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Coronavirus: Switzerland, Austria and Croatia report cases as Tenerife quarantines hotel – updates Coronavirus: Switzerland, Austria and Croatia report cases as Tenerife quarantines hotel – updates
(32 minutes later)
Outbreaks confirmed in new countries as Iran’s deputy health minister says he has tested positive for coronavirusOutbreaks confirmed in new countries as Iran’s deputy health minister says he has tested positive for coronavirus
Although the WHO earlier praised China’s response to the outbreak of the coronavirus, US secretary of state Mike Pompeo has hit out at China, and Iran, over their handling of the crisis.
He accused the two governments of censorship and of trying to cover up the severity of the spread of the deadly illness.
At a State Department news conference, Pompeo criticised Beijing for expelling three Wall Street Journal reporters and said a free press was needed to ensure accurate information about the virus is available to the public and medical personnel, the Associated Press reported.
He also said Iranian authorities must tell the truth about the virus amid signs the outbreak there may be far wider than officially acknowledged.
Expelling “our journalists” exposes once again the government’s issue that led to SARS and now the coronavirus, namely censorship, Pompeo said of China.
Had China permitted its own and foreign journalists and medical personnel to speak and investigate freely, Chinese officials and other nations would have been far better prepared to address the challenge, he claimed.
On Iran, which now has the second highest number of infections after China and where the head of the country’s counter-coronavirus task force has tested positive for the virus, Pompeo said the US is “deeply concerned” that the government may have suppressed vital details about the outbreak.
“All nations, including Iran, should tell the truth about the coronavirus and cooperate with international aid organizations,” he said.
In another sign of growing global alarm over the coronavirus outbreak, a prominent Brazilian journalist is today reporting that Brazil’s president, Jair Bolsonaro, has been told he should cancel plans to travel to Italy and Hungary in the coming weeks.“The Bolsonaro family is being advised to cancel trip to Italy, a foreign office source has just told me. Hungary trip also in trouble,” Vera Magalhães tweeted on Tuesday.
“The reason: the assessment that the coronavirus outbreak is going to get worse in Europe.”
Its worth noting here that there have not yet been any cases confirmed in Latin America.
Greece, one of the countries in Europe which has not yet recorded a case of coronavirus, has unveiled emergency measures after mounting alarm over the steep jump in cases in Italy.
In the event of an outbreak, the centre-right government said it would enforce draconian steps to contain the disease, including restricting travel on any form of public transportation.
Air, sea and rail services would also be limited to prevent the virus spreading.
Under the emergency act, authorities will have the right to use private clinics and medical services, government spokesman Stelios Petsas told reporters.
Citizens suspected of having the virus could also be placed in quarantine to prevent infections spreading.
The measures were announced as officials banned school trips to Italy, saying schoolchildren currently in the country would be returned to Greece with immediate effect.
Given its proximity to Italy, Greece has stepped up surveillance of ports with regular ferry connections to the neighbouring EU state.
However, infectious disease experts fear the worst should Covid 19 arrive in Greece, with the country’s austerity-hit public health system still reeling from almost a decade of budget cuts.
Meanwhile, a man suspected of displaying flu-like symptoms upon arrival from Italy was declared healthy by doctors in the western port city of Patras on Tuesday.
The four chief medical officers across the UK have updated their self-isolation health advice for travellers returning from certain countries to cover a wider area.The four chief medical officers across the UK have updated their self-isolation health advice for travellers returning from certain countries to cover a wider area.
Anyone who has arrived in the UK from Iran, specific areas in Northern Italy and South Korea, plus the Hubei province in China, since 19 February is now advised to stay indoors and avoid contact with other people. Anyone who has arrived in the UK since 19 February from Iran, specific areas of northern Italy and South Korea, plus the Hubei province in China, is now advised to stay indoors and avoid contact with other people.
This guidance has been issued to people even if they do not have symptoms, and phone their GP or NHS24 on 111 out of hours. This guidance has been issued to people even if they do not have symptoms, and they should phone their GP – or NHS24 on 111 out of hours.
Anyone who visited the two cities at the centre of the outbreak in South Korea, Daegu and Cheongdo, is advised to self-isolate for a fortnight.Anyone who visited the two cities at the centre of the outbreak in South Korea, Daegu and Cheongdo, is advised to self-isolate for a fortnight.
All travellers returning from Iran are requested to self-isolate, even if they do not have symptoms.All travellers returning from Iran are requested to self-isolate, even if they do not have symptoms.
For northern Italy, all travellers returning from specific lockdown areas identified by the Italian government are advised to self-isolate regardless of whether they have developed . For northern Italy, all travellers returning from specific lockdown areas identified by the Italian government are advised to self-isolate regardless of whether they have developed symptoms.
