo Dome on Tuesday.
Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said that new measures like companies letting their employees work from home and hospitals expanding their capacity to treat many patients will determine if Japan could control its coronavirus outbreak.
Two more Iranians infected with coronavirus have died, media website Eghtesad online said on Tuesday, taking the death toll to 14 – the highest tally of deaths outside China.
“Tests showed they had the new coronavirus,” the head of the medical science university of Saveh said, according to the website.
Iran’s state TV said a team from the World Health Organisation (WHO) will arrive in the country on Tuesday.Iran has yet to say how many people it has quarantined but the semi-official Mehr news agency said 320 people had been hospitalised in the Shi’ite holy city of Qom, where Tehran confirmed its first two deaths last week.The outbreak in Iran comes as its clerical rulers face mounting U.S. pressure that has hit the economy hard. The outbreak threatens to isolate Iran even further, with several countries suspending flights after coronavirus cases in travellers from Iran were confirmed in Canada, Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan and Iraq.Some neighbouring countries have closed their borders. Six arab countries have reported their first cases of coronavirus. Kuwait said on Tuesday the total number of infected people there had risen to eight. Bahrain said it also had eight cases, four of whom were Saudi nationals and two Bahrainis.To prevent the spread of the virus, Iranian authorities have ordered the nationwide cancellation of concerts, soccer matches, closures of schools and universities in many provinces as a precaution.
South Korea reports 84 more cases of new virus, bringing total number of infections to 977.
Japan’s prime minister, Shinzo Abe, said on Tuesday that new measures – including companies letting their employees work from home – will determine whether Japan can control its coronavirus outbreak.
“We are at an extremely important time in ending the spread of infection at an early stage,” Abe said at a meeting of a task force on the outbreak.
He said sporadic cases of unknown transmission routes and small clusters were occurring, but slowing down the pace of new infections was crucial to stopping its spread.
Japan has confirmed 850 cases, third highest among nations behind China and South Korea.They include people infected on the Diamond Princess cruise ship. Abe’s government has been widely criticized after the quarantine of the ship was seen to have failed to stop the virus from spreading. Three former passengers on the ship died, and more than a dozen people who were evacuated from it by their home countries later tested positive for new coronavirus.
Hancock added that the government was not aware of any Britons who were in the quarantined areas of northern Italy.However, he said that anyone who is should make contact with the embassy in Rome. “We are not aware of any British citizens who are within the quarantined area, if they are we would ask them to get in contact with the consulate in Rome,” he said.Hancock added that the government was not aware of any Britons who were in the quarantined areas of northern Italy.However, he said that anyone who is should make contact with the embassy in Rome. “We are not aware of any British citizens who are within the quarantined area, if they are we would ask them to get in contact with the consulate in Rome,” he said.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said that the official advice around coronavirus is being updated so that people returning to the UK from any areas quarantined by the Italian government should self-isolate whether they show symptoms or not The health secretary, Matt Hancock, has said the official advice around coronavirus is being updated so that people returning to the UK from any areas quarantined by the Italian government should self-isolate whether they show symptoms or not.
Speaking on BBC Breakfast on Tuesday, Hancock said: “Yes, the official advice which will be formally updated at 8am is going to change so that those who have been to northern Italy – north of Pisa – if they have flu-like symptoms should self-isolate.Speaking on BBC Breakfast on Tuesday, Hancock said: “Yes, the official advice which will be formally updated at 8am is going to change so that those who have been to northern Italy – north of Pisa – if they have flu-like symptoms should self-isolate.
“If people have been to the affected areas that the Italian government have quarantined then they should self-isolate whether or not they have symptoms.”“If people have been to the affected areas that the Italian government have quarantined then they should self-isolate whether or not they have symptoms.”
Caitlin Fletcher, an Australian living and studying in Seoul, said:Caitlin Fletcher, an Australian living and studying in Seoul, said:
One of three Wall Street Journal reporters ordered to leave China has been told by the government that she can remain.One of three Wall Street Journal reporters ordered to leave China has been told by the government that she can remain.
China’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Zhao Lijian, told a daily briefing that Chao Deng, who has been unable to leave the Wuhan –the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak – following a lockdown that sought to contain the spread of the virus, is being allowed to remain on humanitarian grounds.China’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Zhao Lijian, told a daily briefing that Chao Deng, who has been unable to leave the Wuhan –the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak – following a lockdown that sought to contain the spread of the virus, is being allowed to remain on humanitarian grounds.
She can comply with the order to leave China after the epidemic ends, he said, adding that she cannot do any reporting work while there.Deng and two other Wall Street Journal reporters were ordered to leave last week after the newspaper did not comply with Beijing’s repeated demands for an apology and investigation into a Feb 3 column that called China the “real sick man of Asia.”She can comply with the order to leave China after the epidemic ends, he said, adding that she cannot do any reporting work while there.Deng and two other Wall Street Journal reporters were ordered to leave last week after the newspaper did not comply with Beijing’s repeated demands for an apology and investigation into a Feb 3 column that called China the “real sick man of Asia.”
Kuwait reports three new cases of coronavirus, raising total to eight.Kuwait reports three new cases of coronavirus, raising total to eight.
