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Coronavirus: Italy death toll rises to 21 as UK confirms 20th case – live updates Coronavirus: Italy death toll rises to 21 as UK confirms 20th case – live updates
(32 minutes later)
Italian civil protection chief confirms 820 cases in the country while Boris Johnson says Covid-19 is UK government’s top priority. Follow live newsItalian civil protection chief confirms 820 cases in the country while Boris Johnson says Covid-19 is UK government’s top priority. Follow live news
Whately said thoroughly washing hands and coughing or sneezing into a tissue before disposing of it remained the best way of limiting the spread of coronavirus. Asked about the increasing use of face masks, she told the BBC:
It is likely more people in the UK will contract coronavirus, a government minister has said. But Helen Whately, added that plans were in place should it become a pandemic. The Department of Health and Social Care minister told BBC Newsnight:
Asked whether that meant mass gatherings could be banned and schools closed, such as in parts of Italy, she said such measures were “being considered”.
But Whatley said there was still “very clear guidance” that “schools should not be, in general, planning to close”.
The Reuters news agency is reporting that the United States will postpone a meeting with leaders of Southeast Asian countries it planned to host on 14 March.
The US president, Donald Trump, had invited leaders of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian nations to meet in Las Vegas after he did not attend a summit with the group in Bangkok in November.
Reuters cited two unnamed US officials it said were familiar with the matter. The Guardian has not independently confirmed the report and the US State Department did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment.
BTS, the K-Pop band, have cancelled four concerts due to be held in Seoul in April as South Korea’s coronavirus cases jumped by nearly 600 – a larger rise than the daily increase reported in China.
The seven-piece boyband, one of the biggest acts in the world, had scheduled the gigs at the South Korean capital’s Olympic Stadium to promote their new album “Map of the Soul: 7”. More than 200,000 fans were expected to attend, their agency Big Hit Entertainment said in a statement.
A second coronavirus case in a northern Californian patient with no links to international travel has reportedly been identified. The Washington Post quoted Jennifer Nuzzo, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins centre for health security, as saying:A second coronavirus case in a northern Californian patient with no links to international travel has reportedly been identified. The Washington Post quoted Jennifer Nuzzo, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins centre for health security, as saying:
The North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un, has overseen military drills, state media KCNA say, in a rare public outing amid efforts to prevent an outbreak of the coronavirus in the isolated country.The North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un, has overseen military drills, state media KCNA say, in a rare public outing amid efforts to prevent an outbreak of the coronavirus in the isolated country.
The Reuters news agency reports that North Korea has not confirmed any cases of the virus, but that state media said a month-long quarantine period had been imposed for people showing symptoms and “high-intensity” measures were taken including reinforcing checks in border regions and at airports and sea ports.The Reuters news agency reports that North Korea has not confirmed any cases of the virus, but that state media said a month-long quarantine period had been imposed for people showing symptoms and “high-intensity” measures were taken including reinforcing checks in border regions and at airports and sea ports.
On 16 February, Kim made his first public appearance in 22 days to visit a mausoleum marking the anniversary of the birth of his father and late leader Kim Jong Il.On 16 February, Kim made his first public appearance in 22 days to visit a mausoleum marking the anniversary of the birth of his father and late leader Kim Jong Il.
The military drill was to “judge the mobility and the fire power strike ability” on the frontline and eastern units and ended to a “great satisfaction” of Kim, according to KCNA. The network said:The military drill was to “judge the mobility and the fire power strike ability” on the frontline and eastern units and ended to a “great satisfaction” of Kim, according to KCNA. The network said:
In a separate dispatch, KCNA said Kim has also convened a meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party’s powerful politburo where a stricter enforcement of “top-class anti-epidemic steps” was discussed to prevent the spread of the virus. It quoted Kim as telling the meeting:In a separate dispatch, KCNA said Kim has also convened a meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party’s powerful politburo where a stricter enforcement of “top-class anti-epidemic steps” was discussed to prevent the spread of the virus. It quoted Kim as telling the meeting:
He instructed the officials to “seal off all the channels and space through which the infectious disease may find its way, and strengthen check-up, test and quarantine,” KCNA added.He instructed the officials to “seal off all the channels and space through which the infectious disease may find its way, and strengthen check-up, test and quarantine,” KCNA added.
The US State Department has raised its alert level for travel to Italy due to the coronavirus outbreak, telling Americans to reconsider travel there. The US state department has raised its alert level for travel to Italy due to the coronavirus outbreak, telling Americans to reconsider travel there.
