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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
Ferrari seeks travel assurance for Australian grand prix
Ferrari will seek assurances from Australian authorities that its staff will be allowed to travel and not face quarantine restrictions before heading to Melbourne for the Australian Grand Prix, which opens the Formula One season on 15 March.
The Italian giant suspended non-critical business travel and external access to its factory in Maranello, about 200km from the centre of the Italian outbreak in Codongo, on Wednesday.
The Victorian sports minister Martin Pakula told The Guardian on Thursday that the event would go ahead, and the Australian Grand Prix corporation said it would comply with advice from the government and health authorities.
But without Ferrari, the F1 would lose its biggest drawcard.
Ferarri team principle Mattia Binotto raised the issue after his staff faced difficulties getting to the Bahrain F2 test this weekend.
He said he would need confirmation from F1 and FIA officials that there would be “no surprises” before allowing staff to travel to Australia.
He told Motorsport.com:
Binotto said with Ferrari providing assistance to Haas and Alfa Sauber as well as their own AlphaTauri team, more than one team could be affected.
Meanwhile, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has warned party officials there would be “serious consequences” of failing to prevent an outbreak of coronavirus in that country.
More from AFP:
The number of new cases reported in Mainland China is the lowest since the national health authority started compiling nationwide data last month, Reuters has reported.
Excluding Hubei province, where the new coronavirus outbreak originated in the country, there were just four new cases of infection reported on Friday. In Hubei itself, 423 new cases were reported, of which 420 were in Wuhan. So a total of 427 in mainland China.
South Korea reported 571 new cases on Friday, taking its total — the highest in the world outside China — to 2,337, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said.
Post amended to add total figure in China and correct number in Wuhan.
The US will postpone an ASEAN regional summit in Las Vegas to concerns about the coronavirus outbreak, Reuters has reported.
US president Donald Trump invited members of the 10-member association to a meeting on 14 March after he did attend a summit in Bangkok in November.
California has reported two cases of coronavirus in people who had not travelled internationally, or come into close contact with any other identified cases.California has reported two cases of coronavirus in people who had not travelled internationally, or come into close contact with any other identified cases.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Friday that officials were “aware of a second possible instance of community spread of Covid-19 in California”.The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Friday that officials were “aware of a second possible instance of community spread of Covid-19 in California”.
The patient is an older woman with chronic health conditions in San Jose. She did not have a travel history or any known contact with an infected person.The patient is an older woman with chronic health conditions in San Jose. She did not have a travel history or any known contact with an infected person.
Ten of the 60 cases of the respiratory disease in the US are in California.Ten of the 60 cases of the respiratory disease in the US are in California.
Mainland China had 427 new confirmed cases of coronavirus infections on Friday, the country’s National Health Commission said on Saturday, up from 327 cases a day earlier.Mainland China had 427 new confirmed cases of coronavirus infections on Friday, the country’s National Health Commission said on Saturday, up from 327 cases a day earlier.
There were also 248 new suspected cases.There were also 248 new suspected cases.
That brings the total accumulated number of confirmed cases in mainland China so far to 79,251.That brings the total accumulated number of confirmed cases in mainland China so far to 79,251.
The death toll from the outbreak in mainland China had reached 2,835 as of the end of Friday, up by 47 from the previous day.The death toll from the outbreak in mainland China had reached 2,835 as of the end of Friday, up by 47 from the previous day.
The central province of Hubei, the epicentre of the outbreak, reported 45 new deaths, while in the provincial capital of Wuhan, 37 people died.The central province of Hubei, the epicentre of the outbreak, reported 45 new deaths, while in the provincial capital of Wuhan, 37 people died.
We’re expecting an update on that new coronavirus case in Queensland at 12.30pm local time.We’re expecting an update on that new coronavirus case in Queensland at 12.30pm local time.
In the mean time, you can read Melissa Davey’s explainer on whether Australians should be worried about coronavirus here.In the mean time, you can read Melissa Davey’s explainer on whether Australians should be worried about coronavirus here.
US ‘totally ready’ for coronavirus, says TrumpUS ‘totally ready’ for coronavirus, says Trump
US president Donald Trump has accused the democrats of politicising the coronavirus, and said the US are “magnificently organised” and “totally ready” for the virus.US president Donald Trump has accused the democrats of politicising the coronavirus, and said the US are “magnificently organised” and “totally ready” for the virus.
Addressing a rally in South Carolina, Trump also accused the media — specifically CNN — of “hysteria” over the virus.Addressing a rally in South Carolina, Trump also accused the media — specifically CNN — of “hysteria” over the virus.
This is from CNN reporter Daniel Dale.This is from CNN reporter Daniel Dale.