The outbreak has now affected 80,000 people globally. The World Health Organization has named the illness COVID-19, referring to its origin late last year and the coronavirus that causes it.The latest figures reported by each government’s health authority as of Tuesday in Beijing:Mainland China: 2,663 deaths among 77,658 cases, mostly in the central province of Hubei.Hong Kong: 81 cases, two deaths.Macao: 10 cases.Japan: 850 cases, including 691 from a cruise ship docked in Yokohama, four deaths.South Korea: 893 cases, eight deaths.Italy: 229 cases, seven deaths.Singapore: 89 cases.Iran: 61 cases, 12 deaths.United States: 35 cases; separately, one US citizen died in China.Thailand: 37 cases.Taiwan: 30 cases, one death.Australia: 23 cases.Malaysia: 22 cases.Vietnam: 16 cases.Germany: 16 cases.France: 12 cases, one death.United Arab Emirates: 13 cases.United Kingdom: 13 cases.Canada: 11 cases.Philippines: 3 cases, one death.Kuwait: 3 cases.There have been three cases in India, two in Russia, three in Spain, two in Israel, two in Oman, two in Bahrain, one in Lebanon, one in Belgium, one in Nepal, one in Sri Lanka, one in Sweden, one in Cambodia, one in Finland, one in Egypt and one in Afghanistan.The outbreak has now affected 80,000 people globally. The World Health Organization has named the illness COVID-19, referring to its origin late last year and the coronavirus that causes it.The latest figures reported by each government’s health authority as of Tuesday in Beijing:Mainland China: 2,663 deaths among 77,658 cases, mostly in the central province of Hubei.Hong Kong: 81 cases, two deaths.Macao: 10 cases.Japan: 850 cases, including 691 from a cruise ship docked in Yokohama, four deaths.South Korea: 893 cases, eight deaths.Italy: 229 cases, seven deaths.Singapore: 89 cases.Iran: 61 cases, 12 deaths.United States: 35 cases; separately, one US citizen died in China.Thailand: 37 cases.Taiwan: 30 cases, one death.Australia: 23 cases.Malaysia: 22 cases.Vietnam: 16 cases.Germany: 16 cases.France: 12 cases, one death.United Arab Emirates: 13 cases.United Kingdom: 13 cases.Canada: 11 cases.Philippines: 3 cases, one death.Kuwait: 3 cases.There have been three cases in India, two in Russia, three in Spain, two in Israel, two in Oman, two in Bahrain, one in Lebanon, one in Belgium, one in Nepal, one in Sri Lanka, one in Sweden, one in Cambodia, one in Finland, one in Egypt and one in Afghanistan.
The number of novel coronavirus cases in south Korea is approaching 900 as the president Moon Jae-in said the outbreak is “very grave”.The number of novel coronavirus cases in south Korea is approaching 900 as the president Moon Jae-in said the outbreak is “very grave”.
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) confirmed 60 new cases in its morning update – after three days of triple-digit increases – taking the tally to 893, the largest national total anywhere outside China.The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) confirmed 60 new cases in its morning update – after three days of triple-digit increases – taking the tally to 893, the largest national total anywhere outside China.
The latest numbers come as the country announced its smallest rise in cases for several days.The latest numbers come as the country announced its smallest rise in cases for several days.
On Tuesday, president Moon Jae-in visited the outbreak’s epi-centre in South Korea’s fourth-largest city Daegu. More than 80% of the infections have been in Daegu and neighbouring North Gyeongsang province.On Tuesday, president Moon Jae-in visited the outbreak’s epi-centre in South Korea’s fourth-largest city Daegu. More than 80% of the infections have been in Daegu and neighbouring North Gyeongsang province.
“The situation is very grave,” President Moon Jae-in said, wearing the uniform of a government emergency official. “We will achieve a victory in the fight against this virus,” he added.“The situation is very grave,” President Moon Jae-in said, wearing the uniform of a government emergency official. “We will achieve a victory in the fight against this virus,” he added.
The streets of Daegu - which has a population of 2.5 million - have been largely deserted for days, apart from long queues at the few shops with masks for sale.The streets of Daegu - which has a population of 2.5 million - have been largely deserted for days, apart from long queues at the few shops with masks for sale.
South Korea’s parliament cancelled sessions Tuesday as it closed for cleaning after confirmation a person with the coronavirus had attended a meeting last week.South Korea’s parliament cancelled sessions Tuesday as it closed for cleaning after confirmation a person with the coronavirus had attended a meeting last week.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised travellers to “avoid all nonessential travel” to South Korea.The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised travellers to “avoid all nonessential travel” to South Korea.
Hong Kong has said it will not allow arrivals from South Korea other than returning residents, while a Mongolian ban on flights to and from the South came into force Tuesday.Hong Kong has said it will not allow arrivals from South Korea other than returning residents, while a Mongolian ban on flights to and from the South came into force Tuesday.
I am now taking over the live blog from the Guardian’s London office. If you want to share any thoughts or news tips with me about the coronavirus then please email: sarah.marsh@theguardian.com or tweet me @sloumarsh.I am now taking over the live blog from the Guardian’s London office. If you want to share any thoughts or news tips with me about the coronavirus then please email: sarah.marsh@theguardian.com or tweet me @sloumarsh.
Dubai International airport, the world’s busiest for international travel, says UAE will limit Iran flights over the virus outbreak.Dubai International airport, the world’s busiest for international travel, says UAE will limit Iran flights over the virus outbreak.
The British engineering company Meggitt warned that its growth in 2020 would be constrained by factors including the disruption caused by coronavirus.The company said organic revenue growth in 2020 would come in at between 2% to 4%. That compares with the 8% rise in organic revenue growth for 2019 which it posted on Tuesday, helping drive underlying operating profit up by 10% to £402.8m.The British engineering company Meggitt warned that its growth in 2020 would be constrained by factors including the disruption caused by coronavirus.The company said organic revenue growth in 2020 would come in at between 2% to 4%. That compares with the 8% rise in organic revenue growth for 2019 which it posted on Tuesday, helping drive underlying operating profit up by 10% to £402.8m.