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Coronavirus: Tenerife tests hundreds of tourists after case in hotel – live news Coronavirus: Tenerife hotel in lockdown as tourists tested – live news
(32 minutes later)
First case of virus in southern Italy; concerns mount that the spread of Covid-19 cannot be stopped as stock markets fall amid investor fearsFirst case of virus in southern Italy; concerns mount that the spread of Covid-19 cannot be stopped as stock markets fall amid investor fears
The outbreak of new coronavirus has killed 15 in Islamic Republic amid 95 confirmed cases. Rory Stewart, the former international development secretary and independent candidate for mayor of London, has criticised the World Health Organisation for being “far too slow” to describe the new coronavirus outbreak as a global pandemic.
At an event in London, run by Christian Aid on Monday night, Steward said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the head of the WHO was “not getting this response right.”
”They have been far too slow to declare a public health emergency of international concern, a month too late, and they have been far too slow to declare a global pandemic,” he said.
On Tuesday, he told the BBC Radio 4’s Today programme the WHO’s failure to declare the outbreak a global pandemic, was “big problem” as it held up World Bank funds to developing countries and thus had increased the chance of the virus spreading to countries like Britain.
Stewart said: “Tedros has been unbelievably slow, firstly to declare a world health emergency and then a global pandemic.”
”And that’s a big big problem, because until the pandemic’s declared, you can’t release the World Bank’s funds, so that poorer countries can put the processes in place to be able to deal with the virus and that increases the chance of it spreading to countries like Britain. And that was purely for political reasons, the desire not to offend the Chinese government.”
He said that “huge amounts” of pressure should be placed on the WHO, to ensure they do not make the same mistakes they made with Ebola.
”So we are a member of the World Health Organisation I was actually there when Tedros was appointed, huge amounts of pressure needs to be put on the WHO to sort this out. They made the same mistake with Ebola, they are making it again at the moment with coronavirus.”
He said the second thing needed was to “reassure people”.
”What you don’t want is conspiracy theories spreading because we are not communicating clearly enough and regularly enough, that this is well understood, that actually the Chinese situation is unusual because of the way it was handled in China. And that we have good procedures in place to make sure we handle it better in Britain and that we are thinking about what we can do about transport, about policing, in a worse case scenario.”
A Turkish Airlines plane flying from Iran has been diverted to Ankara at the request of the government, an aviation source said.
An aviation news website said one passenger was suspected of being infected by coronavirus. Turkey’s Demiroren news agency broadcast video showing ambulances lined up beside the plane, with personnel wearing white protective suits on the tarmac.The plane was flying from the Iranian capital, Tehran, and had been scheduled to land in Istanbul. Turkey shut its borders to Iran on Sunday and cut flights due to the spread of the virus in that country.
The Guardian’s Madrid correspondent, Sam Jones, reports on the latest below.
The Tenerife hotel where the Italian man who has tested positive for coronavirus was staying has been put on lockdown and its thousand guests placed in isolation to halt any further spread of the disease.
A well-placed source on the island confirmed to the Guardian that the hotel, theH10 Costa Adeje Palace hotel on the south of the island, was under quarantine.The Diario de Avisos, a Tenerife-based newspaper, said that strict protocol was being followed at the hotel.
It reported that police were “ensuring that none of the customers staying at the hotel left or entered the hotel”.Spain’s national health ministry declined to comment, referring queries to the regional health ministry, which could not be contacted for comment.
Japan’s largest advertising agency, Dentsu, has said one of the employees at its headquarters has been infected with coronavirus and that it has instructed all HQ-based employees to work from home.
Zoe McLean, 43, from Herefordshire – who i due to travel to Venice soon – said that she felt government advice about travel to northern Italy was unclear.
“My partner and I have a two week holiday planned in northern italy, flying next Sunday but we are now in limbo. The Foreign Commonwealth Office says it is safe to travel but today the health secretary Matt Hancock said those returning may have to self-isolate themselves,” she said.
“It all seems a bit conflicted and leaves us uncertain about what to do. If we cancel out trip at the moment we won’t get any money back - lots of flights and hotels have been paid for in advance. But if we go... we do worry about the risk of picking up the virus and bringing it home to elderly relatives and neighbours.”
On Tuesday, Hancock 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.
“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.”
The British couple who were diagnosed with coronavirus on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan have said they are recovering well from the disease, without receiving antibiotics.
Speaking live from a specialist infectious diseases hospital in Japan, David Abel said: “We have had a fever, our temperatures were high - that’s all worked its way out quite naturally in our body, which we’re very thankful for.
“The best course of treatment for us is allowing the body’s natural immunity to get rid of whatever is there.”
The couple were both diagnosed with pneumonia, and have been tested for the Covid-19 infection again today, with the results expected tomorrow.
David said although he has lost weight, he is gaining strength every day, and his wife Sally, who is being treated in the same room, is “virtually over” her pneumonia.
“They were talking a few days ago about putting me on a respirator. Thank god that was not needed,” said David. “Language is a barrier [...] but they are lovely nurses and doctors, and we laugh about it.
“It’s very difficult when you’re confined to four walls, and you lose your normal freedom and you lose your normal communication and there’s no natural daylight. It’s really hard going but we’re alive.
“We’ve got memories from the fabulous cruise and we’ve got a real hope of seeing our friends and family back in the UK in the not too distant future, and that’s what is keeping us going.”
The outbreak of the coronavirus has killed 15 in Iran and there have been 95 confirmed cases, according to the health ministry. Latest figures show the virus, which started in China, has now infected more than 80,000 people globally.
Health authorities in the Canary islands have activated their coronavirus protocol after an Italian man staying in Tenerife tested positive for the virus.Health authorities in the Canary islands have activated their coronavirus protocol after an Italian man staying in Tenerife tested positive for the virus.
In a statement issued late on Monday night, they said “an Italian citizen has tested positive during initial tests at the University Hospital of Our Lady of Candelaria” in Tenerife, adding that samples would now be sent to the National Microbiology Centre near Madrid for definitive tests.In a statement issued late on Monday night, they said “an Italian citizen has tested positive during initial tests at the University Hospital of Our Lady of Candelaria” in Tenerife, adding that samples would now be sent to the National Microbiology Centre near Madrid for definitive tests.
“The man is in isolation and under medical supervision,” the statement said. “The Canary Islands have, in coordination with the national health ministry, activated the same protocol undertaken in other parts of the country where other suspected cases of the disease have been detected.”“The man is in isolation and under medical supervision,” the statement said. “The Canary Islands have, in coordination with the national health ministry, activated the same protocol undertaken in other parts of the country where other suspected cases of the disease have been detected.”
If the tests are positive, Spain will have three confirmed cases of the coronavirus – one on the remote Canary island of La Gomera and another on the Balearic island of Mallorca.If the tests are positive, Spain will have three confirmed cases of the coronavirus – one on the remote Canary island of La Gomera and another on the Balearic island of Mallorca.
Stock markets have steadied after falling on Monday amid fears over the spread of coronavirus.Stock markets have steadied after falling on Monday amid fears over the spread of coronavirus.
However, experts have warned of further drops as the outbreak rages on. The FTSE 100 Index opened with small gains on Tuesday as it pulled out of the biggest fall for four years.More than £62bn was wiped off the value of Britain’s top share index in the previous session after news of the first major outbreak of coronavirus in Europe, with Italy suffering hundreds of cases.Indices across Europe showed signs of stabilising as investors looked to pick up bargains after the heavy falls, thanks also to a cautious rise on the Hang Seng index in Hong Kong overnight.The Dax in Germany and France’s Cac 40 were just over 20 points lower each within the first hour of trading on Tuesday, having both fallen 4% on Monday.However, experts have warned of further drops as the outbreak rages on. The FTSE 100 Index opened with small gains on Tuesday as it pulled out of the biggest fall for four years.More than £62bn was wiped off the value of Britain’s top share index in the previous session after news of the first major outbreak of coronavirus in Europe, with Italy suffering hundreds of cases.Indices across Europe showed signs of stabilising as investors looked to pick up bargains after the heavy falls, thanks also to a cautious rise on the Hang Seng index in Hong Kong overnight.The Dax in Germany and France’s Cac 40 were just over 20 points lower each within the first hour of trading on Tuesday, having both fallen 4% on Monday.
Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said:Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said:
But Michael Hewson, chief market analyst at CMC Markets, said it was likely that markets were only pausing for breath. He said:But Michael Hewson, chief market analyst at CMC Markets, said it was likely that markets were only pausing for breath. He said:
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. My direct messages are open. ThanksIf 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. My direct messages are open. Thanks
A health expert has said that he is sceptical about a vaccine being created to deal with the coronavirus before the situation has been brought under control.A health expert has said that he is sceptical about a vaccine being created to deal with the coronavirus before the situation has been brought under control.
