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Coronavirus: California declares state of emergency as China deaths pass 3,000 - latest updates | Coronavirus: California declares state of emergency as China deaths pass 3,000 - latest updates |
(32 minutes later) | |
Germany labels outbreak a pandemic as cases spread across Europe as UK sees highest daily increase. Follow live news | Germany labels outbreak a pandemic as cases spread across Europe as UK sees highest daily increase. Follow live news |
As concern about coronavirus leads to Australian shoppers emptying shelves of toilet paper, one newspaper has decided to....er... do its bit to help alleviate shortages | |
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has said he hopes that neighbouring South Korea will overcome a coronavirus outbreak, President Moon Jae-in’s office said on Thursday. | |
In a letter to Moon delivered on Wednesday, Kim also voiced concern over Moon’s health, and discussed his view of the situation on the Korean peninsula, Yoon Do-han, Moon’s senior press secretary, told a briefing. | |
South Korea is battling the biggest epidemic outside China and reported 438 new infections on Thursday for a total of 5,766. | |
North Korea has meanwhile quarantined hundreds of foreigners in an attempt to stop the virus from breaking out, although other states have expressed concerns about that secrecy and the authoritarian nature of the country mean that it’s unclear how the situation is developing there. | |
Greece has reported its tenth case of coronavirus, a person related to an individual who recently travelled to Israel and Egypt, health authorities have said. | |
On Wednesday the government ordered the closure of schools and banned public gatherings in three districts in the west of the country from today as a precaution after a person from the region tested positive for coronavirus, authorities said. | |
That person had recently returned from a religious pilgrimage to Israel and Egypt. The ban was in effect for 48 hours and subject to review, authorities said. | |
The cases come as Greek authorities react to a developing crisis as thousands of people arrive at the country’s border with Turkey. | |
About 12,500 people are estimated to be waiting on the Turkish side of the Greek border after the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, said on Saturday he would open his country’s borders for refugees fleeing the nine-year war in Syria to cross into Europe. | |
In India, where citizens have been advised not to travel to any such country that is affected by the virus, the health ministry has issued a statement recording that there were 29 positive cases in the country by March 4. | |
It makes a range of other points including flagging up concerns around Indian pilgrims and students stranded in Tehran and Quam, Iran, which it describes as “epicentres of the Iran Covid-19 outbreak”. | |
Funerals of coronavirus victims in Britain could be transmitted to mourners over the internet to prevent the spread of the disease if it becomes a pandemic, the Daily Telegraph reports. | |
The paper says that bereaved relatives who have come into close contact with victims would be at greater risk of contracting the illness themselves, resulting in the government seeking to discourage them from holding large funerals. | |
It also cites official government pandemic planning documents which raise the prospect of crematoria being opened 24 hours a day, and all week, to cope with up to 50,000 extra deaths per week in the worst case scenario. | |
Chinese President Xi Jinping has postponed his state visit to Japan in April due to the coronavirus outbreak, Japan’s government said Thursday. | Chinese President Xi Jinping has postponed his state visit to Japan in April due to the coronavirus outbreak, Japan’s government said Thursday. |
Xi was to have been the first Chinese president to visit Japan since Hu Jintao in May 2008. | Xi was to have been the first Chinese president to visit Japan since Hu Jintao in May 2008. |
Xi was scheduled to meet Japan’s emperor, Naruhito, attend a banquet at the imperial palace and hold talks with Japan’s prime minister, Shinzo Abe. | Xi was scheduled to meet Japan’s emperor, Naruhito, attend a banquet at the imperial palace and hold talks with Japan’s prime minister, Shinzo Abe. |
The leaders had hoped the visit would underline recent improvements in bilateral ties after years of tension over rival territorial claims to the Senkakus, a group of islands in the East China Sea that are administered by Japan but claimed by China, where they are known as the Diaoyu. | The leaders had hoped the visit would underline recent improvements in bilateral ties after years of tension over rival territorial claims to the Senkakus, a group of islands in the East China Sea that are administered by Japan but claimed by China, where they are known as the Diaoyu. |
Japan’s chief cabinet secretary, Yoshihide Suga, said the two countries had agreed that their immediate focus should be on containing the coronavirus outbreak. | Japan’s chief cabinet secretary, Yoshihide Suga, said the two countries had agreed that their immediate focus should be on containing the coronavirus outbreak. |
Coronavirus continues to dominate the morning newspapers across Europe, including in the UK, where news of the collapse of Flybe, Europe’s largest regional airline made it into later editions. | Coronavirus continues to dominate the morning newspapers across Europe, including in the UK, where news of the collapse of Flybe, Europe’s largest regional airline made it into later editions. |
The Guardian leads with our story on the UK government being accused of withholding information about the spread of coronavirus after a 70% increase in confirmed cases prompted health officials to stop providing daily updates on the location of new infections. | The Guardian leads with our story on the UK government being accused of withholding information about the spread of coronavirus after a 70% increase in confirmed cases prompted health officials to stop providing daily updates on the location of new infections. |
In other titles, the Times leads with concerns that Britain’s parliament could be suspended for months to prevents MPs spreading the virus. | In other titles, the Times leads with concerns that Britain’s parliament could be suspended for months to prevents MPs spreading the virus. |
Others, including the Telegraph, and the Daily Mail lead on yesterday’s news about the trebling of new cases of coronavirus, while the announcement that the new James Bond will will be postponed makes the front page of others such as the Mirror. | Others, including the Telegraph, and the Daily Mail lead on yesterday’s news about the trebling of new cases of coronavirus, while the announcement that the new James Bond will will be postponed makes the front page of others such as the Mirror. |
Facebook has confirmed that a contractor at a Seattle office has been diagnosed with the coronavirus and the social media giant said it would close that location until March 9. | Facebook has confirmed that a contractor at a Seattle office has been diagnosed with the coronavirus and the social media giant said it would close that location until March 9. |
“A contractor based in our Stadium East office has been diagnosed with the COVID-19,” a spokeswoman said. | “A contractor based in our Stadium East office has been diagnosed with the COVID-19,” a spokeswoman said. |
Facebook said it has notified employees, adding that workers in all Seattle locations were being encouraged to work from home until the end of the month. | Facebook said it has notified employees, adding that workers in all Seattle locations were being encouraged to work from home until the end of the month. |
Seattle in Washington state has the largest concentration of coronavirus cases confirmed to date in the United States. | Seattle in Washington state has the largest concentration of coronavirus cases confirmed to date in the United States. |
This is Ben Quinn picking up the liveblog now from London, from where we will be covering all of the latest developments in the UK and around the world. | This is Ben Quinn picking up the liveblog now from London, from where we will be covering all of the latest developments in the UK and around the world. |
You can flag up news tips by emailing me at ben.quinn@theguardian.com or tweet me at @BenQuinn75 | You can flag up news tips by emailing me at ben.quinn@theguardian.com or tweet me at @BenQuinn75 |
The Vietnamese government has released an educational coronavirus pop song – and it’s a hit. | The Vietnamese government has released an educational coronavirus pop song – and it’s a hit. |
In Australia, the ABC’s Angelique Lu tweeted that the song had gone “minor viral”in several countries. | In Australia, the ABC’s Angelique Lu tweeted that the song had gone “minor viral”in several countries. |
New infections, panic buying and schools closing continued worldwide, but Japan says the Olympics will go ahead in July. | New infections, panic buying and schools closing continued worldwide, but Japan says the Olympics will go ahead in July. |
The death toll in mainland China passed 3,000, with a further 31 deaths on Wednesday taking the total toll to 3,012. All of the deaths were in Hubei province, the centre of the outbreak. Confirmed cases in China rose by 139 to reach 80,409, and reversing two days of decreasing counts. | The death toll in mainland China passed 3,000, with a further 31 deaths on Wednesday taking the total toll to 3,012. All of the deaths were in Hubei province, the centre of the outbreak. Confirmed cases in China rose by 139 to reach 80,409, and reversing two days of decreasing counts. |
South Korea’s number of confirmed cases neared 6,000 on Thursday. So far 36 countries and regions have imposed a blanket entry ban on people who have recently been in the country’s South, according to the foreign ministry in Seoul. | South Korea’s number of confirmed cases neared 6,000 on Thursday. So far 36 countries and regions have imposed a blanket entry ban on people who have recently been in the country’s South, according to the foreign ministry in Seoul. |
California’s governor has declared a state of emergency after the announcement of the first virus-related death there. The state now has 53 confirmed cases. | California’s governor has declared a state of emergency after the announcement of the first virus-related death there. The state now has 53 confirmed cases. |
Italy closed all schools and universities until 15 March and ordered that all major sporting events be played behind closed doors. The virus has killed 107 people there, and spread to all but one of Italy’s 20 regions. | Italy closed all schools and universities until 15 March and ordered that all major sporting events be played behind closed doors. The virus has killed 107 people there, and spread to all but one of Italy’s 20 regions. |
Japan’s Olympics minister said the Games would go ahead in July as planned, saying that cancelling “would be unacceptable for the athletes”. The country has 1,036 cases and 12 people have died, its health ministry has said. | Japan’s Olympics minister said the Games would go ahead in July as planned, saying that cancelling “would be unacceptable for the athletes”. The country has 1,036 cases and 12 people have died, its health ministry has said. |
Australia introduced a travel ban for South Korea and brought in enhanced screening for those arriving from Italy. Australia’s chief medical officer, Brendan Murphy, has said the government is “looking at scenarios from the most benign through to some millions of people being infected over a period of several weeks”. | Australia introduced a travel ban for South Korea and brought in enhanced screening for those arriving from Italy. Australia’s chief medical officer, Brendan Murphy, has said the government is “looking at scenarios from the most benign through to some millions of people being infected over a period of several weeks”. |
Germany’s health minister has labelled the outbreak a pandemic, something the World Health Organization has so far stopped short of declaring. “What’s clear is that we have not yet reached the peak of the outbreak,” Spahn told German politicians. | Germany’s health minister has labelled the outbreak a pandemic, something the World Health Organization has so far stopped short of declaring. “What’s clear is that we have not yet reached the peak of the outbreak,” Spahn told German politicians. |
Panic buying continued around the world. Masks and toilet paper, in particular, remain in demand. | Panic buying continued around the world. Masks and toilet paper, in particular, remain in demand. |
And here’s today’s Coronavirus Latest – At a Glance, by Graham Russell: | And here’s today’s Coronavirus Latest – At a Glance, by Graham Russell: |
Italy’s government is likely to increase the value of measures to help the economy withstand the coronavirus outbreak to to 5 billion euros (US$5.57 billion). Deputy Economy Minister Laura Castelli said on Thursday. “It is likely that the government will reach (5 billion euros)“ Castelli said in an interview with daily Il Messaggero, adding that she thought it was “necessary to raise the bar as much as possible”. Economy Minister Roberto Gualtieri has promised tax breaks and other measures for the affected sectors worth 3.6 billion euros. A government source told Reuters on Wednesday this may be raised to 4.5 billion, or 0.25% of GDP. | Italy’s government is likely to increase the value of measures to help the economy withstand the coronavirus outbreak to to 5 billion euros (US$5.57 billion). Deputy Economy Minister Laura Castelli said on Thursday. “It is likely that the government will reach (5 billion euros)“ Castelli said in an interview with daily Il Messaggero, adding that she thought it was “necessary to raise the bar as much as possible”. Economy Minister Roberto Gualtieri has promised tax breaks and other measures for the affected sectors worth 3.6 billion euros. A government source told Reuters on Wednesday this may be raised to 4.5 billion, or 0.25% of GDP. |
Apple Inc and Netflix Inc say they are pulling out of the South by Southwest music and tech festival to be held later this month, amid the coronavirus outbreak. | Apple Inc and Netflix Inc say they are pulling out of the South by Southwest music and tech festival to be held later this month, amid the coronavirus outbreak. |
The U.S. death toll from coronavirus infections rose to 11 on Wednesday and California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a statewide emergency amid the nation’s largest outbreak. Facebook Inc had said earlier this week it would not participate in the festival. Organisers of the South by Southwest music and tech festival, set to be held in Austin, Texas, had said last month the event would proceed as planned despite “a handful” of cancellations related to the virus. | The U.S. death toll from coronavirus infections rose to 11 on Wednesday and California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a statewide emergency amid the nation’s largest outbreak. Facebook Inc had said earlier this week it would not participate in the festival. Organisers of the South by Southwest music and tech festival, set to be held in Austin, Texas, had said last month the event would proceed as planned despite “a handful” of cancellations related to the virus. |
Shelves are being stripped bare of toilet rolls, hand sanitiser and surgical masks everywhere from Japan to France to the United States as panic buying criss-crosses the globe with the coronavirus, defying repeated calls for calm and disrupting supply chains, the AFP reports. | Shelves are being stripped bare of toilet rolls, hand sanitiser and surgical masks everywhere from Japan to France to the United States as panic buying criss-crosses the globe with the coronavirus, defying repeated calls for calm and disrupting supply chains, the AFP reports. |
Australia’s biggest supermarket this week began rationing sales of toilet paper after police had to be called to a shop in Sydney when a knife was drawn in a scuffle over the scarce commodity. | Australia’s biggest supermarket this week began rationing sales of toilet paper after police had to be called to a shop in Sydney when a knife was drawn in a scuffle over the scarce commodity. |
On Saturday Japan’s prime minister took to Twitter to calm fears of a national shortage, while social media photos from the US show toilet paper shelves lying bare. | On Saturday Japan’s prime minister took to Twitter to calm fears of a national shortage, while social media photos from the US show toilet paper shelves lying bare. |
Last month ten thousand people queued outside a Hong Kong shop that had secured a shipment of single-use surgical masks, and days later masks were voted the most desireable gifts to receive for Valentine’s Day. | Last month ten thousand people queued outside a Hong Kong shop that had secured a shipment of single-use surgical masks, and days later masks were voted the most desireable gifts to receive for Valentine’s Day. |
In London, masks are now going for more than 100 times their normal retail price, while French authorities said they will requisition all face mask stocks and production. | In London, masks are now going for more than 100 times their normal retail price, while French authorities said they will requisition all face mask stocks and production. |
This is despite the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention saying it did not “recommend the use of facemasks” to help combat the outbreak. | This is despite the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention saying it did not “recommend the use of facemasks” to help combat the outbreak. |