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Coronavirus: world on alert as infection spreads – live updates Coronavirus: world on alert as infection spreads – live updates
(32 minutes later)
More than 80,000 cases worldwide as World Health Organization says virus now spreading faster outside China than inside itMore than 80,000 cases worldwide as World Health Organization says virus now spreading faster outside China than inside it
The Romanian health minister, Victor Costache, has said a man from the southern county of Gorj has become the country’s first case.
A small group of pupils at Prince George and Princess Charlotte’s primary school, Thomas’s Battersea have been sent home as a precautionary measure following a trip to northern Italy. A spokesman for Thomas’s Battersea has said:
Bahrain has detected seven new cases of coronavirus, taking the number 33, the country’s minister of health has said. And flights to and from Dubai International airport have been suspended for an additional 48 hours, the country’s Civil Aviation Affairs (CAA) has announced.Bahrain has detected seven new cases of coronavirus, taking the number 33, the country’s minister of health has said. And flights to and from Dubai International airport have been suspended for an additional 48 hours, the country’s Civil Aviation Affairs (CAA) has announced.
The Norwegian public health agency has confirmed that one person has tested positive for coronavirus, according to the Reuters news agency.The Norwegian public health agency has confirmed that one person has tested positive for coronavirus, according to the Reuters news agency.
The person is being kept isolated at home, having returned from China late last week, authorities say. They did not appear ill initially and were deemed unlikely to infect others, the agency said.The person is being kept isolated at home, having returned from China late last week, authorities say. They did not appear ill initially and were deemed unlikely to infect others, the agency said.
Iraq has banned its citizens from traveling to China, Iran and Thailand, as well as South Korea, Japan and Singapore, its health ministry has said. They will also be prevented from traveling to Italy, Kuwait and Bahrain, while the latter two nations have been added to the entry ban list.Iraq has banned its citizens from traveling to China, Iran and Thailand, as well as South Korea, Japan and Singapore, its health ministry has said. They will also be prevented from traveling to Italy, Kuwait and Bahrain, while the latter two nations have been added to the entry ban list.
Public gatherings in places such as cinemas, coffee shops and clubs are also to be banned, while schools and universities will be shut down from 27 February to 7 March.Public gatherings in places such as cinemas, coffee shops and clubs are also to be banned, while schools and universities will be shut down from 27 February to 7 March.
Meanwhile, more has emerged about the first victim to contract the virus in Greece.Meanwhile, more has emerged about the first victim to contract the virus in Greece.
The 38-year-old, while not publicly named, has been identified as a well-known designer who had travelled to northern Italy to attend Milan’s fashion week. She returned to Thessaloniki, Greece’s northern capital, on a Ryanair flight on Sunday and admitted herself to hospital after beginning to feel unwell on Tuesday.The 38-year-old, while not publicly named, has been identified as a well-known designer who had travelled to northern Italy to attend Milan’s fashion week. She returned to Thessaloniki, Greece’s northern capital, on a Ryanair flight on Sunday and admitted herself to hospital after beginning to feel unwell on Tuesday.
The designer, who has also run for public office, is reported to have travelled to Milan with a group of journalists and several town hall councillors. So far, 15 people – including members of her family – have been quarantined for two weeks. But an inquiry is under way as to how many people she has been in contact with.The designer, who has also run for public office, is reported to have travelled to Milan with a group of journalists and several town hall councillors. So far, 15 people – including members of her family – have been quarantined for two weeks. But an inquiry is under way as to how many people she has been in contact with.
A friend who flew with her on what he described as a “packed plane” told Live News the woman “seemed fine, we didn’t understand that anything [was wrong] with her”.A friend who flew with her on what he described as a “packed plane” told Live News the woman “seemed fine, we didn’t understand that anything [was wrong] with her”.
Greece has assigned 13 state-run hospitals to admit Covid-19 patients. The health minister Vassilis Kikilias, who has rescinded leave for medical workers and doctors across the board, is expected to travel to Thessaloniki tomorrow.Greece has assigned 13 state-run hospitals to admit Covid-19 patients. The health minister Vassilis Kikilias, who has rescinded leave for medical workers and doctors across the board, is expected to travel to Thessaloniki tomorrow.
Israel has urged its citizens to reconsider all foreign travel, citing the growing spread of the coronavirus outside the country.Israel has urged its citizens to reconsider all foreign travel, citing the growing spread of the coronavirus outside the country.
Two Israelis who returned home after being quarantined in Japan on the Diamond Princess cruise ship are the only confirmed coronavirus cases in Israel, and the ministry has readied quarantine facilities should more infections occur.Two Israelis who returned home after being quarantined in Japan on the Diamond Princess cruise ship are the only confirmed coronavirus cases in Israel, and the ministry has readied quarantine facilities should more infections occur.
The Israeli health ministry announced that Israelis returning from Italy would be required to go into quarantine at home for two weeks. Expanding its precautionary steps, the ministry said it was also now urging the public “to reconsider the necessity of flights abroad in general, beyond the required isolation upon return from specific countries”.The Israeli health ministry announced that Israelis returning from Italy would be required to go into quarantine at home for two weeks. Expanding its precautionary steps, the ministry said it was also now urging the public “to reconsider the necessity of flights abroad in general, beyond the required isolation upon return from specific countries”.
It said: “The assessment is that there is a high probability the disease has already spread to other regions of Europe and many other places in the world.”It said: “The assessment is that there is a high probability the disease has already spread to other regions of Europe and many other places in the world.”
The ministry had already instructed Israelis returning from Japan, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Thailand and South Korea to go into isolation at home for 14 days.The ministry had already instructed Israelis returning from Japan, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Thailand and South Korea to go into isolation at home for 14 days.
The Georgian citizen who has tested positive for coronavirus was travelling from Iran crossed the border from neighbouring Azerbaijan on Tuesday, the country’s health minister, Ekaterine Tikaradze, has said.The Georgian citizen who has tested positive for coronavirus was travelling from Iran crossed the border from neighbouring Azerbaijan on Tuesday, the country’s health minister, Ekaterine Tikaradze, has said.
Tikaradze said the man travelled by mini-bus with other 12 passengers and was immediately taken to hospital from the border checkpoint. The other people on the vehicle were tested and found not to have the virus, though they were held in quarantine nevertheless, she added.Tikaradze said the man travelled by mini-bus with other 12 passengers and was immediately taken to hospital from the border checkpoint. The other people on the vehicle were tested and found not to have the virus, though they were held in quarantine nevertheless, she added.
The Georgian prime minister, Giorgi Gakharia, has created a group to coordinate actions to try to prevent a disease outbreak in the country, his press service said. The group has decided to suspend travel between Georgia and Iran for two weeks.The Georgian prime minister, Giorgi Gakharia, has created a group to coordinate actions to try to prevent a disease outbreak in the country, his press service said. The group has decided to suspend travel between Georgia and Iran for two weeks.
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.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.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.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: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:
A further 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.A further 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: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.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.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.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: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.
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.
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:
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 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.
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:
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.
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 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.
In the video, broadcast by the BBC, Mandy Davis said:
Speaking alongside her husband, Roger, Davis added: