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Coronavirus: two patients die in France as four new cases detected in England – live updates Coronavirus: two patients die in France as four new cases detected in England – live updates
(32 minutes later)
South Korea reports almost 500 new cases and a second person dies in the US as UK ministers hold emergency meetingSouth Korea reports almost 500 new cases and a second person dies in the US as UK ministers hold emergency meeting
A former head of the civil service said the coronavirus highlighted a dilemma for Boris Johnson’s government, arguing that ministers should be prepared to close schools or halt public gatherings such as football matches within days to disrupt the spread of the disease.
Lord Bob Kerslake told the Guardian’s Dan Sabbagh that “if ministers believe that emergency measures will be necessary, they should act now”.
The additional difficulty for ministers, the former official said, is that such actions could have “economic consequences”, but he argued that the only reason for not introducing emergency measures quickly was because “you don’t believe they are necessary in the end”.
The crossbench peer also said the government’s communications efforts had been insufficient, and were damaged by boycotts of the Radio 4’s Today and other programmes.
He said there were also not enough ministers appearing in the media to support Matt Hancock, the health secretary, who has been leading communications efforts on coronavirus almost single handedly in the past few days.
Although Johnson himself chaired his first Cobra meeting on the crisis on Monday, Kerslake said it had come late in the day: “No criticism of Hancock, but if I was him, I’d want a bit more back up.”
On the closure of Guildhall School, a spokesperson for the City of London Corporation said:
The principal of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London emailed staff and students shortly after 5pm today to say it would be closed for up to 14 days after a teacher was diagnosed with the virus. The email said:
Donald Trump has accused Democrats of “fearmongering” over the coronavirus outbreak, while claiming his decisions have “saved many lives” and asking drug companies to accelerate work on a vaccine.
Two people have died from the coronavirus in the US and new cases were reported over the weekend in Washington state, New York, Florida, Rhode Island and Illinois. There are about 75 cases of the respiratory illness recorded in the US.
“The country’s doing very well, our professionals are doing an incredible job,” Trump told journalists at the White House on Monday. “We’re also working with other countries to help them because they really have a fear of the unknown.”
Read the full story here:
A teenage daughter of a Greek coronavirus victim on a school trip to London with 100 or so classmates has tested negative for the virus, reports the Guardian’s Lisa O’Carroll. However, those close to the incident say it took three days before the girl was given the all clear.
The teenager arrived in London last Monday and had been in Italy days previously when she and her mother had been on a trip. Her mother tested positive last Thursday, prompting her teachers to contact the authorities on Friday.
Her classmates were all flown home on Friday but the girl and one friend were told to remain in their rooms in a central London hotel while the tests were done.
They did not get the test result until Sunday night causing bewilderment among those who were taking care of her who had expected a test to be done as soon as the authorities were notified.
The hotel also remained open, raising questions about the scale of the contact-tracing that would have been required had the girl tested positive.
The Guardian football editor, Marcus Christenson, is reporting that RB Leipzig have been forced to apologise for an “error” towards Japanese fans during Sunday’s game against Bayer Leverkusen. The club did not specify what the “error” was but reports in Germany said that up to 20 supporters were asked to leave after the start of the game because of coronavirus fears.The Guardian football editor, Marcus Christenson, is reporting that RB Leipzig have been forced to apologise for an “error” towards Japanese fans during Sunday’s game against Bayer Leverkusen. The club did not specify what the “error” was but reports in Germany said that up to 20 supporters were asked to leave after the start of the game because of coronavirus fears.
Leipzig said in a statement released on Monday that security officers at the stadium had been asked to follow guidelines from the Robert Koch institute – Germany’s centre for disease control and prevention – in regards to groups of people from affected areas but that an error had been committed towards “our Japanese guests”.Leipzig said in a statement released on Monday that security officers at the stadium had been asked to follow guidelines from the Robert Koch institute – Germany’s centre for disease control and prevention – in regards to groups of people from affected areas but that an error had been committed towards “our Japanese guests”.
You can follow the story here:You can follow the story here:
Here’s some more on those cases in the UK:Here’s some more on those cases in the UK:
Debra Lapthorne, the centre director for Public Health England South West, said two confirmed cases were from the south Devon area and had become infected in northern Italy.Debra Lapthorne, the centre director for Public Health England South West, said two confirmed cases were from the south Devon area and had become infected in northern Italy.
Caroline Dimond, the director of public health for Torbay council, said:Caroline Dimond, the director of public health for Torbay council, said:
An another individual confirmed to have Covid-19 in Kent had recently returned from Italy and is now in a treatment centre in London. They were located at offices of the North East London NHS Foundation Trust in Maidstone.An another individual confirmed to have Covid-19 in Kent had recently returned from Italy and is now in a treatment centre in London. They were located at offices of the North East London NHS Foundation Trust in Maidstone.
Dr James Mapstone, the acting regional director, Public Health England South of England, said:Dr James Mapstone, the acting regional director, Public Health England South of England, said:
The International Monetary Fund and World Bank have issued a joint statement on the coronavirus, saying they are prepared to provide financial and technical help to their member countries.The International Monetary Fund and World Bank have issued a joint statement on the coronavirus, saying they are prepared to provide financial and technical help to their member countries.
A spokeswoman for the US vice-president, Mike Pence, has said that the White House will hold meetings this week with top executives from US airlines and the cruise industry amid the growing coronavirus outbreak, reports Reuters.A spokeswoman for the US vice-president, Mike Pence, has said that the White House will hold meetings this week with top executives from US airlines and the cruise industry amid the growing coronavirus outbreak, reports Reuters.
Pence, who is overseeing the administration’s efforts to tackle the outbreak, will attend a meeting with airline officials on Wednesday. Those planning to attend include the chief executives of American Airlines Group Inc, United Airlines Holdings Inc, Southwest Airlines Co, Spirit Airlines Inc and JetBlue Airways Corp.Pence, who is overseeing the administration’s efforts to tackle the outbreak, will attend a meeting with airline officials on Wednesday. Those planning to attend include the chief executives of American Airlines Group Inc, United Airlines Holdings Inc, Southwest Airlines Co, Spirit Airlines Inc and JetBlue Airways Corp.
Tedros said 62 countries have reported coronavirus cases, 38 of which have reported 10 or fewer cases. He said that surrendering to the virus was not right and that we had to give it our best using a containment strategy irrespective of the number of cases.Tedros said 62 countries have reported coronavirus cases, 38 of which have reported 10 or fewer cases. He said that surrendering to the virus was not right and that we had to give it our best using a containment strategy irrespective of the number of cases.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the World Health Organization’s director general, is speaking at a press conference. You can watch the live feed at the top of this blog.Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the World Health Organization’s director general, is speaking at a press conference. You can watch the live feed at the top of this blog.
He said the epidemics in South Korea, Italy, Iran and Japan were the body’s main concern. In the past 24 hours there were almost nine times more coronavirus cases reported outside China than inside, but the disease can be contained with the right measures, he said.He said the epidemics in South Korea, Italy, Iran and Japan were the body’s main concern. In the past 24 hours there were almost nine times more coronavirus cases reported outside China than inside, but the disease can be contained with the right measures, he said.
Ryanair said in a statement:Ryanair said in a statement:
The UK education secretary, Gavin Williamson, has told parliament schools “should stay open unless they’re advised otherwise by Public Health England”. Speaking earlier during education questions in the Commons, he said:The UK education secretary, Gavin Williamson, has told parliament schools “should stay open unless they’re advised otherwise by Public Health England”. Speaking earlier during education questions in the Commons, he said:
Italian health associations are appealing for more blood donors as medics warn a fall in the number of volunteers amid the coronavirus outbreak could have serious repercussions for those in need of blood transfusions, reports the Guardian’s Rome correspondent.Italian health associations are appealing for more blood donors as medics warn a fall in the number of volunteers amid the coronavirus outbreak could have serious repercussions for those in need of blood transfusions, reports the Guardian’s Rome correspondent.
“We need everyone’s help to prevent the emergency from becoming more serious,” the Association of Voluntary Blood Donors at Rome’s Bambino Gesù said in a Facebook post.“We need everyone’s help to prevent the emergency from becoming more serious,” the Association of Voluntary Blood Donors at Rome’s Bambino Gesù said in a Facebook post.
Gianpietro Briola, the president of Avis, the Italian blood donor charity, said there had been a fall in the number of blood donors, particularly in the outbreak areas in northern Italy.Gianpietro Briola, the president of Avis, the Italian blood donor charity, said there had been a fall in the number of blood donors, particularly in the outbreak areas in northern Italy.
“It is important that all donors go, without fear, to donate,” he said. “I emphasise that there is no scientific evidence of coronavirus transmission through transfusion. So whoever is in good health can donate, a rule that is always valid.”“It is important that all donors go, without fear, to donate,” he said. “I emphasise that there is no scientific evidence of coronavirus transmission through transfusion. So whoever is in good health can donate, a rule that is always valid.”
Stefania Saccardi, a health councillor in the Tuscany region, said: “I urge people to keep their nerve, get information only from official sources and avoid unjustified alarmism which has far more serious consequences than is necessary, such as the lack of transfusion support for the health services.”Stefania Saccardi, a health councillor in the Tuscany region, said: “I urge people to keep their nerve, get information only from official sources and avoid unjustified alarmism which has far more serious consequences than is necessary, such as the lack of transfusion support for the health services.”
Mary Lou McDonald, the leader of Sinn Féin, has revealed that her children attend the Dublin school that has been closed because of a coronavirus outbreak, reports the Guardian’s Ireland correspondent, Rory Carroll.Mary Lou McDonald, the leader of Sinn Féin, has revealed that her children attend the Dublin school that has been closed because of a coronavirus outbreak, reports the Guardian’s Ireland correspondent, Rory Carroll.
Health authorities ordered the secondary school to close on Monday for two weeks after a pupil who returned from Italy was diagnosed with the virus – Ireland’s first confirmed case. All the estimated 400 students and staff have been advised to stay at home and restrict their movements. McDonald tweeted that she was staying at home and would restrict her meetings this week. Sinn Féin is holding a series of rallies to bolster the party’s efforts to enter a coalition government in the wake of its election success last month.Health authorities ordered the secondary school to close on Monday for two weeks after a pupil who returned from Italy was diagnosed with the virus – Ireland’s first confirmed case. All the estimated 400 students and staff have been advised to stay at home and restrict their movements. McDonald tweeted that she was staying at home and would restrict her meetings this week. Sinn Féin is holding a series of rallies to bolster the party’s efforts to enter a coalition government in the wake of its election success last month.
Here is a video of Boris Johnson’s statement following the Cobra meeting earlier –Here is a video of Boris Johnson’s statement following the Cobra meeting earlier –
It is being reported in the French press that less than a week after the death of a high-school professor in the Oise region of northern France, two other people have died from the coronavirus in the same hospital. Le Parisien newspaper says it has the information from three sources.It is being reported in the French press that less than a week after the death of a high-school professor in the Oise region of northern France, two other people have died from the coronavirus in the same hospital. Le Parisien newspaper says it has the information from three sources.
“The hospital at Compiègne has suffered two further deaths, according to the last information I have,” said Philippe Marini, the city mayor.“The hospital at Compiègne has suffered two further deaths, according to the last information I have,” said Philippe Marini, the city mayor.
In Nice, a three-year-old child was admitted to hospital with the virus.In Nice, a three-year-old child was admitted to hospital with the virus.