People returning from parts of Italy north of Pisa, Florence and Rimini in the past week are asked to monitor their health, and self-isolate if they develop symptoms.People returning from parts of Italy north of Pisa, Florence and Rimini in the past week are asked to monitor their health, and self-isolate if they develop symptoms.
Anyone who has travelled to the UK from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam is also now advised to monitor their health, and self-isolate if they develop symptoms.Anyone who has travelled to the UK from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam is also now advised to monitor their health, and self-isolate if they develop symptoms.
Scotland’s chief medical officer Dr Catherine Calderwood said:Scotland’s chief medical officer Dr Catherine Calderwood said:
Existing advice from the four UK CMOs remains in place for anyone who has travelled to the UK in the last 14 days from mainland China, Thailand, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia or Macau to stay indoors. Existing advice from the four UK CMOs to stay indoors remains in place for anyone who has travelled to the UK in the last 14 days from mainland China, Thailand, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia or Macau.
The popularity of half-term skiing trips in Lombardy has seen at least 12 schools across the UK either close or send pupils home today, after updated advice from Public Health England widened the regions affected by Covid-19 to include northern Italy.The 10 schools hit so far, including one in Wales and three in Northern Ireland, appear to have all travelled to ski resorts via Milan’s airports, close to one of Italy’s virus hotspots. The popularity of half-term skiing trips in Lombardy has seen at least 12 schools across the UK either close or send pupils home today, after updated advice from Public Health England widened the regions affected by Covid-19 to include northern Italy.The 12 schools hit so far, including one in Wales and three in Northern Ireland, appear to have all travelled to ski resorts via Milan’s airports, close to one of Italy’s virus hotspots.
Darren Christian, principal of Salendine Nook high school in Huddersfield told parents:Darren Christian, principal of Salendine Nook high school in Huddersfield told parents:
Hall Cross academy in Doncaster asked staff and students who attended the school’s half-term ski trip to Italy to “remain at home and self-isolate for 14 days”.Hall Cross academy in Doncaster asked staff and students who attended the school’s half-term ski trip to Italy to “remain at home and self-isolate for 14 days”.
A third school in Cheshire, Sandbach high school, has also sent pupils home as a precaution.Meanwhile, 36 pupils from Trinity Catholic College in Middlesbrough were also told to stay home. Its head teacher, Louise Dwyer, told parents:A third school in Cheshire, Sandbach high school, has also sent pupils home as a precaution.Meanwhile, 36 pupils from Trinity Catholic College in Middlesbrough were also told to stay home. Its head teacher, Louise Dwyer, told parents:
Treatharras secondary in Newquay and Crispin School in Street, Somerset, have also sent pupils and staff home as a precaution following ski trips to Italy.
Italy’s prime minister, Giuseppe Conte, has defended the measures his country has taken to contain the outbreak and predicted the number of new cases would stabilise soon, after a 27% increase in cases on Tuesday – from 222 to 283.Italy’s prime minister, Giuseppe Conte, has defended the measures his country has taken to contain the outbreak and predicted the number of new cases would stabilise soon, after a 27% increase in cases on Tuesday – from 222 to 283.
Italy has not yet identified the source of the outbreak, and Croatia, Austria and Switzerland have now recorded cases.Italy has not yet identified the source of the outbreak, and Croatia, Austria and Switzerland have now recorded cases.
Many of the cases in Italy have been confined to Lombardy, and Conte claimed that an alleged failure to completely follow official protocol at hospitals in the region contributed to its spread.Many of the cases in Italy have been confined to Lombardy, and Conte claimed that an alleged failure to completely follow official protocol at hospitals in the region contributed to its spread.
However, Lombardy’s chief health official, Giulio Gallera, defended the region’s handling of the crisis and rebutted Conte’s criticism. “It’s offensive,” he said. “It’s unacceptable.”However, Lombardy’s chief health official, Giulio Gallera, defended the region’s handling of the crisis and rebutted Conte’s criticism. “It’s offensive,” he said. “It’s unacceptable.”
About 40,000 healthcare workers, many of whom volunteered, are in Wuhan helping with the response, according to Aylward.About 40,000 healthcare workers, many of whom volunteered, are in Wuhan helping with the response, according to Aylward.
He added that China has “repurposed the machinery of government”, such as check points, toll booths and tightly controlled transportation networks, to address the disease outbreak while taking multiple hospitals out of general use.He added that China has “repurposed the machinery of government”, such as check points, toll booths and tightly controlled transportation networks, to address the disease outbreak while taking multiple hospitals out of general use.
Bruce Aylward, head of the WHO-China joint mission on Covid-19, has paid tribute to health workers in China who delivered “life-saving” crisis response services as the virus began to spread.Bruce Aylward, head of the WHO-China joint mission on Covid-19, has paid tribute to health workers in China who delivered “life-saving” crisis response services as the virus began to spread.
He praised the approach taken by China to the “frightening” never-seen-before virus.He praised the approach taken by China to the “frightening” never-seen-before virus.
Switzerland has confirmed its first case of coronavirus, the country’s federal office of public health has announced.Switzerland has confirmed its first case of coronavirus, the country’s federal office of public health has announced.
Further details will be provided at 5pm CET (4pm GMT), the health department said, declining to say where the first case had been detected.Further details will be provided at 5pm CET (4pm GMT), the health department said, declining to say where the first case had been detected.
The Swiss public broadcaster, RTS, said authorities in Ticino, on the border with Italy, had confirmed the case occurred in their region.The Swiss public broadcaster, RTS, said authorities in Ticino, on the border with Italy, had confirmed the case occurred in their region.
The World Health Organization is delivering an update on the coronavirus at a news briefing, as it continues to spread.The World Health Organization is delivering an update on the coronavirus at a news briefing, as it continues to spread.
You can watch it here, and we will keep abreast of developments.You can watch it here, and we will keep abreast of developments.
Italy has taken appropriate measures to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, with a focus on halting further person-to-person transmission, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday.
Italy has seen the biggest outbreak of the disease in Europe, with more than 260 cases and seven deaths reported, most in the north of the country, according to Reuters.
After talks with Italian officials in Rome about the response, WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier said:
Several clusters of infections in different regions had already been detected, it said, while noting that based on current data, in the majority of cases – four out of every five – people experience mild or no symptoms.
“The measures taken by the Italian government or the regional governments have been pretty strong and most likely should help in containing this virus as good as possible,” Lindmeier added.
A separate WHO mission to Iran, which had been announced for Tuesday, has been delayed, he said, adding that he had no date for its departure.
He urged countries to boost their readiness, saying the virus is “knocking at their door”.
The first case of coronavirus in mainland Spain has been identified by health authorities in Catalonia, according to the La Vanguardia newspaper.
It would be the country’s fourth confirmed case, if the report is correct, after three tourists from Germany, Italy and Britain were diagnosed with the illness in the Canary Islands and in Mallorca.
Donald Trump has played down fears of the coronavirus spreading in the US, after requesting an additional $2.5bn to reinforce defences “in case something should happen”.
On Tuesday, during his two-day visit to India, the US president told a news conference that the situation was “very well under control in our country”, as his administration asked Congress for funds to prepare for the possibility of an outbreak – and to assist other nations.
The Associated Press reported that he referenced a group of 14 Americans who tested positive for the coronavirus and were among hundreds of their fellow citizens recently evacuated from a cruise ship off the Japanese coast and brought to US facilities.
Trump said those individuals were placed into quarantine and “we think they’ll be in very good shape very, very soon.” Meanwhile, he said China was getting the epidemic under control.
However, Democrats criticised his response and highlighted how the Trump administration is shifting money from various public health accounts, including the Ebola preparedness fund to make up the $2.5bn figure.
Senate minority leader, Chuck Schumer, said there were a shortage of kits to test for the virus and condemned Trump’s proposed budget cuts to health agencies including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As of Tuesday, the US had 35 of about 80,000 known cases, while one American citizen has died in China.
Hello all, its Mattha Busby here, taking over from my colleague Martin Belam.
The health secretary, Matt Hancock, has said he is not planning a trip to northern Italy, as flights continue to the country despite those returning from affected areas being told to self-isolate.
The government has been forced into a defence of its approach to the coronavirus outbreak after people have complained of conflicting messages, since the Foreign Office has not changed its travel advice or suggested Britons should avoid travelling to Italy.
Hancock told Sky News:
He said travelling to southern Italy would be “perfectly reasonable”, but he was not planning to travel to the north of the country amid what he described as a “significant outbreak” of the coronavirus.
No 10 also insisted there was not a contradiction between the health advice and travel advice in place for northern Italy.
Please email me on mattha.busby.freelance@guardian.co.uk or message me on Twitter @matthabusby if you have any news related to the coronavirus.
About 50 pupils and staff at a school in County Antrim have been sent home as a precaution against coronavirus after they went on a ski trip to northern Italy.
The Cambridge House grammar school group are showing no symptoms and did not visit any of the affected towns – but they were in the Lombardy region and were sent home as a “precautionary” measure, the principal, Elma Lutton, said.
Two schools in Cheshire have also taken precautionary steps after half-term ski trips to Italy, with Cransley school in Northwich completely closing and Brine Leas academy in Nantwich closing its sixth form due to staff shortages as a result of teachers self-isolating.
Here is a summary of what has happened so far today. There have now been 80,000 people affected by the virus around the world.
A hotel in Tenerife where an Italian man who has tested positive for coronavirus was staying has been put on lockdown. One thousand guests at the H10 Costa Adeje Palace hotel have been placed in isolation to halt any further spread of the disease. One British holidaymaker has described the situation as a “holiday from hell”.
Travellers returning to the UK from northern Italy may need to self-isolate as part of measures to stop the spread of coronavirus. Official government advice has been changed to say that those who have been to northern Italy, north of Pisa, should self-isolate if they develop flu-like symptoms on their return to the UK.
Britons who have been in lockdown regions of Italy, including those in the Lombardy and Veneto region, should self-isolate at home for 14 days even if they have no symptoms.
Some schools in the UK have closed or sent pupils home because they had recently returned from skiing visits to northern Italy.
In Iran, the death toll due to the coronavirus has reached 16, a health ministry official told state TV on Tuesday. Iran has the highest number of deaths from coronavirus outside China, where the virus emerged late last year. The deputy health minister, Iraj Harirchi, has been infected and is under quarantine.
Italian authorities 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 Covid-19.
Croatia and Austria became the latest European countries to confirm cases of coronavirus.
Expatriates in Italy have told of confusion in the north of the country, as it battles to contain the coronavirus that appears to have spread to the south.
Jodie, a beautician who has lived in Dolo, between Venice and Padua, for 15 years, said the atmosphere is strange and “no one knows what is going to happen”.
Schools have been closed for the week and the mayor has been keeping residents updated on her Facebook page, while the WhatsApp group she shares with her children’s schoolfriends’ mothers has “started going crazy with panicked messages about the number of cases”.
Mick Parker, who works at an English-language school in Milan that has been closed for the week upon the instruction of the local government, said he is “quite impressed” at how quickly the Italian authorities took action.
He likened the exodus from the city to the month of August, when many people go on holiday.
Kirsten King, who lives about 20 miles away from Vò, Venuto, said the fact a nearby town is closed off with patrols on the road feels “medieval”. Her area has not been locked down, but schools and cinemas are closed and sports events have been cancelled, while most people are staying at home.
“I am sickened by the attempts to manipulate the crisis by the poisonous Matteo Salvini,” she added, after he attempted to politicise the coronavirus outbreak in the country by attacking the Italian government for not defending the country’s borders.
Josie, who is British and has lived in Brescia for two years, said that despite the museums and schools being closed for the week many Italians continuing life as normal she feels anxious.
She teaches English and is worried about going back to work too soon, amid false reports on Monday that a person with the coronavirus died at the local hospital.
Jamie Wakefield, who is from Eastbourne and lives in Rimini, said that despite there being two cases of the coronavirus in Emilia-Romagna, all schools have been closed until next week.
England’s chief medical officer, Prof Chris Whitty, has said that if coronavirus becomes a global pandemic, then schools could be shut and public transport reduced.
Speaking to reporters Whitty said: “There’s no secret there’s a variety of things you need to look at, you look at things like school closures, you look at things like reducing transport.
“The expectation is not that we will do all these things, the expectation is we will be looking systematically, using the science, at all the building blocks and balancing the effects against costs to society.”
He also suggested that if the situation worsened, whole families could be asked to self isolate if one of them had symptoms of the virus. He added: “We might want to look at things like should people stay at home with their families in that situation.”
Some schools in England have already shut today because of fears that pupils may have brought coronavirus back with them from skiing trips in northern Italy. [See 13:17 and 12:11]
In scenes that are becoming increasingly familiar around the world here are some pictures of public places in South Korea being disinfected. With nearly 1,000 confirmed cases, the country now has the highest incidence of coronavirus outside of mainland China.
Schools across the UK are sending pupils home as they struggle to comply with the latest official advice on Covid-19 for students and staff who spent last week’s half-term holiday in northern Italy.
Penair School in Truro this morning told parents to collect children who had been on a skiing trip to Ponte di Legno, which is near the Swiss border and well away from the towns currently under lockdown by the Italian authorities.
In a message sent to parents the Truro school said: “Following an announcement at 8am this morning, regarding the coronavirus, by the health secretary and having sought guidance from Public Health England (PHE) we are required to send all children and staff home who attended the ski trip, to self-quarantine for 14 days. Please be assured this is a precautionary measure.”
Meanwhile Brine Leas Academy in Nantwich said it was temporarily closing its sixth form after teachers and students also returned from a half-term trip to Italy. Cransley School, an independent school also in Cheshire, announced it would close for a week after some pupils reported feeling ill after a skiing trip to Bormio in Lombardy.
The decisions followed today’s updated advice from PHE for travellers returning from northern Italy – defined as north of Pisa, Florence and Rimini – to self-isolate if they felt symptoms of Covid-19, including fever or shortness of breath. PHE also said any travellers who had visited the 11 “specific lockdown areas” in northern Italy since 19 February should call 111 and avoid contact with others.
Other parents report being told to keep their children home from school after returning from family holidays in northern Italy over the half-term break.