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Coronavirus latest updates: Australia warns its 'worst-case' scenario is millions infected over several weeks Coronavirus latest updates: Australia modelling plans from 'benign' to 'worst-case' scenario with millions infected
(32 minutes later)
Germany labels outbreak a pandemic as cases spread across Europe as UK sees highest daily increase. Follow live newsGermany labels outbreak a pandemic as cases spread across Europe as UK sees highest daily increase. Follow live news
Trump has attempted to blame Obama for coronavirus test kit shortage
Donald Trump sought to shift blame on to the Obama administration for a nationwide coronavirus test kit shortage.
The president on Wednesday blamed a federal agency decision during Barack Obama’s presidency, which Trump said made it harder to quickly roll out testing for the virus.
“The Obama administration made a decision on testing that turned out to be very detrimental to what we’re doing, and we undid that decision a few days ago so that the testing can take place in a much more accurate and rapid fashion,” he told reporters during a White House meeting with airline executives, whom he had called to discuss the economic effects of the outbreak.
“That was a decision we disagreed with,” he said. “I don’t think we would have made it, but for some reason, it was made.”
Virus is ‘once in 100 years catastrophe’ – hedge fund boss
Ray Dalio, one of Wall Street’s highest profile hedge fund bosses, has described the coronavirus as “one of those once in 100 years catastrophic events” that will hit companies with large debt levels the hardest and potentially lead to a significant economic downturn.
The founder of Bridgewater Associates, a fund with $160bn in assets, said the crisis could be broken into three parts: 1) the virus, 2) the economic impact of reactions to the virus, and 3) the market action.
The market website Livewire has posted excerpts from his comments on Linkedin.
Dalio says that the US Fed’s rate cuts – and similar actions by other central banks from Australia to Canada – won’t do much to boost demand, although they might “goose risky asset prices a bit”.
“That’s true in the US. In Europe and Japan, monetary policy is virtually out of gas so it’s difficult to imagine how pure monetary policy will work. In Europe, it will be interesting to see if fiscal policy stimulations can pick up in this political environment.”
Chinese social media censors blocked neutral information about the coronavirus outbreak when they targeted references to the outbreak on WeChat and other platforms, a report has found.
Hundreds of keywords and keyword combinations, including “Wuhan seafood market” and “Sars variation” were censored in late December, as doctors sought to warn about the new virus.
Here is the full story on that press conference with Australia’s New South Wales health minister Brad Hazzard regarding the on-soil spread of coronavirus in the state.
In China, a 36-year-old man who had been confirmed to have the virus and was discharged from a hospital in Wuhan on 26 February has died, according to the Chinese publication the Paper, who cited his wife. The man suddenly became ill on 2 March and died after going to the hospital. The cause of death was respiratory failure caused by Covid-19.
China has been noting daily increases in the number of people “cured” or discharged from hospitals after being confirmed to have the virus. But, after several cases of released patients testing positive again, authorities in Hubei ordered that released patients be quarantined for another 14 days. Beijing Ditan Hospital in Beijing has meanwhile found that a patient who tested positive for Covid-19 has suffered viral encephalitis caused by the virus, adding to evidence the infections can cause damage to patients’ nervous systems.
Hong Kong residents who had been stuck in Hubei province, the source of the outbreak, have returned on flights chartered by the Hong Kong government. There were 244 passengers. Another 200 are expected to be brought back today. Anyone showing symptoms or a high temperature has not been allowed to board, and all will undergo quarantine for two weeks, the Hong Kong government said.Hong Kong residents who had been stuck in Hubei province, the source of the outbreak, have returned on flights chartered by the Hong Kong government. There were 244 passengers. Another 200 are expected to be brought back today. Anyone showing symptoms or a high temperature has not been allowed to board, and all will undergo quarantine for two weeks, the Hong Kong government said.
Among the group are 14 pregnant women and 22 people in need of medical care, including cancer patients.Among the group are 14 pregnant women and 22 people in need of medical care, including cancer patients.
South Korea’s total number of novel coronavirus cases – the largest outside China – approached 6,000 on Thursday as authorities reported 145 new infections.South Korea’s total number of novel coronavirus cases – the largest outside China – approached 6,000 on Thursday as authorities reported 145 new infections.
The total stood at 5,766, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said, with 35 deaths.The total stood at 5,766, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said, with 35 deaths.
So far 36 countries and regions have imposed a blanket entry ban on people who have recently been in the South, according to the foreign ministry in Seoul.So far 36 countries and regions have imposed a blanket entry ban on people who have recently been in the South, according to the foreign ministry in Seoul.
Nearly 90 percent of the national total occurred in the southern city of Daegu and the neighbouring North Gyeongsang province.Nearly 90 percent of the national total occurred in the southern city of Daegu and the neighbouring North Gyeongsang province.
Australia’s Scott Morrison says there is “no suggestions that there should be no mass gatherings” in the country, as he said the outbreak in Australia was significantly less challenging than those in other countries – in response to what the significance might be for Australia’s economy.Australia’s Scott Morrison says there is “no suggestions that there should be no mass gatherings” in the country, as he said the outbreak in Australia was significantly less challenging than those in other countries – in response to what the significance might be for Australia’s economy.
He urged any Australians experiencing symptoms to “do the right thing by their fellow Australians” and “prevent the spread of the virus”.He urged any Australians experiencing symptoms to “do the right thing by their fellow Australians” and “prevent the spread of the virus”.
Still in Australia for now, the Guardian’s Katharine Murphy has asked Scott Morrison to elaborate on the travel travel ban regarding South Korea.Still in Australia for now, the Guardian’s Katharine Murphy has asked Scott Morrison to elaborate on the travel travel ban regarding South Korea.
