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Coronavirus: WHO says more new cases outside China every day than inside - live updates Coronavirus: WHO says more new cases outside China every day than inside - live updates
(32 minutes later)
More than 80,000 cases worldwide as impact on financial markets continues and UK schools told not to shut over infection fears. Follow live newsMore than 80,000 cases worldwide as impact on financial markets continues and UK schools told not to shut over infection fears. Follow live news
French authorities are urgently trying to trace the source of the coronavirus infection that claimed the life of a 60 year old French citizen who died over night in the Pitié-Salpêtrière hospital in Paris as five new infections were reported in the country. The first person to have succumbed to Covid-19 in Greece is doing well, doctors say.
According to officials the individual had travelled to neither China or northern Italy. The French fatality was identified as a teacher from L’Oise region in northern France who suffered a massive pulmonary embolism as the result of the virus. The teacher is the second infection identified in the L’Oise region. The 38-year-old woman, who recently travelled to northern Italy where she is believed to have contracted the virus, is likely to spend weeks undergoing treatment in the specialist ward of Thessaloniki’s Ahepa hospital, said Sotiris Tsiodras, heading the contagious diseases team at the Ministry of Health.
There have been more new detections of coronavirus outside China than inside, in a major turning point in the international spread of Covid-19, the World Health Organisation reports. Her relatives have been placed in quarantine, while an inquiry is underway to ascertain who she has been in contact with.
In his opening remarks to the mission briefing on Covid-19, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the WHO, highlighted what appeared to be a slowing in the rate of new infections inside China, where the outbreak began, as well as a number of countries that appeared to have nipped incipient outbreaks in the bud. “The young woman is in good condition and is being watched by a team of excellent doctors,” Tsiodras told a packed news conference emphasising how vital it was that people kept to basic hygiene rules such as regularly washing their hands.
He went on: “In the coming those who have come from affected areas of northern Italy must stay at home and monitor their health and in the event of symptoms inform their doctor,” he said, adding that the 38-year-old was otherwise in good health.
Groups of Greek school children, who had been travelling in Italy at the time of the outbreak, continued Wednesday to be brought back to Greece.
There are concerns that after years of being savaged by steep budget cuts as a result of its long running debt crisis, Greece’s public health system will struggle to cope if the disease isn’t contained. “Everyone knows that our public hospitals are not in the best way,” Andreas Mendis at the country’s Pasteur Institute told local TV. “But on issues of public health we have a good record.” Alarmed by the spread of the virus across Europe and in parts of the neighbouring Balkans, the Greek government announced an array of preventative measures on Tuesday. They include Greek authorities having the right to use private clinics and medical services if required to curb the disease.
Authorities in the Canaries have said guests in a Tenerife hotel which hosted an Italian couple who tested positive for coronavirus must be isolated for 14 days.
Hundreds of tourists had remained confined to the hotel for a second straight day on Wednesday as a precaution. The Italian doctor and his wife who had tested positive were already in quarantine at a Tenerife hospital. Eight other Italians who travelled with them were showing no symptoms, according to reports.
British holidaymakers are among those now stuck at the four-star H10 Costa Adeje Palace in the south-west of the island.
Relatives of one 82-year-old British widower, Alan Cunliffe, a retired builder from Wigan, have raised concerns after guests were sent a letter saying the hotel is “closed down” and they must remain in their rooms until further notice. Jon Butler, Mr Cunliffe’s nephew, said:
Donald Trump has praised his health secretary and the Centres for Disease Control for doing “a great job with respect to coronavirus!”
Facebook is banning ads that promise to cure coronavirus or incite panic around the outbreak in its latest attempt to prevent misinformation, PA Media reports.
The tech firm said it is prohibiting advertising that creates “a sense of urgency” about the Covid-19 illness, such as those that “imply a limited supply, or guarantee a cure or prevention”.
This includes ads for face masks that claim to be 100% guaranteed to prevent the spread of the virus. The rules also extend to those trying to sell related items on the social network’s Marketplace platform.
Facebook is already cracking down on posts that promote fake miracle cures for coronavirus, such as false suggestions that drinking bleach is a solution. A Facebook spokesman said:
French authorities are urgently trying to trace the source of the coronavirus infection that claimed the life of a 60-year-old citizen who died over night in the Pitié-Salpêtrière hospital, in Paris, as five new infections were reported in the country.