The director of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Prof Peter Piot, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I don’t expect that there will be a vaccine available for millions of people who would need it before the end of the year.“I am very sceptical that we will have a vaccine before this epidemic is brought under control. But it may be very useful to have one if this becomes seasonal and every year we have a wave of this.”The director of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Prof Peter Piot, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I don’t expect that there will be a vaccine available for millions of people who would need it before the end of the year.“I am very sceptical that we will have a vaccine before this epidemic is brought under control. But it may be very useful to have one if this becomes seasonal and every year we have a wave of this.”
Four new cases of coronavirus have been detected in Iraq in Kirkuk province, the health ministry said. This means there are now five cases in the country.Four new cases of coronavirus have been detected in Iraq in Kirkuk province, the health ministry said. This means there are now five cases in the country.
The patients are an Iraqi family who had been on a trip to Iran, the ministry said in a statement. They have been placed in quarantine. Iraq reported its first case of the virus on Monday, an Iranian theology student in the holy Shia city of Najaf.The patients are an Iraqi family who had been on a trip to Iran, the ministry said in a statement. They have been placed in quarantine. Iraq reported its first case of the virus on Monday, an Iranian theology student in the holy Shia city of Najaf.
The new coronavirus is a “game changer” that will require a rethink of global supply networks especially in the health and medicine, the French finance minister said.The new coronavirus is a “game changer” that will require a rethink of global supply networks especially in the health and medicine, the French finance minister said.
“The coronavirus epidemic is a game-changer for globalisation,” Bruno Le Maire said during a visit to Athens, adding that the outbreak had highlighted an “irresponsible and unreasonable” reliance on China.“The coronavirus epidemic is a game-changer for globalisation,” Bruno Le Maire said during a visit to Athens, adding that the outbreak had highlighted an “irresponsible and unreasonable” reliance on China.
“We cannot continue to rely on China for 80 to 85% of pharmaceutical active ingredients,” said Le Maire. And the resulting industrial slowdown in China would have a “direct impact” on industrial resupply, he added.“We cannot continue to rely on China for 80 to 85% of pharmaceutical active ingredients,” said Le Maire. And the resulting industrial slowdown in China would have a “direct impact” on industrial resupply, he added.
The minister said the virus that has killed nearly 2,600 people worldwide would have an impact on travel, given the number of Chinese tourists to Europe. France alone attracts more than 2.5 million Chinese visitors a year, an “important” share of the French tourism sector, Le Maire said.The minister said the virus that has killed nearly 2,600 people worldwide would have an impact on travel, given the number of Chinese tourists to Europe. France alone attracts more than 2.5 million Chinese visitors a year, an “important” share of the French tourism sector, Le Maire said.
In France, one person has died from the virus so far – an elderly Chinese tourist. A further 11 have been treated in hospital , with 10 recovering.In France, one person has died from the virus so far – an elderly Chinese tourist. A further 11 have been treated in hospital , with 10 recovering.
Spanish health authorities are carrying out tests on hundreds of tourists in a Canary Islands hotel after a coronavirus case has been identified.
Holidaymakers have reportedly been quarantined inside a complex in Tenerife, and local reports have named the hotel as the H10 Costa Adeje Palace in Adeje, in the south of the island. It’s a region that is extremely popular with British tourists at this time of the year.
Spanish health authorities could not immediately confirm the lockdown but said hundreds of tourists and staff in the hotel were being tested for the virus. “We are checking people who had contact with the patient including the people in the hotel,” said a spokeswoman for Canary Island’s health department.
The novel coronavirus has claimed three more lives in Iran, state media reported, taking the country’s overall death toll to 15.
Two of those who died were elderly women in the central province of Markazi. Another patient in the northern province of Alborz has also died, the state news agency Irna reported.
“One was an 87-year-old woman with a history of cardiovascular, pulmonary, liver and kidney diseases who passed away after being hospitalised for two days,” Abbas Nikravesh, head of Saveh city’s medical university, told IRNA.
The other was an 82-year-old with “serious blood and cardiovascular diseases” who died after being hospitalised for a day, he added, noting that she had a history of visiting Qom as her children live there.
“Three cases of coronavirus infection have been confirmed in Saveh city so far, with two dead,” Nikravesh said. “There is now one infected 78-year-old woman from Afghanistan under special care.”
IRNA did not name the patient in Alborz or detail any underlying health conditions. ‘This patient was under special care in recent days when he passed away,” Hassan Inanlou, deputy head of Alborz’s medical university, was quoted as saying.
According to IRNA, there are two more confirmed cases hospitalised in Alborz. Iran has confirmed 61 cases of coronavirus infection so far.
Here is the latest from Lorenzo Tondo, a Guardian correspondent covering Italy and the migration crisis. He reports from Palermo.
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.
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. My direct messages are open. Thanks
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.