Part of the reason, Morrison responded, was the number of travellers arriving in Australia from South Korea. “The volume of travellers coming out of the Republic of Korea was more than five times what it is out of Italy,” he said.Part of the reason, Morrison responded, was the number of travellers arriving in Australia from South Korea. “The volume of travellers coming out of the Republic of Korea was more than five times what it is out of Italy,” he said.
It “may well be possible within a matter of days or weeks to be able to ensure that we can deal with that,” he said, but for now the travel ban was “the way to go”.It “may well be possible within a matter of days or weeks to be able to ensure that we can deal with that,” he said, but for now the travel ban was “the way to go”.
The Guardian’s Sarah Martin has asked Morrison to and chief medical officer Brendan Murphy about what they know about the likely spread of transmission in Australia.The Guardian’s Sarah Martin has asked Morrison to and chief medical officer Brendan Murphy about what they know about the likely spread of transmission in Australia.
Murphy 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.”Murphy 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.”
Scott Morrison then jumped in to say the government had “been careful not to be speculative about this in the public domain. What we have done all the way through this global health crisis, I think, to be very candid and up front and we will continue to do that but what of won’t do is be speculative, because we’re not in the position of creating unnecessary anxiety.”Scott Morrison then jumped in to say the government had “been careful not to be speculative about this in the public domain. What we have done all the way through this global health crisis, I think, to be very candid and up front and we will continue to do that but what of won’t do is be speculative, because we’re not in the position of creating unnecessary anxiety.”
Australia’s chief medical officer Brendan Murphy has addressed Australia’s toilet paper hoarding behaviour as he urged the public to behave as they usually would.Australia’s chief medical officer Brendan Murphy has addressed Australia’s toilet paper hoarding behaviour as he urged the public to behave as they usually would.
“At the moment, there is no reason to put a mask on when you are walking around the shops, there is no reason to stop going to football matches or community activities, there is no reason to dilute the shelves of lavatory paper in the supermarkets. We should continue a normal activity, we should watch the development of this and, we will focus on any outbreaks and control.”“At the moment, there is no reason to put a mask on when you are walking around the shops, there is no reason to stop going to football matches or community activities, there is no reason to dilute the shelves of lavatory paper in the supermarkets. We should continue a normal activity, we should watch the development of this and, we will focus on any outbreaks and control.”
Australia’s federal chief medical officer Brendan Murphy has said the government is “very worried about Iran.”Australia’s federal chief medical officer Brendan Murphy has said the government is “very worried about Iran.”
Australia’s National Security Committee is reviewing the progress of its preparations for a potential pandemic, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said.Australia’s National Security Committee is reviewing the progress of its preparations for a potential pandemic, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said.
“That has gone from everything from availability of surgical masks and in particular, to working with the health sector,” he said.“That has gone from everything from availability of surgical masks and in particular, to working with the health sector,” he said.
He added that work was ongoing in particular with regard to Indigenous communities and aged care.He added that work was ongoing in particular with regard to Indigenous communities and aged care.
“We have always gone about business with common sense and that is what we are known for so let’s do that,” he added.“We have always gone about business with common sense and that is what we are known for so let’s do that,” he added.
More on Australia’s travel measures regarding South Korea from Prime Minister Scott Morrison:More on Australia’s travel measures regarding South Korea from Prime Minister Scott Morrison:
“In relation to the Republic of Korea, we will also be upgrading the travel advice to level three, which is to reconsider the need to travel to the Republic of Korea, and it will be at level four which is do not travel to the province of Daegu.”“In relation to the Republic of Korea, we will also be upgrading the travel advice to level three, which is to reconsider the need to travel to the Republic of Korea, and it will be at level four which is do not travel to the province of Daegu.”
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison is speaking now, and has announced that the current travel bans regarding mainland China and Iran will continue. A new travel ban has been put in place for the Republic of Korea, and enhanced screening measures are being introduced at airports for travellers arriving from Italy.Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison is speaking now, and has announced that the current travel bans regarding mainland China and Iran will continue. A new travel ban has been put in place for the Republic of Korea, and enhanced screening measures are being introduced at airports for travellers arriving from Italy.
Hong Kong authorities have confirmed the 105th case of Covid-19, in a 69-year-old Happy Valley woman who recently returned from India.Hong Kong authorities have confirmed the 105th case of Covid-19, in a 69-year-old Happy Valley woman who recently returned from India.
The woman had an underlying illness, and fell sick in India on 23 February, the day before she returned home to Hong Kong on Cathay Pacific flight CX694 from New Delhi.The woman had an underlying illness, and fell sick in India on 23 February, the day before she returned home to Hong Kong on Cathay Pacific flight CX694 from New Delhi.
Four days later she developed a fever and consulted a Chinese medical practitioner twice, before visiting an out-patient clinic on 3 March. After testing positive for Covid-19 the woman was admitted to Ruttonjee hospital on Wednesday, and is in a stable condition.Four days later she developed a fever and consulted a Chinese medical practitioner twice, before visiting an out-patient clinic on 3 March. After testing positive for Covid-19 the woman was admitted to Ruttonjee hospital on Wednesday, and is in a stable condition.
The woman’s husband and the domestic helper who lives with them are asymptomatic and will be quarantined, the government said. Passengers onboard the 24 February flight are urged to contact 2125 1122 if they are concerned.The woman’s husband and the domestic helper who lives with them are asymptomatic and will be quarantined, the government said. Passengers onboard the 24 February flight are urged to contact 2125 1122 if they are concerned.