According to officials the individual had not travelled to either China or northern Italy. The French fatality was identified as a teacher from L’Oise region, in northern France, who suffered a massive pulmonary embolism as a result of the virus. The teacher is the second infection identified in the L’Oise region.
There have been more new detections of coronavirus outside China than inside, in a major turning point in the international spread of Covid-19, the World Health Organization reports.
In his opening remarks in a briefing on Covid-19, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general of the WHO, highlighted what appeared to be a slowing in the rate of new infections inside China, where the outbreak began, as well as a number of countries that appeared to have nipped incipient outbreaks in the bud.
He said:
Algeria is not planning to ban public protests or suspend flights to Italy after the country’s first case of the coronavirus was identified in an Italian man, a health ministry official was reported as saying by Reuters on Wednesday.Algeria is not planning to ban public protests or suspend flights to Italy after the country’s first case of the coronavirus was identified in an Italian man, a health ministry official was reported as saying by Reuters on Wednesday.
Speaking at a news conference in Algiers, Djamel Fouar, the director of prevention and control of communicable diseases, said authorities were monitoring everyone who had had been in contact with the 61-year-old patient.Speaking at a news conference in Algiers, Djamel Fouar, the director of prevention and control of communicable diseases, said authorities were monitoring everyone who had had been in contact with the 61-year-old patient.
The man is from Milan, in northern Italy, the centre of the country’s outbreak, and travelled through Algiers to Ouargla, in southern Algeria, a centre for the oil and gas industry.The man is from Milan, in northern Italy, the centre of the country’s outbreak, and travelled through Algiers to Ouargla, in southern Algeria, a centre for the oil and gas industry.
Asked about a possible suspension of flights or a bar on the mass weekly protests that have rocked Algeria for more than a year, Fouar said such measures were “not on the agenda”.Asked about a possible suspension of flights or a bar on the mass weekly protests that have rocked Algeria for more than a year, Fouar said such measures were “not on the agenda”.
However, he said authorities would reinforce controls on planes arriving in Algeria, particularly those coming from Italy.However, he said authorities would reinforce controls on planes arriving in Algeria, particularly those coming from Italy.
Irish rugby officials are expected to bow to pressure to cancel a Six Nations game between Ireland and Italy because of the coronavirus outbreak. There is also speculation that some St Patrick’s Day celebrations will be cancelled or restricted, Rory Carroll, our Ireland correspondent, reports.Irish rugby officials are expected to bow to pressure to cancel a Six Nations game between Ireland and Italy because of the coronavirus outbreak. There is also speculation that some St Patrick’s Day celebrations will be cancelled or restricted, Rory Carroll, our Ireland correspondent, reports.
Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) representatives are due to meet the health minister, Simon Harris, at 12.30pm on Wednesday to discuss his recommendation to scrap the 7 March game against Italy at the Aviva stadium in Dublin.Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) representatives are due to meet the health minister, Simon Harris, at 12.30pm on Wednesday to discuss his recommendation to scrap the 7 March game against Italy at the Aviva stadium in Dublin.
The IRFU requested the meeting to clarify “specific reasoning” for the recommendation, which followed fresh National Public Health Emergency Team advice on travel and mass gatherings. Several thousand fans from Italy, which has reported more than 280 cases, were expected to travel to Dublin for the match.The IRFU requested the meeting to clarify “specific reasoning” for the recommendation, which followed fresh National Public Health Emergency Team advice on travel and mass gatherings. Several thousand fans from Italy, which has reported more than 280 cases, were expected to travel to Dublin for the match.
“The very clear view of the public health emergency team was that this game should not go ahead, that it would constitute a very significant risk,” said Harris.“The very clear view of the public health emergency team was that this game should not go ahead, that it would constitute a very significant risk,” said Harris.
The sport minister, Shane Ross, told RTE on Wednesday that cancelling the game would be disappointing but necessary and wise.The sport minister, Shane Ross, told RTE on Wednesday that cancelling the game would be disappointing but necessary and wise.
The chief medical officer at the department of health, Tony Holohan, said other mass gatherings such as St Patrick’s Day celebrations on 17 March would be reviewed.The chief medical officer at the department of health, Tony Holohan, said other mass gatherings such as St Patrick’s Day celebrations on 17 March would be reviewed.
St Patrick’s festival organisers said in a statement: “We follow the advice and direction of relevant authorities in all matters of public safety.”St Patrick’s festival organisers said in a statement: “We follow the advice and direction of relevant authorities in all matters of public safety.”
