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Coronavirus: Iran to limit travel between major cities amid more than 3,500 cases - latest updates Coronavirus: Iran to limit travel between major cities amid more than 3,500 cases - latest updates
(32 minutes later)
California declares state of emergency; Italian doctors say German man may have been first European with virus and Scotland registers three more casesCalifornia declares state of emergency; Italian doctors say German man may have been first European with virus and Scotland registers three more cases
DeepMind, Google’s London-based AI research unit, has published predictions of the structure of proteins associated with SARS-CoV-2, in the hope that they help scientists understand how the new coronavirus functions, and allow for more precise investigation into potential treatments. French plans to move at some point from ‘stage 2’ of its response to the coronavirus to ‘stage 3’ are to be discussed today at a meeting of advisors convened by France’s president, Emmanuel Macron.
Le Monde has details of the discussions in anticipation of stage 3, when the outbreak spreads to the entire country and schools and other institutions may close.
David and Sally Abel, a British couple who contracted coronavirus on the Diamond Princess cruise ship, are resigned to being kept in quarantine in a Japanese hospital for at least two more weeks.In a video update from the hospital room, David said both he and his wife still have coronavirus, more than two weeks after first being diagnosed on the ship as it was docked off Yokohama.
Sally was tested negative last week, but has since tested positive again.David said he “curled up into a ball” and felt close to death after the virus led to pneumonia but both he and Sally were now recovering and gaining “more energy” every day.Asked by YouTube viewers when he would return to the UK, he said: “Until we get a run of negative tests that isn’t even open for negotiation. We have to be given a certificate to say we are absolutely clear of the virus. My gut feeling is probably two to three weeks.”David suspects his room is being monitored by CCTV camera, but he said his Japanese carers had been “so gracious”. And he added that the couple accepted they were being closely monitored “for our own good”.
An employee in HSBC’s research department in London has tested positive for coronavirus, three sources have told Reuters.
The employee informed the bank at the weekend and staff who came into contact with him have been told to work from home, a source familiar with the matter said.
Deep cleaning is taking place of affected areas, the source added.
A spokesman for the UK prime minister, Boris Johnson, says the government will not need to ask the EU for an extension of the Brexit transition period due to the coronavirus.
DeepMind, Google’s London-based AI research unit, has published predictions of the structure of proteins associated with SARS-CoV-2 [the virus that causes the disease Covid-19], in the hope that they help scientists understand how the new coronavirus functions, and allow for more precise investigation into potential treatments.
The company used its AlphaFold system, which applies machine learning techniques to estimate the physical structure of proteins, to generate the predictions, which it has published without the normal, time consuming, review or verification process for such work.The company used its AlphaFold system, which applies machine learning techniques to estimate the physical structure of proteins, to generate the predictions, which it has published without the normal, time consuming, review or verification process for such work.
“Knowing a protein’s structure provides an important resource for understanding how it functions, but experiments to determine the structure can take months or longer, and some prove to be intractable,” the researchers wrote in a post accompanying the publication.“Knowing a protein’s structure provides an important resource for understanding how it functions, but experiments to determine the structure can take months or longer, and some prove to be intractable,” the researchers wrote in a post accompanying the publication.
“For this reason, researchers have been developing computational methods to predict protein structure from the amino acid sequence.”“For this reason, researchers have been developing computational methods to predict protein structure from the amino acid sequence.”
A “long-term commercial niche” for vaccines to counter the new coronavirus will be opened up, according to the head of a global NGO which acts as an umbrella for drugs researchers.A “long-term commercial niche” for vaccines to counter the new coronavirus will be opened up, according to the head of a global NGO which acts as an umbrella for drugs researchers.
“It’s no longer plausible that containment will be a success and the new coronavirus disease knocked out,” says Richard Hatchett, chief executive of CEPI (Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations), in a Financial Times piece on the race to find a vaccine.“It’s no longer plausible that containment will be a success and the new coronavirus disease knocked out,” says Richard Hatchett, chief executive of CEPI (Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations), in a Financial Times piece on the race to find a vaccine.
It adds though that, for now, any commercial gain from involvement in creating a successful vaccine is a secondary concern to the drive to find a treatment.It adds though that, for now, any commercial gain from involvement in creating a successful vaccine is a secondary concern to the drive to find a treatment.
Full Fact, the UK fact-checking charity, has released some pieces of work countering misleading claims about the outbreak.Full Fact, the UK fact-checking charity, has released some pieces of work countering misleading claims about the outbreak.
They include:They include:
Claim: Scientists believe that coronavirus may have come from bats in a Chinese research facility.Claim: Scientists believe that coronavirus may have come from bats in a Chinese research facility.
Full Fact conclusion: Two Chinese scientists have published an article suggesting that the 2019 coronavirus outbreak could have originated from bats in a laboratory in Wuhan. However, apart from maps showing the proximity of laboratories, they offer no evidence to prove this.Full Fact conclusion: Two Chinese scientists have published an article suggesting that the 2019 coronavirus outbreak could have originated from bats in a laboratory in Wuhan. However, apart from maps showing the proximity of laboratories, they offer no evidence to prove this.
Claim: Scientists knew about the new coronavirus long ago and called it “Disease X”.Claim: Scientists knew about the new coronavirus long ago and called it “Disease X”.
Full Fact conclusion: They didn’t. This is a misunderstanding about the phrase “Disease X”, which the World Health Organization used to denote an unknown serious new disease that might cause a pandemic.Full Fact conclusion: They didn’t. This is a misunderstanding about the phrase “Disease X”, which the World Health Organization used to denote an unknown serious new disease that might cause a pandemic.
The German government’s main body for safeguarding public health has announced this morning that 349 people are officially infected with the coronavirus in Germany, a rise of 109 cases within 24 hours. On Monday the figure from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) was just 38.The German government’s main body for safeguarding public health has announced this morning that 349 people are officially infected with the coronavirus in Germany, a rise of 109 cases within 24 hours. On Monday the figure from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) was just 38.
The real figure will be still higher “because of the fluidity of the situation”, a spokesman said, with the RKI never able to be fully on top of the new numbers as health authorities continue to report new incidents through the day.The real figure will be still higher “because of the fluidity of the situation”, a spokesman said, with the RKI never able to be fully on top of the new numbers as health authorities continue to report new incidents through the day.
Meanwhile the government has given pharmacies permission to mix theirown disinfectant solutions with industrial alcohol, in an attempt tokeep up with the unprecedented demand.Meanwhile the government has given pharmacies permission to mix theirown disinfectant solutions with industrial alcohol, in an attempt tokeep up with the unprecedented demand.
Following a suspected case of coronavirus at a hotel in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, the Palestinian Ministry of Health has closed all mosques and churches in the area.Following a suspected case of coronavirus at a hotel in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, the Palestinian Ministry of Health has closed all mosques and churches in the area.
According to Wafa, the official Palestinian Authority news service, a medical state of emergency had been declared in the holy city, home to the Church of Nativity, a popular pilgrimage site revered as the birthplace of Jesus.According to Wafa, the official Palestinian Authority news service, a medical state of emergency had been declared in the holy city, home to the Church of Nativity, a popular pilgrimage site revered as the birthplace of Jesus.
While no cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the Palestinian territories, authorities also cancelled all sports events in the city and shut schools. It had also asked tourists to cancel hotel reservations, the Wafa report said.While no cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the Palestinian territories, authorities also cancelled all sports events in the city and shut schools. It had also asked tourists to cancel hotel reservations, the Wafa report said.
Some 3,513 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Iran, according to the country’s health ministry.Some 3,513 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Iran, according to the country’s health ministry.
There have been 107 deaths, said officials.There have been 107 deaths, said officials.
Multiple sporting events have been postponed, moved or cancelled, with others now cast into doubt.Multiple sporting events have been postponed, moved or cancelled, with others now cast into doubt.
They include:They include:
Euro 2020Euro 2020
The Europe-wide, travel-heavy Uefa showpiece is due to take place at 12 venues, starting in Rome on 12 June. The semi-finals and final will be at Wembley. Uefa say the situation is “under constant scrutiny … we are monitoring it country by country, and football will follow orders of the individual countries”. England’s warm-up against Italy is scheduled for Wembley on 27 March. The FA is following developments.The Europe-wide, travel-heavy Uefa showpiece is due to take place at 12 venues, starting in Rome on 12 June. The semi-finals and final will be at Wembley. Uefa say the situation is “under constant scrutiny … we are monitoring it country by country, and football will follow orders of the individual countries”. England’s warm-up against Italy is scheduled for Wembley on 27 March. The FA is following developments.
Premier League and domestic footballPremier League and domestic football
Widespread disruption already, with multiple Serie A games called off and concerns over completing the Italian domestic season. The Swiss league, Japan’s J-League, South Korea’s K-League and China’s Super League are all on hold, with pre-season International Champions Cup fixtures set for Asia also called off.Widespread disruption already, with multiple Serie A games called off and concerns over completing the Italian domestic season. The Swiss league, Japan’s J-League, South Korea’s K-League and China’s Super League are all on hold, with pre-season International Champions Cup fixtures set for Asia also called off.
Olympics and ParalympicsOlympics and Paralympics
Tokyo 2020 officials are sounding defiant but options are being discussed. The events start on 24 July and 25 August respectively; IOC member Dick Pound says a final decision could be made as late as the end of May, with cancellation, rather than postponement or relocation, the most likely outcome. The athletics world indoor championships, scheduled to take place in China next month, are already off.Tokyo 2020 officials are sounding defiant but options are being discussed. The events start on 24 July and 25 August respectively; IOC member Dick Pound says a final decision could be made as late as the end of May, with cancellation, rather than postponement or relocation, the most likely outcome. The athletics world indoor championships, scheduled to take place in China next month, are already off.
Iranian authorities are to begin manning checkpoints to limit travel between major cities due to the coronavirus in a country which is now one of the centres of the outbreak.Iranian authorities are to begin manning checkpoints to limit travel between major cities due to the coronavirus in a country which is now one of the centres of the outbreak.
The country has also moved to close schools and universities until the end of the Iranian calendar year on 20 March because of coronavirus.The country has also moved to close schools and universities until the end of the Iranian calendar year on 20 March because of coronavirus.
Health minister Saeed Namaki made the announcement Thursday at a televised news conference.Health minister Saeed Namaki made the announcement Thursday at a televised news conference.
Starbucks has said it will only use disposable cups at its North American outlets.Starbucks has said it will only use disposable cups at its North American outlets.
The company also said in a statement that it was “pausing the use of personal cups and ‘for here’ ware” in its stores. Translation: there won’t be any more drinks in washable mugs or customer-owned cups.The company also said in a statement that it was “pausing the use of personal cups and ‘for here’ ware” in its stores. Translation: there won’t be any more drinks in washable mugs or customer-owned cups.
Other measures include its move as a corporate body to restrict all business-related air travel.Other measures include its move as a corporate body to restrict all business-related air travel.
“Although the situation remains fluid, our US and international markets have gleaned learnings from our leadership team and partners in China who were first faced with this epidemic,” the company said.“Although the situation remains fluid, our US and international markets have gleaned learnings from our leadership team and partners in China who were first faced with this epidemic,” the company said.
Dubai has asked sports events organisers to postpone all sports related activities until the end of the month, according to a government circular seen by Reuters.Dubai has asked sports events organisers to postpone all sports related activities until the end of the month, according to a government circular seen by Reuters.
The circular, issued by Dubai Sports Council, said the request was a precautionary measure to ensure public health.The circular, issued by Dubai Sports Council, said the request was a precautionary measure to ensure public health.