Tracing the origins of the latest case of coronavirus - the first to have been caught within the UK - will be “crucial” in preventing more extensive spread, experts have said. Prof Jonathan Ball, a professor of molecular virology at the University of Nottingham, has said:Tracing the origins of the latest case of coronavirus - the first to have been caught within the UK - will be “crucial” in preventing more extensive spread, experts have said. Prof Jonathan Ball, a professor of molecular virology at the University of Nottingham, has said:
Dr Michael Head, a senior research fellow in global health at the University of Southampton, has said:Dr Michael Head, a senior research fellow in global health at the University of Southampton, has said:
Dr Stephen Griffin, an associate professor at the University of Leeds’ section of infection and immunity, has said:Dr Stephen Griffin, an associate professor at the University of Leeds’ section of infection and immunity, has said:
Downing Street will allow ministers to go on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme amid public concern over the spread of coronavirus, according to the Times:Downing Street will allow ministers to go on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme amid public concern over the spread of coronavirus, according to the Times:
El Salvador’s migration authorities will be ordered to deny entry to travellers arriving from Iran, a health measure intended to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, the former nation’s president Nayib Bukele has said.El Salvador’s migration authorities will be ordered to deny entry to travellers arriving from Iran, a health measure intended to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, the former nation’s president Nayib Bukele has said.
Bukele said on Twitter that Salvadorans and diplomats arriving from the Middle Eastern country, which has one of the largest outbreaks outside China, will have to spend 30 days in quarantine. El Salvador has no reported cases of coronavirus.Bukele said on Twitter that Salvadorans and diplomats arriving from the Middle Eastern country, which has one of the largest outbreaks outside China, will have to spend 30 days in quarantine. El Salvador has no reported cases of coronavirus.
New measures to combat the coronavirus outbreak in Germany, including the widening of cross-border travel guidelines and the cancellation of major international events, have been enacted by Berlin’s crisis committee.New measures to combat the coronavirus outbreak in Germany, including the widening of cross-border travel guidelines and the cancellation of major international events, have been enacted by Berlin’s crisis committee.
It expanded regulations for air and sea passengers, requiring passengers from South Korea, Japan, Italy and Iran to report their health status before entry. Previously, only passengers from China had been required to do so.It expanded regulations for air and sea passengers, requiring passengers from South Korea, Japan, Italy and Iran to report their health status before entry. Previously, only passengers from China had been required to do so.
Lebanon will close its schools from 29 February until 8 March as a precautionary measure against the spread of coronavirus, its education ministry statement has said. The country confirmed its fourth coronavirus case and has restricted flights from countries affected by the outbreak.Lebanon will close its schools from 29 February until 8 March as a precautionary measure against the spread of coronavirus, its education ministry statement has said. The country confirmed its fourth coronavirus case and has restricted flights from countries affected by the outbreak.
During a live-streamed news conference with Florida’s governor, Ron DeSantis, Pence has said: “In every case, people are being treated and by all accounts are doing well.”During a live-streamed news conference with Florida’s governor, Ron DeSantis, Pence has said: “In every case, people are being treated and by all accounts are doing well.”
Only one American with coronavirus remains in hospital, the US vice president Mike Pence has said.Only one American with coronavirus remains in hospital, the US vice president Mike Pence has said.
Google will cancel an upcoming summit and restrict staff travel after confirming that an employee has been diagnosed with coronavirus.Google will cancel an upcoming summit and restrict staff travel after confirming that an employee has been diagnosed with coronavirus.
The staff member diagnosed with the illness is in the company’s Zurich, Switzerland office, a Google spokesman told CNBC on Friday. The office will remain open.The staff member diagnosed with the illness is in the company’s Zurich, Switzerland office, a Google spokesman told CNBC on Friday. The office will remain open.
The diagnosis comes as tech companies scramble to respond to the virus, which has infected at least 84,000 people worldwide. Google cancelled its Google News Initiative summit, which was scheduled to take place in Sunnyvale, California in late April.The diagnosis comes as tech companies scramble to respond to the virus, which has infected at least 84,000 people worldwide. Google cancelled its Google News Initiative summit, which was scheduled to take place in Sunnyvale, California in late April.
Major companies, including IBM and Verizon, pulled out of annual cybersecurity conference RSA in San Francisco this week and Facebook cancelled its upcoming F8 developer conference in May.Major companies, including IBM and Verizon, pulled out of annual cybersecurity conference RSA in San Francisco this week and Facebook cancelled its upcoming F8 developer conference in May.
Meanwhile, Amazon has begun to restrict all nonessential employee travel in the U.S. and has restricted all travel to China “until further notice.”Meanwhile, Amazon has begun to restrict all nonessential employee travel in the U.S. and has restricted all travel to China “until further notice.”