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Coronavirus live updates: Dow Jones suffers biggest-ever points fall Coronavirus live updates: Dow Jones suffers biggest-ever points fall, Australian market plummets
(32 minutes later)
US share index tumbles 1,190 points, the Netherlands confirms its first case and 50 Britons are allowed to leave Tenerife hotel. Follow the latest newsUS share index tumbles 1,190 points, the Netherlands confirms its first case and 50 Britons are allowed to leave Tenerife hotel. Follow the latest news
MSF has accused Italian authorities of discriminatory action after one of their search and rescue vessels in the Mediterranean was put under quarantine following the disembarkation of 276 passengers who had been rescued at sea.
The Ocean Viking has 32 crew and one journalist aboard, and is among the search and rescue vessels which patrol for boats carrying migrants fleeing to Europe.
MSF said the vessel had complied with all measures and had been anchored off Sicily for nearly five days, and accused authorities of “discriminatorily applying” quarantine restrictions to search and rescue vessels.
Michael Fark, Head of Mission for Libya and Search and Rescue Operations said:
“Quarantining the Ocean Viking is equivalent to stopping an ambulance in the middle of an emergency. This is a discriminatory action – the only vessels that have been put into quarantine are those conducting rescues.
In the past 48 hours we have had reports of boats in distress in the central Mediterranean. We are deeply worried about the fate of people travelling in them.
Although we have fully complied with the preventive measures, we currently have no reason to suspect any of the crew onboard as having contracted, or having been exposed to, the virus. In compliance with a request from Italian authorities, the temperature and health status of all is being checked and reported by MSF medical team onboard twice daily.
As the conflict in Libya escalates, migrants and refugees trapped in the country say they have no other choice but to risk their lives to escape across the Mediterranean. It is urgent for the Ocean Viking to go back to sea to rescue men, women and children from drowning.
The legitimate public health concerns posed by Covid-19 should not be used to justify the prevention of saving lives as sea.”
It’s a continuing fall after an immediate cut on opening.
The ASX200 began the day at 6,657.90, and is currently on 6,540.
Australia’s ASX200 has taken an immediate cut on opening. But it is just an initial 1.5% and not all stocks have started trading yet.
It is wait and see at the moment.
Just picking one stock - Flight Centre. It was trading at $40.04 a share on close on Friday. This morning it’s trading at $32.21 - that’s a drop of nearly 20%
Hello, this is Helen Davidson in Sydney picking up our live coverage of the coronavirus outbreak. Many thanks to Sam Gelder and our London team for their work.Hello, this is Helen Davidson in Sydney picking up our live coverage of the coronavirus outbreak. Many thanks to Sam Gelder and our London team for their work.
I’ll update you with a summary of the latest news shortly, but we are just waiting for the Australian stock market to open any minute, after big falls in New York.I’ll update you with a summary of the latest news shortly, but we are just waiting for the Australian stock market to open any minute, after big falls in New York.
The Dow Jones index of leading US shares suffered its biggest points fall in history amid the coronavirus crisis, closing down 1,190.95 in New York.
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Switzerland rose to nine on Thursday, as the canton of Basel-City put a number of children into a two-week quarantine after one of their caregivers tested positive for the virus.The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Switzerland rose to nine on Thursday, as the canton of Basel-City put a number of children into a two-week quarantine after one of their caregivers tested positive for the virus.
A young woman who returned to work at a daycare centre after travelling to Milan has tested positive for Covid-19, authorities said.A young woman who returned to work at a daycare centre after travelling to Milan has tested positive for Covid-19, authorities said.
“The young woman who resides in the canton of Basel-City is doing well given the circumstances,” the region’s health department said in a statement.“The young woman who resides in the canton of Basel-City is doing well given the circumstances,” the region’s health department said in a statement.
“As a carer for children and young children working at a daycare in Riehen, she came into contact with many children.“As a carer for children and young children working at a daycare in Riehen, she came into contact with many children.
“The health department is now making extensive checks in the patient’s professional and personal environment accordingly.”“The health department is now making extensive checks in the patient’s professional and personal environment accordingly.”