Parents whose children have been sent home from school over fears of the potential spread of coronavirus have been getting in touch with the Guardian.Parents whose children have been sent home from school over fears of the potential spread of coronavirus have been getting in touch with the Guardian.
One mother told my colleague Molly Blackall that her daughters had just returned from a skiing trip to northern Italy, the European region worst-affected so far by the outbreak.One mother told my colleague Molly Blackall that her daughters had just returned from a skiing trip to northern Italy, the European region worst-affected so far by the outbreak.
Gwyneth Paltrow has shared a photograph of herself with a mask covering her mouth as she travelled to Paris.Gwyneth Paltrow has shared a photograph of herself with a mask covering her mouth as she travelled to Paris.
The actress – who starred in the 2011 thriller Contagion, about a deadly virus that swept the world – wrote on Instagram: “En route to Paris. Paranoid? Prudent? Panicked? Placid? Pandemic? Propaganda? Paltrow’s just going to go ahead and sleep with this thing on the plane.The actress – who starred in the 2011 thriller Contagion, about a deadly virus that swept the world – wrote on Instagram: “En route to Paris. Paranoid? Prudent? Panicked? Placid? Pandemic? Propaganda? Paltrow’s just going to go ahead and sleep with this thing on the plane.
“I’ve already been in this movie. Stay safe. Don’t shake hands. Wash hands frequently.”“I’ve already been in this movie. Stay safe. Don’t shake hands. Wash hands frequently.”
A government test in Brazil has confirmed the first case of coronavirus in Latin America, a source told Reuters on Wednesday.A government test in Brazil has confirmed the first case of coronavirus in Latin America, a source told Reuters on Wednesday.
Brazil’s health ministry declined to comment on the result of the test ahead of a news conference at 11am local time (1400 GMT), the agency reported.Brazil’s health ministry declined to comment on the result of the test ahead of a news conference at 11am local time (1400 GMT), the agency reported.
A person familiar with the matter spoke on condition of anonymity because the results were not yet public.A person familiar with the matter spoke on condition of anonymity because the results were not yet public.
A 12th person has died in northern Italy of coronavirus, while the number of confirmed cases has risen to 374, an increase of more than 50 on the day before, the head of the civil protection agency said on Wednesday, Reuters reports.A 12th person has died in northern Italy of coronavirus, while the number of confirmed cases has risen to 374, an increase of more than 50 on the day before, the head of the civil protection agency said on Wednesday, Reuters reports.
Angelo Borrelli told reporters the latest fatality was male and aged 69. All those who have died so far in the outbreak in Italy, which came to light on Friday, have been elderly and most had underlying health problems.Angelo Borrelli told reporters the latest fatality was male and aged 69. All those who have died so far in the outbreak in Italy, which came to light on Friday, have been elderly and most had underlying health problems.
Greece has reported its first confirmed case of coronavirus, according to AFP.
A spokesman for the Greek health ministry said the patient, a 38-year-old woman who had recently travelled to northern Italy, was in a Thessaloniki hospital and in good condition.
It comes after Greek authorities outlined the measures the country would take in the event of a mass outbreak, including a shutdown of public areas and travel restrictions.
The measures, contained in a government decree, include temporary travel bans to and from countries with a large number of infections and enable beds to be requisitioned in hotels and private clinics.
The decree also foresees the temporary closure of “indoor public gathering areas” such as schools, places of worship, cinemas, theatres, sports halls and businesses.
“We are ready to do whatever is necessary to protect public health,” said government spokesman Stelios Petsas.
The German government sees no need to advise its citizens against travel to Italy, which has become a new frontline in the global outbreak of coronavirus, a foreign ministry spokesman said on Wednesday.
“We are far from this scenario,” the spokesman told a regular government news conference when asked about whether a travel warning was needed, according to a Reuters report.
A government spokesman said the outbreak in Italy presented Europe with a new situation. Germany was working closely with its European partners to try to prevent the spread of the disease, he said.
Nick Robinson, the BBC presenter, is beginning 48 hours of self-isolation while he awaits the results of a coronavirus test after returning from holiday in south-east Asia.
Matt Hancock, the health secretary, is making a Commons statement on coronavirus after 12.30pm, according to a post on our politics liveblog.
In an interesting reversal, travellers entering Beijing will be subject to 14 days quarantine if they have been to countries seriously impacted by the coronavirus outbreak.
The city’s health commission spokesman, Gao Xiaojun, outlined the new rules at a press briefing on Wednesday.
The coronavirus outbreak has infected more than 80,000 people worldwide, the vast majority of them in China. There have been nearly 50 deaths outside China, including 16 in Iran and 11 in Italy, according to a Reuters tally.
A hotel in the Austrian city of Innsbruck remains under lockdown after its Italian receptionist tested positive for the Covid-19 virus, Philip Oltermann, the Guardian’s Berlin bureau chief, reports.
The woman and her partner, both 24 and from Bergamo, in Lombardy, had driven to Innsbruck last Friday and contacted a clinic after coming down with a fever on Sunday.
Authorities say 62 people at Innsbruck’s Europa hotel have been tested for possible infection with the virus, of which 12 have been quarantined for two weeks because they were in close contact with the couple. All 62 people were reportedly in good health and the Italian couple’s temperatures had subsided, health authorities in the Tyrol region said.
The Austrian chancellor, Sebastian Kurz, had stayed at the same hotel in Innsbruck last Tuesday, the Kleine Zeitung newspaper reported on Wednesday, before the Italian receptionist had returned from Lombardy.
Overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday, a 56-year-old Italian woman from Udine died while holidaying in the town of Bad Kleinkirchheim, Carinthia, in Austria. Austrian media reported doctors were testing whether the woman had been infected with the virus.
In Vienna, a school was evacuated on Wednesday morning after it emerged that one of its teachers could have caught the virus while holidaying in northern Italy, Kronen Zeitung newspaper reported.
Two cases of Corona virus have been confirmed in Germany. A 25-year-old man from the town of Göppingen, in Baden-Württemberg in the south-west of the country, was reported on Tuesday evening to have caught the virus on a trip to northern Italy. The man was said not to be in a serious condition.
In the large state of North-Rhine Westphalia, a 47-year-old man was reported to be seriously ill with pneumonia after coming into contact with the virus. The man, who is believed to have a recent history of illness, is being monitored on an isolated unit in Düsseldorf.
Spain has reported another case of coronavirus - the second in the Madrid area - bringing the total number of cases here to eight, Sam Jones, the Guardian’s Madrid correspondent, reports.
The latest case once again concerns a person who had recently travelled to northern Italy, the location of Europe’s biggest outbreak of the virus. As well as the two cases in Madrid, there are four cases in Tenerife - where hundreds of guests and staff remain under quarantine in a hotel - one in Barcelona and another in Valencia.
Two people who tested positive for the virus in Mallorca and the Canaries a few weeks ago have now been given the all-clear.
The medical director of Public Health England, Paul Cosford, has confirmed that the health agency is not advising that English schools shut over fears of a coronavirus outbreak. He told the Today programme on BBC Radio 4 on Wednesday morning:
Public Health England was available to talk to schools about their “specific circumstances” and “help them make the right decisions for them”, he said.
A Chinese national with coronavirus is facing up to six months in jail in Singapore after being charged with allegedly giving false information about his whereabouts in the city, according to a Reuters report.
Singapore’s health ministry said it had charged the 38-year-old man from Wuhan, the Chinese city where the virus first surfaced late last year, and his wife who resides in Singapore for allegedly providing false information to authorities about their movements.
The husband had been confirmed to be infected with the virus in late January, and has since recovered, while his wife had been quarantined due to her close contact with him.
The health ministry said “detailed investigations” had established their true movements and they were charged “in view of the potentially serious repercussions of the false information...and the risk they could have posed to public health”.
Charges under the Infectious Diseases Act are rare and this is the first case during the coronavirus outbreak in Singapore. First time offenders under the Act can be fined up to S$10,000 ($7,147) or imprisoned for six months, or both.
There is outrage brewing in Vietnam over the behaviour of a group of South Korean tourists from Daegu, at the centre of the their country’s coronavirus outbreak, who caused a fuss when Vietnamese authorities tried to put them in quarantine.
The story, so far as I can gather from tweets with the hashtag #apologizeVietNam, is that after the South Korean tourists arrived in Vietnam they refused quarantine at the local specialist hospital, forcing authorities to instead isolate them in a four-star hotel.
To add insult to injury, when the group returned to South Korea, they criticised the Vietnamese hospitality, in particular deriding the local speciality bánh mì as “just some pieces of bread”.