Trump then repeated his bit about South Korean film Parasite winning best picture at the Oscars (more on that here, if you’re interested) before returning to coronavirus:Trump then repeated his bit about South Korean film Parasite winning best picture at the Oscars (more on that here, if you’re interested) before returning to coronavirus:
The AHPPC said that with the increased spread of the disease, extending travel bans was “not likely to be feasible or effective.”The AHPPC said that with the increased spread of the disease, extending travel bans was “not likely to be feasible or effective.”
In the past few days, the numbers of cases of COVID-19 in South Korea, Italy, and Iran have been rapidly increasing. The AHPPC said the situation in Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore also remains a concern.In the past few days, the numbers of cases of COVID-19 in South Korea, Italy, and Iran have been rapidly increasing. The AHPPC said the situation in Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore also remains a concern.
On Friday the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) issued a statement about the effectiveness of quarantine measures.On Friday the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) issued a statement about the effectiveness of quarantine measures.
It said over the past two weeks, direct connections between cases in other countries and China had decreased. It said the effectiveness of these quarantine measures and whether they remain adequate would be reviewed again in one week.The travel restrictions and self-quarantine procedures for people coming from mainland China had been effective so far, with a more than 60% reduction in travellers, and no cases detected in more than 30,000 Australians returning from mainland China since 1 February.It said over the past two weeks, direct connections between cases in other countries and China had decreased. It said the effectiveness of these quarantine measures and whether they remain adequate would be reviewed again in one week.The travel restrictions and self-quarantine procedures for people coming from mainland China had been effective so far, with a more than 60% reduction in travellers, and no cases detected in more than 30,000 Australians returning from mainland China since 1 February.
The AHPPC statement said:The AHPPC statement said:
The North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un, has reportedly sacked two top officials for “corruption” in a meeting on coronavirus in Politburo.
The Party daily Rodong Sinmun and Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Saturday that the leader sacked the two Workers Party of Korea (QPK) officials for “corrupt” acts. Both men were central committee vice-chairmen.
They were “harshly criticized” by Kim Jong Un “and their gravity and consequences were sharply analyzed,” the Rodong reported on its front page.
Good morning, it’s Calla Wahlquist in Melbourne taking over from Kevin Rawlinson.
Two more cases of coronavirus have been reported in Australia overnight, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 25.
One of those women is a 63-year-old woman on the Gold Coast in Queensland, who is now in the Gold Coast hospital. The woman had recently returned from Iran, which has emerged as a hotspot of the disease with the second-highest number of deaths outside of China. The Iranian deputy health minister Iraj Harirchi tested positive a few days ago.
Authorities in Queensland are now trying to trace back the woman’s movements to identify who she may have come into contact with. We’re expecting a press conference on this soon.
It is the ninth case in Queensland. Three cases are passengers from the Diamond Princess cruise ship, and five more were people who had travelled to the Gold Coast from Wuhan province on holiday.
If you want to get in touch, you can follow me on twitter @callapilla and email me at calla.wahlquist@theguardian.com
A man who was onboard the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship became the first British person to die from the coronavirus, the Japanese health ministry confirmed. The passengers had been taken off the vessel to Japan for treatment.
The UK said it had detected its 20th coronavirus case and the first case in Wales was confirmed. The latest patient in England is the first to contract the illness while in the UK.
Italy’s death toll reached 21 and some 820 people have been infected, the civil protection chief said. But the number of those who have recovered from the virus is increasing.
Coronavirus could reach most, if not all, countries, according to the World Health Organisation. The body said its analysis showed there was a very high global risk of both the spread and the impact of Covid-19.
The virus has now spread to about 49 countries. New Zealand, Belarus, Lithuania, and Nigeria (the first case in sub-Saharan Africa) reported their first cases in the last day. Many are linked to travellers from Iran.
Markets around the world have taken huge hits, and the Chinese economy has seen its worst slump in two decades. The Dow, the S&P 500 and the technology-focused Nasdaq all dropped by about 3%, while other markets also tumbled.
The UN security council decided to lift some economic sanctions on North Korea to help it fend off the virus. Pyongyang still says it has no reported cases.
Amazon suspends job interviews over coronavirus fears
Amazon will be suspending in-person job interviews indefinitely, according to screenshots reported on by Gizmodo on Friday.
The move comes as the tech industry scrambles to respond to the coronavirus, which has killed nearly 3,000 people.
Amazon already stated it would cancel its appearances at a number of events and restrict global and domestic travel. The interview policy will affect more than 39,000 jobs open at the company, according to its own hiring site, and appears to be indefinite.
With racially tinged coronavirus fears keeping visitors from San Francisco’s Chinatown, Facebook is donating $25,000 to help the historic neighborhood’s small businesses. Officials pledged today to donate $20,000 to the Chinese Newcomers Services Center, in addition to $5,000 in Facebook ad credits. They made the announcement alongside local lawmakers and San Francisco mayor London Breed, who declared a state of emergency in the city over the outbreak.
There have been no confirmed cases of coronavirus in San Francisco.
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: