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Coronavirus live updates: UK holds emergency meeting while Australia reports first community transmission Coronavirus live updates: UK holds emergency meeting while Australia reports first community transmission
(32 minutes later)
Virus continues to spread with Indonesia reporting first two casesVirus continues to spread with Indonesia reporting first two cases
In the UK, cabinet ministers have been attending number 10 Downing Street for a Cobra national security committee meeting chaired by the prime minister, Boris Johnson. The European commission said there had been 2,100 people infected so far by Coronavirus, including 38 fatalities in 18 member states, as it raised its risk of contraction from low to moderate up to moderate to high, Daniel Boffey reports.
Health officials in Ireland are expected to decide on Monday whether to restrict mass gatherings, including the St Patrick’s day festival, Rory Carroll reports from Dublin. Nearly 300 million people have gone back to work in China since the Lunar New Year break as more companies restart business and coronavirus travel restrictions ease, although many small firms are still struggling to find enough workers to run plants, Reuters reports.
Indications from China are that the country has managed to get a handle on the coronavirus outbreak, with the numbers of new cases continuing to slow in the country, even as they accelerate elsewhere in the world. According to Reuters:
In the UK, cabinet ministers have been attending No 10 Downing Street for a Cobra national security committee meeting chaired by the prime minister, Boris Johnson.
Health officials in Ireland are expected to decide on Monday whether to restrict mass gatherings, including the St Patrick’s Day festival, Rory Carroll reports from Dublin.
The possible curbs come as a secondary school in Dublin closed for two weeks to prevent the spread of infection after a pupil was identified as Ireland’s first case of coronavirus.The possible curbs come as a secondary school in Dublin closed for two weeks to prevent the spread of infection after a pupil was identified as Ireland’s first case of coronavirus.
Health officials ordered the school to close after the student, who had recently from a mid-term visit to Italy, was diagnosed over the weekend. He is being treated in isolation at a Dublin hospital. Health officials ordered the school to close after the student, who had returned recently from a mid-term visit to Italy, was diagnosed over the weekend. He is being treated in isolation at a Dublin hospital.
Officials have not named the school, which has around 400 pupils, but several media outlets identified it. Pupils, staff and relatives have been asked to restrict their movements during the two weeks. Officials have not named the school, which has about 400 pupils, but several media outlets identified it. Pupils, staff and relatives have been asked to restrict their movements during the two weeks.
The National Public Health Emergency Team is due to review potential curbs on public gatherings, including celebrations in the run-up to St Patrick’s day on 17 March. The national public health emergency team is due to review potential curbs on public gatherings, including celebrations in the run-up to St Patrick’s Day on 17 March.
Tony Holohan, the chief medical officer at the department of health, told RTE he believed the risk of the Covid-19 infection spreading across Ireland is low.Tony Holohan, the chief medical officer at the department of health, told RTE he believed the risk of the Covid-19 infection spreading across Ireland is low.
Last week Northern Ireland reported its first confirmed case: a woman who returned from northern Italy, a coronavirus hotspot, via Dublin airport and travelled to Belfast by train. Last week, Northern Ireland reported its first confirmed case: a woman who returned from northern Italy, a coronavirus hotspot, via Dublin airport and travelled to Belfast by train.
Leo Varadkar, the taoiseach, and Simon Harris, the health minister, discussed cross-border co-operation in a conference call with Arlene Foster, Northern Ireland’s first minister, Michelle O’Neill, the deputy first minister and Robin Swann, the health minister.Leo Varadkar, the taoiseach, and Simon Harris, the health minister, discussed cross-border co-operation in a conference call with Arlene Foster, Northern Ireland’s first minister, Michelle O’Neill, the deputy first minister and Robin Swann, the health minister.
Portugal registered its first two cases of the new coronavirus on Monday, SIC television channel reported. Reuters reports:Portugal registered its first two cases of the new coronavirus on Monday, SIC television channel reported. Reuters reports:
An escalation in the coronavirus outbreak could cut global economic growth in half and plunge several countries into recession this year, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development has warned.An escalation in the coronavirus outbreak could cut global economic growth in half and plunge several countries into recession this year, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development has warned.
Sounding the alarm as the disease spreads around the world and rattles investors, the OECD said global GDP growth could plunge this year to as little as 1.5%, almost half the 2.9% rate it forecast before the outbreak took hold.Sounding the alarm as the disease spreads around the world and rattles investors, the OECD said global GDP growth could plunge this year to as little as 1.5%, almost half the 2.9% rate it forecast before the outbreak took hold.
Against a backdrop of already weak GDP growth, the economies of Japan and the eurozone could slide into recession this year, it added, while warning that failure in the UK’s post-Brexit trade talks with the EU also represented a significant downside risk.Against a backdrop of already weak GDP growth, the economies of Japan and the eurozone could slide into recession this year, it added, while warning that failure in the UK’s post-Brexit trade talks with the EU also represented a significant downside risk.
The influential Paris-based group – which represents the 36 most advanced economies – urged governments around the world to take greater steps to work together, calling for an international response as Covid-19 spreads.The influential Paris-based group – which represents the 36 most advanced economies – urged governments around the world to take greater steps to work together, calling for an international response as Covid-19 spreads.
Ireland’s chief medical officer has defended the decision to close a secondary school after it was confirmed a student was diagnosed with coronavirus.Ireland’s chief medical officer has defended the decision to close a secondary school after it was confirmed a student was diagnosed with coronavirus.
Dr Tony Holohan said the move to shut the school for two weeks was a “proportionate measure”. PA Media reports:Dr Tony Holohan said the move to shut the school for two weeks was a “proportionate measure”. PA Media reports:
The global death toll from the coronavirus outbreak exceeded 3,000 on Monday as South Korea reported almost 500 new cases of the disease and a second person died in the US, Justin McCurry, the Guardian’s Tokyo correspondent, reports.The global death toll from the coronavirus outbreak exceeded 3,000 on Monday as South Korea reported almost 500 new cases of the disease and a second person died in the US, Justin McCurry, the Guardian’s Tokyo correspondent, reports.
Covid-19 has now infected more than 88,000 people and spread to more than 60 countries after first emerging in China late last year. Indonesia, which has so far claimed to be virus-free, registered its first two cases on Monday.Covid-19 has now infected more than 88,000 people and spread to more than 60 countries after first emerging in China late last year. Indonesia, which has so far claimed to be virus-free, registered its first two cases on Monday.
More than two months on, most cases and deaths are still confined to China, whose health commission reported 202 new infections on Monday – the lowest daily rise since late January – and 42 new deaths. Hubei province, where the outbreak has been concentrated, recorded 196 of the 202 new cases and all of the new deaths.More than two months on, most cases and deaths are still confined to China, whose health commission reported 202 new infections on Monday – the lowest daily rise since late January – and 42 new deaths. Hubei province, where the outbreak has been concentrated, recorded 196 of the 202 new cases and all of the new deaths.
The death toll in China rose to 2,912, but it is also creeping up in other countries. Iran has the second highest number of deaths, with 54, Australia reported its first Covid-19 death over the weekend. Infections nearly doubled over the weekend in Italy – Europe’s hardest-hit country with nearly 1,700 cases.The death toll in China rose to 2,912, but it is also creeping up in other countries. Iran has the second highest number of deaths, with 54, Australia reported its first Covid-19 death over the weekend. Infections nearly doubled over the weekend in Italy – Europe’s hardest-hit country with nearly 1,700 cases.
The number of cases in the US rose to at least 76 with two deaths, both in Washington state. The second victim was a man in his 70s who died on Saturday in a nursing home where several other people are infected, local health authorities said.The number of cases in the US rose to at least 76 with two deaths, both in Washington state. The second victim was a man in his 70s who died on Saturday in a nursing home where several other people are infected, local health authorities said.
Authorities in China have closed the first of 16 hospitals specially built in Wuhan to tackle the coronavirus epidemic, the Chinese state broadcaster CCTV has said. According to Reuters:Authorities in China have closed the first of 16 hospitals specially built in Wuhan to tackle the coronavirus epidemic, the Chinese state broadcaster CCTV has said. According to Reuters:
Paul Cosford, the emeritus medical director of Public Health England, who we reported earlier as telling Good Morning Britain that the UK could expect to see widespread coronavirus infection “fairly soon”, has also been speaking on the Today programme this morning.Paul Cosford, the emeritus medical director of Public Health England, who we reported earlier as telling Good Morning Britain that the UK could expect to see widespread coronavirus infection “fairly soon”, has also been speaking on the Today programme this morning.
Cosford told today that there will come a point “where we reduce social contact if we see more widespread transmission”.Cosford told today that there will come a point “where we reduce social contact if we see more widespread transmission”.
Cosford said, however, that it was important that people remembered the infection was mild in most cases.Cosford said, however, that it was important that people remembered the infection was mild in most cases.
People in Israel are voting in a national election today and the government has set up 16 special voting booths for roughly 5,000 people who are in precautionary home isolation, Oliver Holmes, the Guardian’s Jerusalem correspondent, reports. The polling stations are small tents made of plastic sheeting, with staff in full protective suits.People in Israel are voting in a national election today and the government has set up 16 special voting booths for roughly 5,000 people who are in precautionary home isolation, Oliver Holmes, the Guardian’s Jerusalem correspondent, reports. The polling stations are small tents made of plastic sheeting, with staff in full protective suits.
Ten Israelis in total have contracted the virus and have been quarantined. The health ministry, however, has said it does not see a threat to the general public from voting today and urged people to go out.Ten Israelis in total have contracted the virus and have been quarantined. The health ministry, however, has said it does not see a threat to the general public from voting today and urged people to go out.
Police are also on alert as there are fears some people might spread false reports about coronavirus to suppress votes for their opponents.Police are also on alert as there are fears some people might spread false reports about coronavirus to suppress votes for their opponents.
India said on Monday two people in the country had tested positive for coronavirus. According to Reuters:India said on Monday two people in the country had tested positive for coronavirus. According to Reuters: