This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2020/mar/02/coronavirus-live-updates-china-latest-news-us-australia-deaths-markets-italy-iran-update-cases

The article has changed 49 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 36 Version 37
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
(33 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
Hello, I’m taking over from my colleague Frances Perraudin. I have compiled a short overview of today’s developments regarding the coronavirus outbreak.
A majority of Britons are not taking any extra steps to reduce their risk of contracting coronavirus such as washing their hands or using a hand sanitiser, a new survey has found.
Only 35% of Britons have improved their personal hygiene in those ways in a bid to protect themselves against the virus, according to new YouGov research.
Other findings from the pollster’s survey of 1,618 British adults show strong public support for the government’s handling of the outbreak so far, a widespread belief that the NHS will be able to cope if large numbers of people become unwell with Covid-19 and – so far – a lack of fear about the virus, which first arrived in Britain in late January.
YouGov’s findings show that:
• Overall 35% of those questioned are washing their hands more regularly, 14% are avoiding public places and 14% are not touching objects in public such as lift buttons.
• However, 54% are not taking any extra precautions.
• While 24% are “fairly” or “very” scared about the prospect of contracting Covid-19, 70% are “not scared”.
• A majority – 54% – think the government is handling coronavirus well, and people of all party loyalties are more likely to think that the government has been doing well rather than badly, while only 16% say handling has been “bad”.
• Almost two-thirds (64%) are confident the NHS will respond well to a major outbreak but 29% are not confident.
• 62% feel they have enough information about what to do if they suspect they may have become infected.
Asked what measures the government should take to try and contain coronavirus 65% want anyone who has been in contact with an infected patient to be quarantined, 50% want all flights from mainland China banned and 36% support the potential ban on sporting events, concerts and other large gatherings that Prof Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer, said last week may become necessary.
The BBC’s political editor Laura Kuenssberg has interviewed Boris Johnson about the country’s preparedness for the coronavirus outbreak. She started by asking him what the worst case scenario was. He responded:
He said the government would be announcing further protective measures in the morning. Kuenssberg asked if the prime minister could give a sense of the kind of numbers that could be affected by the virus. He said:
The NHS’s 111 online service to provide advice about coronavirus was used by more than 35,000 people in a single day this weekend.The NHS’s 111 online service to provide advice about coronavirus was used by more than 35,000 people in a single day this weekend.
The service was set up last Wednesday to help deal with the volume of enquiries relating to covid-19 and has since given advice to more than 70,000 people.The service was set up last Wednesday to help deal with the volume of enquiries relating to covid-19 and has since given advice to more than 70,000 people.
NHS England said it would spend an initial extra £1.7m on the 111 helpline so staff could offer more clinical advice over the phone. The funding will provide 500 additional initial call responders with the capacity to answer around 20,000 more calls every day. They said investment would increase if demand continued to rise.NHS England said it would spend an initial extra £1.7m on the 111 helpline so staff could offer more clinical advice over the phone. The funding will provide 500 additional initial call responders with the capacity to answer around 20,000 more calls every day. They said investment would increase if demand continued to rise.
A home diagnostic testing programme is currently being rolled out across the country, while a “drive-through” testing centre has started operating in west London.A home diagnostic testing programme is currently being rolled out across the country, while a “drive-through” testing centre has started operating in west London.
Prof Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, said:Prof Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, said:
Big businesses and wealthy people are chartering private jets for “evacuation flights” out of countries hit by the coronavirus outbreak, reports the Guardian’s wealth correspondent Rupert Neate.Big businesses and wealthy people are chartering private jets for “evacuation flights” out of countries hit by the coronavirus outbreak, reports the Guardian’s wealth correspondent Rupert Neate.
Adam Twidell, the chief executive of the private jet booking service PrivateFly, said the company had been inundated with requests from multinational firms arranging the mass evacuation of staff from China and south-east Asia.Adam Twidell, the chief executive of the private jet booking service PrivateFly, said the company had been inundated with requests from multinational firms arranging the mass evacuation of staff from China and south-east Asia.
Twidell said rich families were also chartering private jets to reduce the risk of exposing their families to the virus by avoiding commercial flights and busy airports.Twidell said rich families were also chartering private jets to reduce the risk of exposing their families to the virus by avoiding commercial flights and busy airports.
“Over the past few weeks, there’s undoubtedly been a rise in demand for short notice on-demand charter relating to the coronavirus Covid-19,” he said. “We’ve had a very significant number of inquiries for group evacuations and from corporates and individuals.”“Over the past few weeks, there’s undoubtedly been a rise in demand for short notice on-demand charter relating to the coronavirus Covid-19,” he said. “We’ve had a very significant number of inquiries for group evacuations and from corporates and individuals.”
You can read the full story here – You can read the full story here:
British Labour MP Tulip Siddiq has had confirmation from the family of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian woman detained in Iran, that she has not been tested for coronavirus. Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s husband told broadcasters this morning that his wife suspected she might have the virus and was displaying all the symptoms.British Labour MP Tulip Siddiq has had confirmation from the family of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian woman detained in Iran, that she has not been tested for coronavirus. Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s husband told broadcasters this morning that his wife suspected she might have the virus and was displaying all the symptoms.
A former head of the UK 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.A former head of the UK 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”.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 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.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.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.”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: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: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 in the US, while claiming his decisions have “saved many lives” and asking drug companies to accelerate work on a vaccine.Donald Trump has accused Democrats of “fearmongering” over the coronavirus outbreak in the US, 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.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.”“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: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.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.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.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.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 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: