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Coronavirus: 12 more cases confirmed in UK, taking total in Britain to 35 – latest updates Coronavirus: 12 more cases confirmed in UK, taking total in Britain to 35 – latest updates
(32 minutes later)
USA, Australia and Thailand also report first deaths from coronavirus as bans are put in place around the world on large gatherings. Follow live newsUSA, Australia and Thailand also report first deaths from coronavirus as bans are put in place around the world on large gatherings. Follow live news
The number of confirmed cases in Italy has risen to almost 1,700, and the death toll has increased from five to 34, Reuters reports.
Good evening, I’m Molly Blackall, taking over the live coverage of coronavirus for the next few hours.
If you spot something I miss, do drop me a tweet: @mollyblackall.
Boris Johnson has been on a visit to laboratory at the Public Health England National Infection Service in Colindale, north London.
Iraq has reported six new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of cases there to 19, Reuters reports citing the health ministry.
The WHO’s director of pandemic diseases, Sylvie Briand, is endorsing the elbow bump and footshakes as safer alternatives to shaking hands.
A patient who has tested positive for coronavirus in Rotterdam, had been staying for a week at another hospital in the Netherlands, the news site Nu.nl reports.A patient who has tested positive for coronavirus in Rotterdam, had been staying for a week at another hospital in the Netherlands, the news site Nu.nl reports.
The patient had stayed at the Beatrix hospital in nearby Gorchem, for a week without being tested, the site said. The hospital did not respond to comment but said it is closed to visitors and new patients.The patient had stayed at the Beatrix hospital in nearby Gorchem, for a week without being tested, the site said. The hospital did not respond to comment but said it is closed to visitors and new patients.
The reason the Louvre in Paris was forced to close on Sunday (see earlier) was that staff refused to work due to coronavirus fears, AFP reports.The reason the Louvre in Paris was forced to close on Sunday (see earlier) was that staff refused to work due to coronavirus fears, AFP reports.
Around 300 staff met in the morning and voted “almost unanimously” not to open, Christian Galani of the CGT labour union told AFP, leaving many would-be visitors disappointed..Around 300 staff met in the morning and voted “almost unanimously” not to open, Christian Galani of the CGT labour union told AFP, leaving many would-be visitors disappointed..
Louvre management later confirmed the museum was closed for the entire day, and said it would refund ticket-holders.Louvre management later confirmed the museum was closed for the entire day, and said it would refund ticket-holders.
“We apologise for any inconvenience and will keep you informed as the situation develops,” the museum said on its website.“We apologise for any inconvenience and will keep you informed as the situation develops,” the museum said on its website.
On Saturday, the government announced several measures to try and curb the outbreak in France, including cancelling all gatherings of more than 5,000 people in confined spaces.On Saturday, the government announced several measures to try and curb the outbreak in France, including cancelling all gatherings of more than 5,000 people in confined spaces.
“The Louvre is a confined space which welcomes more than 5,000 people a day,” said Galani, adding: “there is real concern on the part of staff.”“The Louvre is a confined space which welcomes more than 5,000 people a day,” said Galani, adding: “there is real concern on the part of staff.”
One of the people who has tested positive for the virus was a resident of Bradford who had travelled to Italy while two others are from Leeds and had travelled to Iran.One of the people who has tested positive for the virus was a resident of Bradford who had travelled to Italy while two others are from Leeds and had travelled to Iran.
Dr Simon Padfield, consultant in communicable disease control for Public Health England Yorkshire and the Humber, said: “Public Health England is contacting people who had close contact with three cases of Covid-19 confirmed in West Yorkshire.Dr Simon Padfield, consultant in communicable disease control for Public Health England Yorkshire and the Humber, said: “Public Health England is contacting people who had close contact with three cases of Covid-19 confirmed in West Yorkshire.
“One of the cases is a resident of Bradford who became infected whilst in Italy and the other two cases are residents of Leeds who both became infected whilst in Iran.”“One of the cases is a resident of Bradford who became infected whilst in Italy and the other two cases are residents of Leeds who both became infected whilst in Iran.”
And after a case of Covid-19 was confirmed in Essex, Public Health England (PHE) East said “close contacts” of the patient were being given health advice about symptoms.And after a case of Covid-19 was confirmed in Essex, Public Health England (PHE) East said “close contacts” of the patient were being given health advice about symptoms.
Dr David Edwards, consultant in health protection, said: “Public Health England is contacting people who had close contact with a confirmed case of Covid-19 who is an Essex resident.Dr David Edwards, consultant in health protection, said: “Public Health England is contacting people who had close contact with a confirmed case of Covid-19 who is an Essex resident.
The Czech Republic has confirmed its first three cases of coronavirus, Health Minister Adam Vojtech said on Sunday.The Czech Republic has confirmed its first three cases of coronavirus, Health Minister Adam Vojtech said on Sunday.
Health officials said at a news conference the three patients showed mild symptoms and had travelled from places in northern Italy.Health officials said at a news conference the three patients showed mild symptoms and had travelled from places in northern Italy.
China has confirmed two new cases on Covid-19 from people who had travelled to Iran.China has confirmed two new cases on Covid-19 from people who had travelled to Iran.
Preventing a Covid-19 epidemic in the UK is looking increasingly unlikely, according to Paul Hunter, Professor in Medicine, University of East Anglia.Preventing a Covid-19 epidemic in the UK is looking increasingly unlikely, according to Paul Hunter, Professor in Medicine, University of East Anglia.
Today’s sharp increase in confirmed cases in the UK shows the country is entering the “next stage of the epidemic” he said.Today’s sharp increase in confirmed cases in the UK shows the country is entering the “next stage of the epidemic” he said.
In remarks distributed by the Science Media Centre, Prof Hunter added:In remarks distributed by the Science Media Centre, Prof Hunter added:
Swansea council says its schools will open as normal on Monday despite a confirmd case of covid-10 case in the city - the first in Wales.Swansea council says its schools will open as normal on Monday despite a confirmd case of covid-10 case in the city - the first in Wales.
In a statement it the risk of catching the virus remains low and “no extra measures” need to be taken beyond those set out by Public Health Wales.In a statement it the risk of catching the virus remains low and “no extra measures” need to be taken beyond those set out by Public Health Wales.
Here’s the latest summary:
Twelve more people have tested positive for coronavirus in the UK, including the second case of someone who caught the virus within the country. The case will fuel concerns that the virus is circulating undetected.
Health authorities are trying to trace people who had come into contact with a 35-year man from Shenzhen who had been working in Bristol and tested positive for coronavirus. He took a Cathay Pacific flight from London Heathrow to Hong Kong on Thursday.
The UK health secretary, Matt Hancock, has said it may be necessary to follow China’s example by shutting down cities to prevent the spread of coronavirus. He also confirmed plans to bring doctors and nurses out of retirement if the outbreak escalates in the UK.
Iran has said its death toll from coronavirus has reached 54 and the number of infected cases is 978. It comes just days after the ministry categorically denied reports 50 people had died from the disease.
A top Italian health official has warned of a “tsunami” effect on the hospital system as confirmed coronavirus cases in Italy rose to 1,128. The number killed by the virus in Italy has increased to 29.
The authorities in France have announced the number of confirmed cases has jumped to 100, with two deaths. The country has banned gatherings of more than 5,000 people. The Louvre in Paris was closed on Sunday afternoon as staff held a meeting about the virus.
The number of confirmed cases in Spain has increased to 73. A fifth person has tested positive for the virus at the hotel in Tenerife that has been locked down after four other people staying there were diagnosed with coronavirus.
Donald Trump has said all travellers from at risk areas will be screened for coronavirus after they arrive in the US. The US, Thailand and Australia have all both reported their country’s first deaths from the virus. Japan reported its second death on Sunday – a man in his 70s on the island of Hokkaido.
Two more doctors have died in China and the country’s death tally has risen by 35 to 2,870. Infections have risen 573 to 79,824 (of which 41,825, or 52%, are listed as recovered).
Italy’s Serie A football season runs the risk of not finishing if more matches are postponed because of the coronavirus outbreak, Inter Milan’s chief executive Giuseppe Marotta said on Sunday.
Reuters reports:
Serving and former NHS doctors have reacted with scepticism to the idea of bringing former health professionals out of retirement as part of government plans to combat the spread of coronavirus.
PA Media has further details about some of the 12 new cases in the UK.
Six of the people involved had recently travelled from Italy, while two had been in Iran. These patients are from London, West Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, Hertfordshire and Gloucestershire.
One of the confirmed cases is in Bury, according to Bury council, which said the patient had been taken to a specialist NHS infection centre.
The news comes after the health secretary conceded it was “inevitable” that the deadly virus would continue to spread across the UK.
A pub in Haslemere, Surrey, has been closed until further notice for deep cleaning after a customer “tested positive for coronavirus”.
A patient in the county was confirmed as the first to catch the illness within the UK on Friday. The landlords of the Prince of Wales pub said on Facebook that they had no symptoms of the virus and that it was a “precautionary measure only”.
On Sunday, the Department of Health and Social Care announced every department would have a ministerial lead on the virus, and a cross-Whitehall “war room” is being set up to roll out an enhanced public information campaign.
Government lawyers are assessing the possibility of delaying the local authority, mayoral and police and crime commissioner elections in May if the coronavirus outbreak continues to escalate, the Guardian can disclose.
An email sent to board members of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners on Saturday by its chief executive, Susannah Hancock, reveals that measures to contain the spread of the disease would also include potentially delaying the forthcoming elections.
She said that the Home Office, in discussions with the Cabinet Office, had sought legal advice on postponing the elections.
South Korea has reported four more coronavirus deaths in the south-eastern city of Daegu, bringing the country’s death toll to 21, the Yonap news agency reports.
South Korea has 3,736 confirmed cases of the disease.
A widely visited church in Rome has closed over coronavirus fears.
The move to shut Rome’s Church of San Luigi dei Francesi, which hosts Caravaggio’s The Calling of St Matthew masterpiece, came after a priest in Paris tested positive for the virus after returning from Italy.
Chuang Shuk-kwan, the director of the infectious disease division of the centre for health protection, confirmed the details of the new positive case in a man in Shenzhen who had travelled from London and worked in Bristol.
Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, Chuang said the passenger had been in the business class of flight CX250. The ferry the patient had taken, 3A109, had about 70 passengers, most of whom were Chinese nationals.
Chuang advised all passengers on that flight or ferry to call the centre’s hotline and to be “aware of the health situation”, and seek medical help or quarantine if necessary.
Cathay Pacific is helping authorities trace all passengers who flew from London to Hong Kong, after a passenger on one of its flights, who had been working in Bristol, tested positive.
In a statement, it said:
The man who tested positive for coronavirus in Shenzhen after flying from London last Thursday had been working in Bristol, the Chinese authorities have confirmed.
A statement from the Guangdong Health Commission late on Sunday said authorities in Shenzhen had reported an “imported case” of the coronavirus infection, in a 35 year old male from Shenzhen who had been working in Bristol.
According to the statement, the patient had travelled to Hong Kong from London on 28 February, on flight CX250 on Cathay Pacific. He landed in Hong Kong at 13:27 and at 15:30 took the ferry 3A109 to Shekou port in Shenzhen arriving at 16:32.
His temperature was normal at the time of his arrival. At 16:45 he left from Shekou port and took a taxi to his home in Futian, a district of Shenzhen. “The patient wore a face mask the entire time,” the statement said.On 29 February around 7am, the patient suffered from symptoms including a cough and fever. Around 10am he was driven to the hospital by family. That evening he tested positive for the virus and around 11pm he was transferred to Shenzhen no 3 hospital for treatment and quarantine. The statement said that at the moment the patient’s condition was “stable.”The statement said that the patient had no history of travel to Hubei and that two of his colleagues in the UK had shown symptoms of cough and fever. Health authorities said that 93 close contacts of the patient had been identified.