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Coronavirus: South Korea reports 'critical moment' after 813 new cases – latest updates | Coronavirus: South Korea reports 'critical moment' after 813 new cases – latest updates |
(31 minutes later) | |
US strengthens travel advice, raising Iran and Italy to a level three, advising people to ‘avoid nonessential travel’. Follow live news | US strengthens travel advice, raising Iran and Italy to a level three, advising people to ‘avoid nonessential travel’. Follow live news |
Reuters reports that the number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Italy has climbed above 1,000, according to an official who said the number of deaths had surged to 29. | |
This is from the Associated Press. | |
Iraq has detected five new cases of the coronavirus, four in Baghdad and one in the central Babel province, the country’s health ministry has announced, taking the total number of cases in the country to 13. | |
The patients were placed in quarantine, days after Iraq banned public gatherings and barred entry by travellers from Kuwait and Bahrain. It has now prohibited travel to or from a total of nine countries. | |
Iraq has cultural and religious ties with Iran and annually receives millions of Iranian pilgrims. An Iraqi family of four, the first known Iraqis to have caught the disease, who returned from Iran tested positive for the coronavirus in Kirkuk province on Tuesday. | |
However, it was not immediately clear if the five new cases announced on Saturday were people who had recently been in Iran. | |
The Public Health Agency in Northern Ireland has said the region’s first case of coronavirus, which was announced on Thursday, has now been confirmed by laboratory tests. | The Public Health Agency in Northern Ireland has said the region’s first case of coronavirus, which was announced on Thursday, has now been confirmed by laboratory tests. |
The case was initially announced as a “presumptive positive” on the basis of tests carried out in Northern Ireland. A sample was then sent to a Public Health England reference laboratory for confirmation. | The case was initially announced as a “presumptive positive” on the basis of tests carried out in Northern Ireland. A sample was then sent to a Public Health England reference laboratory for confirmation. |
Ruth Hutchinson, interim director of public health for Surrey County Council, said the council remains in “continuous contact” with Public Health England (PHE) after a confirmed case in the county on Friday. | Ruth Hutchinson, interim director of public health for Surrey County Council, said the council remains in “continuous contact” with Public Health England (PHE) after a confirmed case in the county on Friday. |
Hutchinson said in a statement: | Hutchinson said in a statement: |
In the few minutes since I last posted, I have already had a number of emails from readers about the essentials they are stocking up their cupboards with in the event that the coronavirus outbreak leads to a major public health crisis in the UK. | In the few minutes since I last posted, I have already had a number of emails from readers about the essentials they are stocking up their cupboards with in the event that the coronavirus outbreak leads to a major public health crisis in the UK. |
Many of those who have written have said they are getting in provisions because they live alone and so if they have to self-isolate they will not be able to send anyone else out to the shops in their behalf. Others have pre-existing health issues and so they are preparing for the potential of extended periods away from human contact, in order to avoid contracting Covid-19. | Many of those who have written have said they are getting in provisions because they live alone and so if they have to self-isolate they will not be able to send anyone else out to the shops in their behalf. Others have pre-existing health issues and so they are preparing for the potential of extended periods away from human contact, in order to avoid contracting Covid-19. |
One reader writes: | One reader writes: |
The same correspondent, who preferred to go unidentified, does later admit to having been “a quasi prepper for some years. | The same correspondent, who preferred to go unidentified, does later admit to having been “a quasi prepper for some years. |
“Feels like my stuff may be put to use, unfortunately.” | “Feels like my stuff may be put to use, unfortunately.” |
Other readers are simply bolstering existing stockpiles that they had already built up amid fears of chaos caused by a hard Brexit. Writes one: | Other readers are simply bolstering existing stockpiles that they had already built up amid fears of chaos caused by a hard Brexit. Writes one: |
And Stu Goulden tweeted to me: | And Stu Goulden tweeted to me: |
With the number of confirmed coronavirus infections rising in the UK, and quarantine zones springing up across Europe, are people in Britain beginning to panic buy groceries? | With the number of confirmed coronavirus infections rising in the UK, and quarantine zones springing up across Europe, are people in Britain beginning to panic buy groceries? |
This customer circular email from Ocado, the online retailer, suggests they are. Ocado says it is “experiencing exceptionally high demand” from customers who “seem to be placing particularly large orders.” Here is the email: | This customer circular email from Ocado, the online retailer, suggests they are. Ocado says it is “experiencing exceptionally high demand” from customers who “seem to be placing particularly large orders.” Here is the email: |
Place your order a little further in advance than you might normally. Ideally, try two or three days before. | Place your order a little further in advance than you might normally. Ideally, try two or three days before. |
If you can be flexible, book yourself a weekday delivery (Monday–Thursday) instead of a weekend one. We’re unusually busy Friday to Saturday at the moment. | If you can be flexible, book yourself a weekday delivery (Monday–Thursday) instead of a weekend one. We’re unusually busy Friday to Saturday at the moment. |
Are you panic buying in anticipation of the possibility of quarantine rules being imposed in your area? If you are send me a message telling me why, and what kinds of things you are buying in. Remember, you can reach me at damien.gayle@theguardian.com or via my Twitter profile, @damiengayle. | Are you panic buying in anticipation of the possibility of quarantine rules being imposed in your area? If you are send me a message telling me why, and what kinds of things you are buying in. Remember, you can reach me at damien.gayle@theguardian.com or via my Twitter profile, @damiengayle. |
The Paris half-marathon, which was scheduled for Sunday with 44,000 registered runners, has been cancelled over fears of coronavirus, French news agency AFP reports. | The Paris half-marathon, which was scheduled for Sunday with 44,000 registered runners, has been cancelled over fears of coronavirus, French news agency AFP reports. |
The number of people tested for coronavirus in Scotland has risen by more than 100 in a day, with no confirmed cases, PA reports. | The number of people tested for coronavirus in Scotland has risen by more than 100 in a day, with no confirmed cases, PA reports. |
Three more patients have tested positive for coronavirus in the UK, bringing the total here to 23. Two of the latest diagnosed patients had just returned from Italy, and the third from Asia, according to the Department of Health and Social Care. | Three more patients have tested positive for coronavirus in the UK, bringing the total here to 23. Two of the latest diagnosed patients had just returned from Italy, and the third from Asia, according to the Department of Health and Social Care. |
The cases are from Gloucestershire, Hertfordshire and Berkshire, the PA News Agency reports. | The cases are from Gloucestershire, Hertfordshire and Berkshire, the PA News Agency reports. |
Chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty said: “All three are being investigated and contact tracing has begun.” | Chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty said: “All three are being investigated and contact tracing has begun.” |
The French government banned public gatherings with more than 5,000 people on Saturday due to the coronavirus outbreak as France reported 16 new cases, Reuters reports. | The French government banned public gatherings with more than 5,000 people on Saturday due to the coronavirus outbreak as France reported 16 new cases, Reuters reports. |
“All public gatherings of more than 5,000 people in a confined space are temporarily banned across France,” Health Minister Olivier Veran told journalists. He also that the number of confirmed cases had risen to 73 and that there had been no new deaths. | “All public gatherings of more than 5,000 people in a confined space are temporarily banned across France,” Health Minister Olivier Veran told journalists. He also that the number of confirmed cases had risen to 73 and that there had been no new deaths. |
Health officials are tracing anyone who has been in contact with a coronavirus patient who became the first to catch the illness within the UK, PA News Agency reports. | Health officials are tracing anyone who has been in contact with a coronavirus patient who became the first to catch the illness within the UK, PA News Agency reports. |