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Coronavirus latest updates: Australia modelling plans from 'benign' to 'worst-case' scenario with millions infected 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
The Australian government has published guidelines for Australians who need to self-isolate either because they have been diagnosed with the virus, or because they’ve been deemed at risk of acquiring it.
As well as advising people to stay at home or in their hotel, including not going to public places, in particular work, school, childcare or university, the government has also issued advice on how to alleviate boredom while in isolation – including doing craft.“Keep in touch with family members and friends via telephone, email or social media,” the advice says. “Exercise regularly. Options could include exercise DVDs, dancing, floor exercises, yoga, walking around the backyard or using home exercise equipment, such as a stationary bicycle, if you have it. Exercise is a proven treatment for stress and depression.
“Don’t rely too heavily on the television and technology. Treat quarantine as an opportunity to do some of those things you never usually have time for, such as board games, craft, drawing and reading.”
The selloff on world stock markets has been stemmed for now with decent gains across Asia Pacific on Thursday, but the issue of the virus is still front and centre in the minds of investors.Damien Klassen at Nucleus Wealth in Melbourne has been tracking the data and has posted some charts and thoughts on the firm’s website.
It’s well worth a look, especially in light of what Australia’s chief medical officer was saying earlier about the modelling scenarios about how it could infect millions in the worst case.Klassen makes the point that we should use data from South Korea, Singapore and the Diamond Princess to extrapolate how it might spread because figures from countries such as China , Italy and Iran come with question marks. For example, he questions how reliable Chinese data can be when South Korea now has more recorded cases than any Chinese province except Hubei.
Also he looks at whether climate is a factor since there has been no significant outbreak so far in a tropical country.
Japan’s Olympics minister said the country is committed to hosting the summer games as planned from July even as the coronavirus outbreak spread to new parts of the country.
“Cancellation or delay of the Games would be unacceptable for the athletes,” Seiko Hashimoto said in parliament on Thursday. The minister had caused controversy earlier this week by saying the contract for the games “could be interpreted as allowing a postponement” within calendar 2020. Confirmed coronavirus infections rose to 1,036 nationwide as of Thursday morning, 36 more than the previous day, according to national broadcaster NHK. It was the biggest one-day increase to date, with new cases in locations ranging from Kumamoto prefecture in the southwest to Hokkaido in the north.
The Australian toilet paper-buying urge is strong even for two Australian behavioural scientists
Liam Smith and Celine Klemm write, “Humans are finely attuned to monitoring what everybody else is doing (even subconsciously). Most of us use ‘what other people do’ as a mental shortcut to decide on what the appropriate behaviour would be if we are unsure. It’s a simple decision mechanism called ‘social proof heuristic’, a concept popularised by psychologist Robert Cialdini. For instance, we litter more when the surrounding environment is littered, because it signals to us that littering is the norm. Hotel guests are also more likely to reuse their towels if told that ‘the majority of guests reuse their towels’. So, when we see people stockpiling toilet paper, the natural reaction is to do the same. Social proof can help decide how to act, or reassure us that we are taking the right action.”
An Australian newspaper has printed extra pages for people to use as toilet paper.An Australian newspaper has printed extra pages for people to use as toilet paper.
Coronavirus-fulled panic buying has led to shortages of loo roll across the country in recent days.Coronavirus-fulled panic buying has led to shortages of loo roll across the country in recent days.
It’s the panic that keeps on giving.It’s the panic that keeps on giving.
#ToiletPaperEmergency or the great #ToiletPaperApocalypse, as it has been dubbed on Twitter, has already rolled out hundreds of memes, witty asides as well as documented the madness of people stockpiling the toilet essential.#ToiletPaperEmergency or the great #ToiletPaperApocalypse, as it has been dubbed on Twitter, has already rolled out hundreds of memes, witty asides as well as documented the madness of people stockpiling the toilet essential.
In the real world it has led to Australian toilet paper manufacturers ramping up production to keep up with demand from people fearful of coronavirus.In the real world it has led to Australian toilet paper manufacturers ramping up production to keep up with demand from people fearful of coronavirus.
One newspaper has gone one step further by printing extra pages in its editions to help out those who have been … caught short.One newspaper has gone one step further by printing extra pages in its editions to help out those who have been … caught short.
On Thursday the NT News, the Darwin-based newspaper with a national reputation for its headlines and antics, printed a special eight-page insert that can be cut into toilet paper.On Thursday the NT News, the Darwin-based newspaper with a national reputation for its headlines and antics, printed a special eight-page insert that can be cut into toilet paper.
We have a bit more information about the latest cases from South Australia, from a press conference given at the Royal Adelaide hospital a short time ago.We have a bit more information about the latest cases from South Australia, from a press conference given at the Royal Adelaide hospital a short time ago.
Two people, a baby and a 58-year-old man, tested positive to Covid-19 on Thursday, bringing the total number of cases in South Australia to seven.Two people, a baby and a 58-year-old man, tested positive to Covid-19 on Thursday, bringing the total number of cases in South Australia to seven.
The public health physician, Dr Nicola Spurrier, said the baby girl was the daughter of a 40-year-old woman who was hospitalised in Adelaide’s Flinders Medical Center on Wednesday after testing positive for the virus. The woman arrived in Adelaide from Iran via Kuala Lumpur on Sunday.The public health physician, Dr Nicola Spurrier, said the baby girl was the daughter of a 40-year-old woman who was hospitalised in Adelaide’s Flinders Medical Center on Wednesday after testing positive for the virus. The woman arrived in Adelaide from Iran via Kuala Lumpur on Sunday.
“The little bub, the child of the mother that is currently in Flinders Medical Centre has tested positive but I am very pleased to report that the child is well and both mother and baby are doing well in that facility,” Spurrier said.“The little bub, the child of the mother that is currently in Flinders Medical Centre has tested positive but I am very pleased to report that the child is well and both mother and baby are doing well in that facility,” Spurrier said.
The 58-year-old man, from Taiwan, arrived in Adelaide on Tuesday and was taken to the Royal Adelaide hospital to be isolated on Thursday.The 58-year-old man, from Taiwan, arrived in Adelaide on Tuesday and was taken to the Royal Adelaide hospital to be isolated on Thursday.
Spurrier said authorities were also tracing any possible contacts that a 24-year-old South Australian woman, who returned from Europe on Sunday and had travelled through Italy, may have made since returning to Adelaide. That woman tested positive on Wednesday.Spurrier said authorities were also tracing any possible contacts that a 24-year-old South Australian woman, who returned from Europe on Sunday and had travelled through Italy, may have made since returning to Adelaide. That woman tested positive on Wednesday.
“There are a number of places that that young woman visited before she had the test results and we are all following through on those potential places,” Spurrier said.“There are a number of places that that young woman visited before she had the test results and we are all following through on those potential places,” Spurrier said.
Italian tourists have been caught trying to evade virus containment in MauritaniaItalian tourists have been caught trying to evade virus containment in Mauritania
A group of Italian tourists tried to escape coronavirus confinement in Mauritania but were caught and sent back to their home country, the West African country said Wednesday.A group of Italian tourists tried to escape coronavirus confinement in Mauritania but were caught and sent back to their home country, the West African country said Wednesday.
The 15 tourists arrived in the capital Nouakchott on Saturday planning to travel to the northern tourist hub of Atar, health ministry spokesman Abdelkader Ould Ahmed told AFP.The 15 tourists arrived in the capital Nouakchott on Saturday planning to travel to the northern tourist hub of Atar, health ministry spokesman Abdelkader Ould Ahmed told AFP.
But Mauritania has imposed a confinement period on travellers from countries considered to be a high coronavirus risk – including Italy, which has Europe’s most cases with more than 3,000 as well as 107 deaths.But Mauritania has imposed a confinement period on travellers from countries considered to be a high coronavirus risk – including Italy, which has Europe’s most cases with more than 3,000 as well as 107 deaths.
Italy’s foreign ministry confirmed that the tourists had since all returned home, “assisted by our diplomatic network”.Italy’s foreign ministry confirmed that the tourists had since all returned home, “assisted by our diplomatic network”.
The Mauritanian spokesman said the confinement rules applied to “all travellers from risk areas, without distinction”.The Mauritanian spokesman said the confinement rules applied to “all travellers from risk areas, without distinction”.
He added that this “rigour has paid off” as the country has yet to register a case of coronavirus.He added that this “rigour has paid off” as the country has yet to register a case of coronavirus.
Hong Kong has warned residents not to kiss pets after a dog contracted coronavirusHong Kong has warned residents not to kiss pets after a dog contracted coronavirus
Hong Kong authorities have warned people to avoid kissing their pets, but also to not panic and abandon them after a dog repeatedly tested “weak positive” for coronavirus.Hong Kong authorities have warned people to avoid kissing their pets, but also to not panic and abandon them after a dog repeatedly tested “weak positive” for coronavirus.
The Hong Kong Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department said experts unanimously agreed the results suggested the dog had “a low-level of infection and it is likely to be a case of human-to-animal transmission”.The Hong Kong Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department said experts unanimously agreed the results suggested the dog had “a low-level of infection and it is likely to be a case of human-to-animal transmission”.
The Pomeranian’s owner was infected with Covid-19 but the dog itself was not showing symptoms, authorities said.The Pomeranian’s owner was infected with Covid-19 but the dog itself was not showing symptoms, authorities said.
Coronavirus has spread to almost all of Iran’s provincesCoronavirus has spread to almost all of Iran’s provinces
President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday that while the virus has spread to almost all of Iran’s 31 provinces, the country will get through the outbreak with a “minimum” number of deaths, Reuters reports.President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday that while the virus has spread to almost all of Iran’s 31 provinces, the country will get through the outbreak with a “minimum” number of deaths, Reuters reports.
“This disease is a widespread disease,” he said during a Cabinet meeting, according to the official presidency website.“This disease is a widespread disease,” he said during a Cabinet meeting, according to the official presidency website.
The health ministry said on Tuesday that 92 people had died so far from coronavirus, one of the highest death tolls outside China where the epidemic originated late last year. It said 2,922 people had been infected with the disease.The health ministry said on Tuesday that 92 people had died so far from coronavirus, one of the highest death tolls outside China where the epidemic originated late last year. It said 2,922 people had been infected with the disease.
Among those infected is first vice president Eshaq Jahangiri, the IranWire news site reported, citing an “informed source”. There was no immediate confirmation from officials. Several Iranian officials have come down with coronavirus and one senior official died from an infection on Monday. The Islamic Republic has cancelled Friday prayers in all provincial capitals this week because of the coronavirus outbreak, state television reported on Wednesday.Among those infected is first vice president Eshaq Jahangiri, the IranWire news site reported, citing an “informed source”. There was no immediate confirmation from officials. Several Iranian officials have come down with coronavirus and one senior official died from an infection on Monday. The Islamic Republic has cancelled Friday prayers in all provincial capitals this week because of the coronavirus outbreak, state television reported on Wednesday.
In the US, all NASA employees will be working from home on Friday, POLITICO reports. The measure is partly in order to “stress test” their remote work technologies in case an extended period of remote work.In the US, all NASA employees will be working from home on Friday, POLITICO reports. The measure is partly in order to “stress test” their remote work technologies in case an extended period of remote work.
A cruise ship linked to the first death from coronavirus in California is being held off the coast of San Francisco, with 21 people on board reporting possible symptoms.
Seven in 10 people worldwide would support sealing off entire cities or towns affected by coronavirus to slow the spread of infection, according to a poll of citizens in 10 countries, Reuters reports. As health authorities battle to stop a worldwide pandemic, a clear majority backed lockdowns to prevent anyone entering or leaving urban areas that have seen large numbers of coronavirus cases, found the survey by polling firm Ipsos. “Even in Italy, where this is already happening, 60% support the total quarantine of affected towns and cities,” Darrell Bricker, head of Ipsos Public Affairs said.
Europe’s largest regional airline collapses, Coronavirus last straw
Flybe, Europe’s largest regional airline, has collapsed into administration less than two months after the government announced a rescue deal.
The impact of the coronavirus on flight bookings proved the last straw for the Exeter-based airline, which operates almost 40% of UK domestic flights, as the government stalled on a controversial £100m loan.
Stronger airlines are likely to follow.
In Australia, the Guardian has confirmed that a baby has been diagnosed with Covid-19 in South Australia. The baby’s mother was diagnosed yesterday, after returning to the country from Iran on Sunday. Both the mother and child diagnosed with Covid-19 in South Australia are at Flinders Medical Centre in Adelaide.
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.
Among the group are 14 pregnant women and 22 people in need of medical care, including cancer patients.