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Coronavirus: Ireland v Italy Six Nations games postponed amid global rise in cases - live updates Coronavirus: Ireland v Italy Six Nations games postponed amid global rise in cases - live updates
(32 minutes later)
More than 80,000 cases worldwide as World Health Organisation says virus now spreading faster outside China than in itMore than 80,000 cases worldwide as World Health Organisation says virus now spreading faster outside China than in it
Here’s a little more detail on the announcement that an 18th person has tested positive for coronavirus in France. The health minister, Olivier Veran, has said: “There is no epidemic in the country, just isolated cases.” He added that 15 million protection masks would be made available.
The health ministry director, Jerome Salomon, said that, out of the 18 cases, two people have died, 12 have recovered and four are still hospitalised.
British Airways is cancelling dozens of flights serving Milan due to a drop in demand amid the coronavirus outbreak.
The airline announced it was “merging” some of its flights between Heathrow and the Italian city’s Linate airport. About 22 return flights over the next two weeks are affected. BA flights to and from Milan Malpensa are continuing as normal. A spokesman for the airline said:
Another education college has closed its student accommodation and one of its departments as a precaution against Covid-19 spreading after staff and students returned from Italy.
Shuttleworth College, part of Bedford College, told students on Wednesday that its outdoor education department would be closed until next week along with residential facilities, after students had been skiing in Piedmont. The college said:
The Shuttleworth students returned from the trip on 16 February, before the 19 February danger period for northern Italy specified by Public Health England. The skiing took place at a resort close to the border with Switzerland, more than 200 km from the hotspots identified by the Italian government.
In a sign of colleges and universities looking to avoid further disruption, the University of East Anglia has decided to cancel a student trip to Italy planned for Easter.
A group of more than 20 UEA students and staff were to attend an international journalism festival in Perugia in April, but the course director decided to cancel the trip.
Meanwhile, more than a dozen schools in the UK have shut because of coronavirus fears. Tudor Grange Academy Kingshurst, a secondary school in Birmingham with 1,500 pupils, announced on Wednesday that it was closing after students returning from a skiing trip to Italy fell ill. Its principal, Darren Turner, told parents:
The Georgian health minister has said the country has identified its first case of coronavirus, increasing the number of countries to which the virus has spread.
An 18th case has also been confirmed in France, according to that country’s health minister.
A Nottingham-based firm that organises school trips to Italy, Halsbury, has said it took more than 50 groups to the country in the past two weeks; though none had gone to any of the 11 towns now covered by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s (FCO) advice.
About 70 more trips are planned in the coming months and the firm said that, since none of those was heading to one of the quarantined towns either, it did not anticipate any cancellations.
It said four groups who were due to travel to China have cancelled their trips, in line with FCO advice.
Finland has confirmed its second case of the virus, according to the Finnish News Agency. It said the patient, a woman of “working age”, was being treated at hospital in the capital Helsinki. She had travelled recently to Milan, in Italy.Finland has confirmed its second case of the virus, according to the Finnish News Agency. It said the patient, a woman of “working age”, was being treated at hospital in the capital Helsinki. She had travelled recently to Milan, in Italy.
The news site Iltalehti said it was Finland’s second case after an earlier case was confirmed in Lapland.The news site Iltalehti said it was Finland’s second case after an earlier case was confirmed in Lapland.
Iran has imposed travel restrictions and suspended Friday prayers in areas hit by the virus.Iran has imposed travel restrictions and suspended Friday prayers in areas hit by the virus.
The official death toll from the virus currently stands at 19, with 139 confirmed cases. But there are fears these figures mask the true scale of the outbreak after a reformist website reported 50 deaths linked to the virus.The official death toll from the virus currently stands at 19, with 139 confirmed cases. But there are fears these figures mask the true scale of the outbreak after a reformist website reported 50 deaths linked to the virus.
A senior health official has confirmed Pakistan’s first two diagnosed cases of coronavirus. Dr Zafar Mirza, special assistant to the prime minister on health, tweeted:A senior health official has confirmed Pakistan’s first two diagnosed cases of coronavirus. Dr Zafar Mirza, special assistant to the prime minister on health, tweeted:
One of the cases was detected in Pakistan’s largest city, Karachi, a provincial official said earlier. The patient had travelled to Iran. It is not clear where the second infected person was based, or if they too had travelled to Iran.One of the cases was detected in Pakistan’s largest city, Karachi, a provincial official said earlier. The patient had travelled to Iran. It is not clear where the second infected person was based, or if they too had travelled to Iran.
The Geneva International Motor Show, which attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors, is set to go ahead next week, despite the advice of experts to cancel such events to help stop the spread of coronavirus.The Geneva International Motor Show, which attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors, is set to go ahead next week, despite the advice of experts to cancel such events to help stop the spread of coronavirus.
The organiser, Palexpo SA, has said it will ask exhibitors from at-risk areas to run “necessary checks” to avoid spreading the virus. Switzerland confirmed its first case today linked to the outbreak in neighbouring Italy.The organiser, Palexpo SA, has said it will ask exhibitors from at-risk areas to run “necessary checks” to avoid spreading the virus. Switzerland confirmed its first case today linked to the outbreak in neighbouring Italy.
The show takes place near the headquarters of the World Health Organization, which is currently trying to coordinate efforts to stop the spread of the disease.The show takes place near the headquarters of the World Health Organization, which is currently trying to coordinate efforts to stop the spread of the disease.
Prof Marc Lipsitch, the director of Harvard University’s Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics, has urged organisers to continue cancelling large international events.Prof Marc Lipsitch, the director of Harvard University’s Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics, has urged organisers to continue cancelling large international events.
Writing on his blog this week, he said:Writing on his blog this week, he said:
And Prof Marcel Salathé, an epidemiologist at the Swiss EPFL institute, had a similar message:And Prof Marcel Salathé, an epidemiologist at the Swiss EPFL institute, had a similar message:
Pakistan has reported its first case of coronavirus, according to local media. The patient, a 22-year-old from Karachi, had recently returned from Iran.Pakistan has reported its first case of coronavirus, according to local media. The patient, a 22-year-old from Karachi, had recently returned from Iran.
Russia has become the latest country to advise its citizens against travelling to Italy.Russia has become the latest country to advise its citizens against travelling to Italy.
The opening three races of the Formula One season are coming under increasing threat of cancellation as the coronavirus outbreak continues to spread outside China.The opening three races of the Formula One season are coming under increasing threat of cancellation as the coronavirus outbreak continues to spread outside China.
The Chinese Grand Prix has already been postponed but the spread of the virus in Italy and Japan has resulted in concern that the meetings in Australia, Bahrain and Vietnam may also be affected. On Wednesday, Ferrari announced the suspension of non-critical business travel as well as the restriction of external access to its factory in Maranello, located 140km from the centre of the outbreak in Italy, Codogno.The Chinese Grand Prix has already been postponed but the spread of the virus in Italy and Japan has resulted in concern that the meetings in Australia, Bahrain and Vietnam may also be affected. On Wednesday, Ferrari announced the suspension of non-critical business travel as well as the restriction of external access to its factory in Maranello, located 140km from the centre of the outbreak in Italy, Codogno.
A British couple quarantined in Costa Adeje Palace hotel, in Tenerife, have put out a video appeal to Boris Johnson to bring them home.A British couple quarantined in Costa Adeje Palace hotel, in Tenerife, have put out a video appeal to Boris Johnson to bring them home.
In the video, broadcast by the BBC, Mandy Davis said:In the video, broadcast by the BBC, Mandy Davis said:
Speaking alongside her husband, Roger, Davis added:Speaking alongside her husband, Roger, Davis added:
A 60-year-old teacher who fell ill with coronavirus has become the second fatality in France from the illness, AFP reports.
The man died overnight in a hospital in the capital, bringing the coronavirus death toll in the country to two, said the health ministry’s deputy head, Jérôme Salomon.
The first victim was an 80-year-old Chinese tourist who died in hospital in mid-February.
The teacher, who worked at a junior high school in the town of Crépy-en-Valois, about 80 km (50 miles) north-east of Paris, had not travelled to an area affected by the global coronavirus outbreak, said Etienne Champion, the director general of the health agency of the Hauts-de-France region.
After feeling unwell he stopped work on 12 February, at the start of the mid-term school holidays. He was tested for the coronavirus in the emergency ward of a Paris hospital on Tuesday, shortly before he died.
Apart from the teacher, France has reported four other new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours: two in people returning from the Lombardy region of Italy, at the centre of Europe’s biggest outbreak of the disease.
Eleven people have recovered in France, bringing the total of diagnosed cases in the country to 17.
Among the four still in hospital, a 55-year-old man from the same region as the teacher was in a serious condition in hospital, said Champion.
A British teacher, living in a Chinese “ghost town”, has been sharing video blogs of life at the centre of the coronavirus outbreak.
Ardit Ajeti, 24, from Wimbledon, in south-west London, was living and working as a PE teacher in Guangzhou when the virus outbreak resulted in the entire city being placed on lockdown.He says the Chinese government has forbidden residents from leaving the city after it was placed into a 14-day quarantine on Wednesday.
Although supermarkets are not experiencing food shortages, restaurants have been banned from opening, with only takeaways and grocery stores allowed to sell food.
Residential areas have been cordoned off, and citizens have to go through temperature checks before being allowed in and out of certain parts of the city.
Videos posted on Ajeti’s YouTube site show him exploring the city, with normally busy areas completely empty.
Speaking to PA Media, he said:
Although his school is closed and Ajeti is no longer able to teach, he said the Chinese government confirmed everyone would still be paid their full salaries.
The health secretary, Matt Hancock, has clarified advice on travel to Italy following the coronavirus deaths in the north of the country, after he was accused of creating confusion for British tourists.
On Tuesday, when asked whether he would travel to the Lombardy region, he said: “I’m not planning to go, put it that way.” His comments attracted criticism that he was contradicting official UK government advice that people should only avoid travel to towns in Lombardy that are under confinement.
Giving an update to MPs on Wednesday, Hancock was asked by the shadow health secretary, Jon Ashworth, about the “discrepancy”.
Hancock replied: “All but essential travel is not recommended to the quarantined areas in northern Italy and the advice for those returning from northern Italy is very clear, which is if you are coming back from the quarantined areas then please self-isolate and if you’re coming back from the whole of northern Italy then please self-isolate if you have symptoms. I hope that advice is clear.”
Ireland’s Six Nations rugby matches against Italy in Dublin on the weekend of 6-8 March have been postponed – and possibly cancelled – because of the coronavirus outbreak.
Philip Browne, the chief executive of the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU), announced the decision on Wednesday afternoon after meeting a delegation of health officials led by the health minister, Simon Harris.
Browne said: “We were then advised, formally, that the National Public Health Emergency team has determined that the series of matches should not proceed, in the interests of public health. The IRFU is perfectly happy to comply with this instruction.”
He added that the 7 March men’s game at the Aviva Stadium as well as the women’s match on 8 March and an Under-20s Six Nations fixture between the countries on 6 March may be held later: “We will immediately begin to work with our Six Nations partners to look at the possibility of rescheduling those matches. I would hope to have an update on that in the coming days.”
The IRFU had been expected to act after Harris said on Tuesday that Italy’s multiplying cases of coronavirus made the games – which would draw thousands of Italian fans to Dublin – too risky. He had said: “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.
What you need to know if you are told to self-isolate or your child is sent home from school:
The Queen’s granddaughter Zara Phillips and her husband, the former England rugby player Mike Tindall, will not be self-isolating despite returning from a skiing trip in northern Italy, where a coronavirus outbreak has been spreading.Phillips and Tindall were skiing in Bormio, a town in the Lombardy region of the Alps in northern Italy.
The couple’s management said the pair were following government guidelines and medical advice, although they currently did not have any symptoms of the infection and so would not be going into self-isolation.
Here’s a summary of events so far today:
Ireland’s rugby union matches against Italy has been called off due to fears about coronavirus. The decision to postpone the men’s fixture on 7 March, the women’s match on 8 March and Under-20s match on 6 March came after the intervention of the Irish government.
Donald Trump is to give a news conference on coronavirus later on Wednesday. He suggested the event was planned to counter false claims that have panicked the financial markets.
The number of new coronavirus cases reported outside China has exceeded those in the country for the first time. Despite the turning point, the World Health Organization (WHO) has again resisted declaring the outbreak a pandemic.
WHO expert who led a delegation to Wuhan has warned countries outside China are “simply not ready” for a pandemic. The virus has infected more than 81,000 people, and killed 2,762, the vast majority of cases in mainland China and in particular Hubei province.
South Korea reported a further 284 new coronavirus cases, taking its total to 1,261. The authorities said they planned to test about 200,000 members of a secretive church believed to be at the centre of the outbreak.
British tourists quarantined in a Tenerife hotel where four former guests tested positive for coronavirus say they are desperate to return to the UK to avoid contracting the disease. They fear that being locked in the four-star hotel means they will face the same outcome as passengers onboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship, where the virus spread as the boat was quarantined off Yokohama.
A hotel in the Austrian city of Innsbruck remains under lockdown after its Italian receptionist tested positive. 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 receptionist.
Greece has reported its first confirmed case of coronavirus. The Greek health ministry said the patientwas a 38-year-old woman who had recently travelled to northern Italy.
A 12th coronavirus patient in northern Italy has died. The number of confirmed cases has risen to 374, an increase of more than 50 on the day before.
Facebook is to ban ads that promise to cure coronavirus or incite panic around the outbreak in its latest attempt to prevent misinformation. 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”.
The health minister, Matt Hancock, said the government expects the number of cases in the UK to increase. He told the Commons the government had a four-point strategy: contain, delay, research and mitigate.
Three more people died in Iran, bringing the total to 16 from almost 100 cases. And Latin America recorded its first case with a patient in Brazil testing positive.
The decision to cancel Ireland’s games against Italy came after the intervention of Ireland’s health minister, Simon Harris, who told RTE news:
Ireland’s rugby matches against Italy have been cancelled over fears about coronavirus. The 7 March men’s game at the Aviva Stadium as well as the women’s match on 8 March and an Under-20s Six Nations fixture between the countries on 6 March may be staged later in the year.