Officials in California are scrambling to retrace the movements of a woman in the state who is believed to be the first person in the US to contract the coronavirus with no known connection to travel abroad or other known causes.Officials in California are scrambling to retrace the movements of a woman in the state who is believed to be the first person in the US to contract the coronavirus with no known connection to travel abroad or other known causes.
Sonia Angell, director of the California Department of Public Health, said on Thursday that the woman, who has not been identified, lives in Solano County in northern California.Sonia Angell, director of the California Department of Public Health, said on Thursday that the woman, who has not been identified, lives in Solano County in northern California.
The county is home to Travis Air Force Base, where dozens of people infected in China or on cruise ships have been treated. But there was no evidence the woman had connections to the base.The county is home to Travis Air Force Base, where dozens of people infected in China or on cruise ships have been treated. But there was no evidence the woman had connections to the base.
Over in sport, the final two stages of the United Arab Emirates Tour have been cancelled amid fears of a further outbreak of coronavirus, according to teams at the cycle race.Over in sport, the final two stages of the United Arab Emirates Tour have been cancelled amid fears of a further outbreak of coronavirus, according to teams at the cycle race.
Chris Froome, who is making his comeback from a career-threatening crash last year, Mark Cavendish and Adam Yates are among the riders who will now be tested for the virus.Chris Froome, who is making his comeback from a career-threatening crash last year, Mark Cavendish and Adam Yates are among the riders who will now be tested for the virus.
The New York Times is reporting that a US government whistleblower has claimed health workers interacted with Americans quarantined for possible exposure to coronavirus without proper medical training or protective gear, then mingled with the general population.The New York Times is reporting that a US government whistleblower has claimed health workers interacted with Americans quarantined for possible exposure to coronavirus without proper medical training or protective gear, then mingled with the general population.
As well as being the Dow’s worst points fall ever, the index’s 4.4% drop was its worst percentage fall in two years.As well as being the Dow’s worst points fall ever, the index’s 4.4% drop was its worst percentage fall in two years.
Meanwhile the tech-focused Nasdaq index tumbled by 4.6%, its worst daily loss since 2011.Meanwhile the tech-focused Nasdaq index tumbled by 4.6%, its worst daily loss since 2011.
Scott Minerd of financial services firm Guggenheim Partners told Bloomberg TV that the coronavirus outbreak “is possibly the worst thing I’ve ever seen in my career”, a time-span which includes the 1987 crash and the collapse of Lehman Brothers.Scott Minerd of financial services firm Guggenheim Partners told Bloomberg TV that the coronavirus outbreak “is possibly the worst thing I’ve ever seen in my career”, a time-span which includes the 1987 crash and the collapse of Lehman Brothers.
“This has the potential to reel into something extremely serious,” Minerd warned. “It’s very hard to imagine a scenario where you can actually contain this, and so that’s the thing that to me is very frightening.”“This has the potential to reel into something extremely serious,” Minerd warned. “It’s very hard to imagine a scenario where you can actually contain this, and so that’s the thing that to me is very frightening.”
CNBC also reports that the Dow – which measures 30 large US companies – and the more broadly-based S&P 500 were also on pace for their worst weekly performance since 2008.CNBC also reports that the Dow – which measures 30 large US companies – and the more broadly-based S&P 500 were also on pace for their worst weekly performance since 2008.
Through Thursday’s close, the Dow was down more than 11% week to date while the S&P 500 had lost 10.8%.Through Thursday’s close, the Dow was down more than 11% week to date while the S&P 500 had lost 10.8%.
The dramatic fall on Wall Street will have sent shivers through the Asia Pacific markets which open in the next 90 mins.The dramatic fall on Wall Street will have sent shivers through the Asia Pacific markets which open in the next 90 mins.
Australia’s ASX200 index is expected to take an early hit with indications of it opening more than 2% down.Australia’s ASX200 index is expected to take an early hit with indications of it opening more than 2% down.
Japan and Hong Kong will likely follow.Japan and Hong Kong will likely follow.
This is Wall Street’s worst day in two years, reports CNBC:
Our business blog has been covering the gyrations in the market throughout the day.
The Dow Jones index of leading US shares has suffered its biggest points fall in history amid the coronavirus crisis, closing down 1,190.95 in New York. Asian and Australian markets are also expected to fall.
Three west German states have reported a total of 19 new cases of coronavirus, a day after the federal health minister said the country is at the start of an epidemic.
In North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany’s most populous state, the health ministry said on Thursday 14 more people had tested positive in the Heinsberg area, where a couple were the first confirmed cases in the state.
The new cases took the total in Heinsberg to 20. All were isolated at home and did not require hospital treatment, the state’s health ministry said.
Further south, Baden-Wuerttemberg reported four new cases, taking its total to eight.The state of Rhineland-Palatinate also said on Thursday a man in Kaiserslautern had tested positive for the virus.
“The male patient is doing well so far. He’s in isolation,” Rhineland-Palatinate’s state government tweeted.
On Wednesday, the federal government’s health minister, Jens Spahn, said Germany was at the beginning of a coronavirus epidemic after new cases sprung up which could no longer be traced to the virus’s original source in China.
Our Ireland correspondent has more details on preparations in the Republic of Ireland:
Confirmation that Northern Ireland’s first case of coronavirus returned from northern Italy via Dublin airport has set off alarm bells in the Republic of Ireland.
Authorities will try to swiftly retrace the patient’s journey – where they sat on the plane, their movements through the airport, and how they travelled to Northern Ireland.
Simon Harris, the health minister, says Ireland is prepared for an outbreak. But Michael O’Dwyer, head of the department of anaesthesia and critical care at St Vincent’s University hospital in Dublin, told the Irish Times on Thursday that Ireland would struggle to handle even a small number of severely ill patients because the main Dublin hospitals lack capacity for extra patients requiring intensive care.
Even before disclosure of Northern Ireland’s first case there was a question mark over St Patrick’s festival events across the island.
The St Patrick’s Festival committee, which organises events from 13 to 17 March, said it would follow official guidance on risk assessment.
“We have underscored the very urgent need for this documentation to be made available to the festival, so that an informed and prompt decision can be made regarding our forthcoming events. We have clarified to the relevant authorities our readiness to respond in whatever way is required of us in the best interests of public safety.”
The Netherlands has confirmed its first case of coronavirus.
The Dutch National Institute for Public Health said in a statement the patient in the southern city of Tilburg had recently travelled in northern Italy and is now being treated in isolation.
California health officials are monitoring 8,400 people for coronavirus symptoms after their arrival on domestic commercial flights, but the state had only a limited supply of test kits available, governor Gavin Newsom has said.
The state currently has only about 200 test kits, an “inadequate” number, but has been in “constant contact with federal agencies” that have promised to send a fresh supply of kits in coming days, he said at news briefing in Sacramento.
California officials said 33 people had tested positive for the virus there, but five had since left the state.
The state on Wednesday reported the first known case of the virus in the US of unknown origin. The patient had not recently traveled to an area with a reported outbreak, and was not exposed to another known infected person.
The Republic of Ireland’s health minister said the first case of coronavirus confirmed in Northern Ireland was “not unexpected”.
Simon Harris said:
Dr Tony Holohan, chief medical officer in the Department of Health, said: “The HSE is well prepared and is working to inform any contacts the patient had in order to prevent transmission.”
Facebook has cancelled F8, its annual conference for developers, because of Covid-19.
Read the full story here.
The NHS is rolling out new services to test people for coronavirus, including “drive through” testing in west London.
The service, provided by Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust in Parsons Green, is only available after a referral from NHS 111.
It comes after the NHS’ strategic incident director for coronavirus asked health services across the country to set up home and community testing.
People are invited to an appointment in their car, where two community nurses carry out a swab in the nose and mouth. The patient is then asked to self-isolate while the swabs are assessed within 72 hours.
The European Football Championship will kick off in Rome as planned, Uefa has insisted, despite the growing number of coronavirus cases in Italy.
It comes as an unnamed professional footballer in the Italian third tier has tested positive for Covid-19.
Read the full story here.