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Coronavirus live updates: stock markets plunge as infections pass 110,000 Coronavirus live updates: stock markets plunge as infections pass 110,000
(32 minutes later)
With cases spiking sharply across Europe and emergency measures in place from California to Saudi Arabia, investors have sent shares tumblingWith cases spiking sharply across Europe and emergency measures in place from California to Saudi Arabia, investors have sent shares tumbling
The first case of COVID-19 has been confirmed on Lesbos, sparking concerns it could spread to refugee camps, reports journalist Katy Fallon from the island. A member of staff at Transport for London has tested positive for coronavirus. A spokeswoman said:
This morning, the hospital in Mytilene confirmed that a woman, hospitalised on Sunday morning, had been diagnosed with the virus. She had reportedly experienced flu-like symptoms in recent days and according to local news reports, had returned to the area about a month ago from a trip to Israel. The party leaders of the European parliament are to hold an emergency meeting this afternoon on whether to cancel this week’s session in light of the growing incidents of Coronavirus infection in Brussels, reports the Guardian’s Daniel Boffey. There are 39 recorded cases of infection in Belgium, including a handful of cases among staff working within the EU’s institutions.
There are concerns about the extent to which the virus will have now spread as the woman, as yet unnamed, worked in a supermarket in the town of Plomari, around 14 miles away from the capital of Mytilene. The tour guides association in the city of Luxor, southern Egypt, has told its members that tours are closed for the day, including major archeological sites, hot air balloon rides and a film festival.
The management of Covid-19 has been low on people’s priorities on Lesbos, particularly in the humanitarian community which has been focused on the security of its staff in the wake of a number of attacks on aid workers, journalists and refugees in the past week. According to one Egyptian tour guide, who spoke to journalist Ruth Michaelson, the lockdown is being enforced by local police, with tourists shut in their cabins on cruise ships or inside hotel rooms. “The tourists are okay, they’re happy to be checked,” said the guide, who cannot be named as they are not permitted to talk to the media.
Given the recent unrest, the Moria refugee camp, a 15-minute drive from Mytilene, which has a population approaching 20,000, was calm this morning before the official announcement; but camp residents, often with little else to occupy themselves, have been talking about corona for weeks. Officials from Egypt’s health ministry are travelling to Luxor today to screen tourists for signs of Covid-19 amid indications of a major outbreak in the city.
Nearly everyone in Moria has some kind of health complaint and most people here will tell you that the poor living conditions have made them sick. The city also welcomed extra visitors this week for a film festival, which suspended some events due to the outbreak, but not all.
Muhamad Abud, 50, originally a farmer from the outskirts of Idib, sat smoking a cigarette at the top of the olive grove, an unofficial overspill site next to the main camp walls. He arrived with his wife four months ago. She is diabetic and he said her health has deteriorated drastically since she arrived. Egypt’s Ministry of Health declared overnight that 55 people are now infected with Covid-19 in the country. Egypt, the Arab world’s most populous nation, yesterday reported its first death from the virus, a German tourist who was infected in Luxor and died in the resort town of Hurghada.
“She’s lost her sight a lot since being here and she coughs a lot from the dust,” he said. “In Syria we had a good situation, the health services were really good but they collapsed after the war. We came here thinking the health situation would be better but it’s worse,” he told the Guardian. A statement from Egypt’s Ministry of Health said that the tourist was transported from Luxor to Hurghada on Friday and died on Sunday in hospital, stressing that they declined to be quarantined. A tally of officially reported cases indicates that the German man was not included in the previous numbers of those infected with Covid-19, despite official insistence that Egypt is being “transparent” on this issue.
As a young boy from the camp walked along one of the dust pathways, he sneezed. “Hey he’s got Corona,” his friend joked. Egyptian officials have tried to project an image of business as usual, sending the country’s minister of tourism to inspect cruise ships after 45 passengers aboard one Luxor cruise tested positive for the virus. But the number of tourists developing symptoms of the virus after leaving Egypt in recent weeks has risen sharply: At least 25 foreign nationals have reported symptoms of the virus since returning home from trips to Egypt.
An official announcement by island authorities is expected this afternoon, which should detail how the virus will be treated and contained. This includes a Taiwanese national reported to be the source of the outbreak on the Luxor cruise ship the Asara, who had symptoms of the virus after returning home in late February. Workers on board the ship contracted the Covid-19, but remained on the ship to welcome new passengers last week, increasing the spread. Cruise ship workers in the city are reportedly quitting amid rising concern over the spread of the virus.
The Irish Times is reporting that the France-Ireland Six Nations game which was scheduled to conclude the Guinness 2020 Six Nations in the Stade de France next Saturday will be postponed. The first case of Covid-19 has been confirmed on Lesbos, prompting concerns it could spread to refugee camps, reports the journalist Katy Fallon from the island.
Six prisoners have died in Modena, Italy, after a prison riot broke out when detainees were informed that the new emergency decree includes restriction of face time with visiting relatives due to the coronavirus. This morning, a hospital in Mytilene said the woman, who was admitted on Sunday morning, had been diagnosed with the virus. She had reportedly experienced flu-like symptoms in recent days and, according to local news reports, had returned to the area about a month ago after a trip to Israel.
Lorenzo Tondo, the Guardian’s southern Italy correspondent, reports that other jail riots were also sparked in Salerno, Naples, Alessandria, Vercelli, Bari, Palermo, Foggia and Frosinone when the news of the new decree banning visits from relatives spread among inmates. Prisoners in several prisons set mattresses on fire, while two prison guards were taken hostage temporarily in Pavia. There are concerns about the extent to which coronavirus will have spread, because the woman, as yet unnamed, worked in a supermarket in the town of Plomari, about 14 miles away from Mytilene, the capital.
An investigation is ongoing to ascertain the causes of the inmates’ deaths. The management of Covid-19 has been low on people’s priorities on Lesbos, particularly in the humanitarian community, which has been focusing on staff securityafter attacks on aid workers, journalists and refugees in the past week.
Iranian state television has confirmed 595 new coronavirus cases in the past day including 43 new deaths. The new totals are now: 7,161 total infections and 237 deaths, with 2,394 confirmed recoveries. Given the recent unrest, the Moria refugee camp, a 15-minute drive from Mytilene, which has a population approaching 20,000, was calm this morning before the official announcement. However, camp residents, often with little else to occupy themselves, have been talking about the virus for weeks.
Nearly everyone in Moria has some kind of health complaint, and most believe the poor living conditions have made them sick.
Muhamad Abud, 50, originally a farmer from the outskirts of Idib province in Syria, sat smoking a cigarette at the top of the olive grove, an unofficial overspill site next to the main camp walls. He arrived with his wife four months ago. She has diabetes and her health has deteriorated drastically since she arrived, he says.
“She’s lost her sight a lot since being here and she coughs a lot from the dust. In Syria we had a good situation: the health services were really good, but they collapsed after the war. We came here thinking the health situation would be better but it’s worse,” Abud said.
As a young boy from the camp walked along one of the dust pathways, he sneezed. “Hey, he’s got corona,” his friend joked.
An announcement by the island’s authorities is expected this afternoon, which should detail how the virus will be treated and contained.
The Irish Times is reporting that the France-Ireland match, which was scheduled to conclude the Six Nations in the Stade de France next Saturday, will be postponed.
Six prisoners have died in Modena, Italy, after a riot erupted when inmates were informed that the new emergency decree includes restrictions on face-to-face visits with relatives.
Lorenzo Tondo, the Guardian’s southern Italy correspondent, reports that similar clashes also broke out in prisons in Salerno, Naples, Alessandria, Vercelli, Bari, Palermo, Foggia and Frosinone. Prisoners in several facilities set fire to mattresses, and two guards were held hostage briefly in Pavia.
An investigation has been launched into the causes of the inmates’ deaths.
Iranian state television has confirmed 595 new coronavirus cases in the past day including 43 deaths. The new totals are now: 7,161 total infections and 237 deaths, with 2,394 confirmed recoveries.
A reminder of this morning’s dramatic events in the financial markets –A reminder of this morning’s dramatic events in the financial markets –
Global stock markets have suffered their biggest falls since the 2008 financial crisis while the oil price crashed amid panic selling because of the double threat of a coronavirus-driven global recession and an oil price war. Global stock markets have had their biggest falls since the 2008 financial crisis, while the oil price crashed amid panic selling because of the double threat of a coronavirus-driven global recession and an oil price war.
Julia Kollewe reports that the FTSE 100 index in London plunged almost 9% and fell through 6,000 points when trading began on Monday morning. It is currently trading 6% lower at 5,991, down 471 points. The index is on track for its worst one-day fall since 2008, when the collapse of Lehman Brothers heralded the onset of the global financial crisis. Oil stocks are the biggest fallers, with BP and Shell down 18%, while the travel company Tui dropped 14%. Julia Kollewe reports that the FTSE 100 in London plunged almost 9% and fell through 6,000 points when trading began on Monday morning. It is currently trading 6% lower at 5,991, down 471 points. The index is on track for its worst one-day decline since 2008, when the collapse of Lehman Brothers heralded the onset of the global financial crisis. Oil stocks are the biggest fallers, with BP and Shell down 18%, while the travel company Tui dropped 14%.
The FTSE 100 is trading at levels last seen at the time of the Brexit vote.The FTSE 100 is trading at levels last seen at the time of the Brexit vote.
As panic selling spread across Europe, Germany’s Dax tumbled 7.5%, France’s Cac dropped 7.6% and Spain’s Ibex lost 7%. The biggest sell-off was Italy, the country worst hit by Covid-19 in Europe, with the FTSE Mib index down 10%. As panic selling spread across Europe, Germany’s Dax tumbled 7.5%, France’s Cac dropped 7.6% and Spain’s Ibex lost 7%. The biggest sell-off was in Italy, the European country worst hit by Covid-19, with the FTSE Mib index down 10%.
You can read all the latest updates from Graeme Wearden on our Business live blog here.You can read all the latest updates from Graeme Wearden on our Business live blog here.
The government was set to hold a Cobra meeting at 11am this morning. Guardian defence and security editor, Dan Sabbagh, has this explainer of how exactly such meetings work – The government was scheduled to hold a Cobra meeting at 11am. The Guardian’s defence and security editor, Dan Sabbagh, has this explainer of how exactly such meetings work.
Cobra meetings are held in the basement of the Cabinet Office, not far underground from the Cabinet War Rooms, and represent the crown jewel of Britain’s emergency planning system.Cobra meetings are held in the basement of the Cabinet Office, not far underground from the Cabinet War Rooms, and represent the crown jewel of Britain’s emergency planning system.
Prime ministers, minsters, chief advisers and the most junior official have to hand in their mobile phones and tablets, forcing everybody present to concentrate on the topic in hand – ranging from a terror incident, a natural disaster, or, in this case, a threatened pandemic. Prime ministers, minsters, chief advisers and the most junior official have to hand in their mobile phones and tablets, encouraging attendees to concentrate on the topic in hand – ranging from a terrorism incident, a natural disaster or, in this case, a threatened pandemic.
The acronym stands for Cabinet Office Briefing Room A, although in reality the largest meeting room is in fact Room F, which sits 20 or so people around a coffin shaped table. Screens are mounted on the walls, to show presentations, and to patch in those who have to participate remotely, such as Scottish first ministers. The acronym stands for Cabinet Office Briefing Room A, although in reality the largest meeting room is Room F, which sits 20 or so people around a coffin shaped table. Screens are mounted on the walls to show presentations and to patch in those who have to participate remotely, such as Scottish first ministers.
The meetings are tightly structured to a pre-written “chair’s brief” which is intended to allow somebody to lead a meeting at short notice, if they are stressed, and to get quickly to key decisions. The first step is the Common Recognised Information Picture, the CRIP, an agreed statement of facts – designed to prevent needless arguments about what is going on on the ground. CRIPs are put together in advance, and may well be the product of a considerable amount of work. The meetings are tightly structured to a pre-written “chair’s brief”, which is intended to allow somebody to lead a meeting at short notice, if they are stressed, and to get quickly to key decisions. The first step is the Common Recognised Information Picture, the CRIP, an agreed statement of facts – designed to prevent needless arguments about what is going on on the ground. CRIPs are put together in advance, and may well be the product of a considerable amount of work.
Boris Johnson – or whoever is chairing – then solicits advice from key figures such as the chief medical officer, Chris Whitty, or the chief scientific officer, Sir Patrick Vallance, plus the senior ministers present. More junior officials are housed in satellite rooms in case there is a technical question that needs to be answered immediately; the idea is that there is nothing that should not be able to be clarified straight away. Boris Johnson, or whoever is chairing, then solicits advice from key figures such as the chief medical officer, Prof Chris Whitty, or the chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, plus the senior ministers present. More junior officials are housed in satellite rooms in case there is a technical question that needs to be answered immediately; the idea is that there is nothing that should not be able to be clarified straight away.
A good brief will warn the chair of likely points of conflict, or if there are going to be ministerial disagreements, and may even suggest ways through. But the idea is that after a relatively short period of time – it is not uncommon for a Cobra to last just 45 minutes – it will reach the key decision point, in this case whether to formally move to the delay phase of dealing with the coronavirus outbreak. A good brief will warn the chair of likely points of conflict, or if there are going to be ministerial disagreements, and may even suggest ways through. But the idea is that after a relatively short period – it is not uncommon for a Cobra meeting to last just 45 minutes – it will reach the key decision point, in this case whether to formally move to the delay phase of dealing with the coronavirus outbreak.
Meeting over and phones recovered, the idea is that everybody in the room will have a concise shared understanding of the problem and agree what the next steps are in tackling it. But some aspects sit ultimately with the prime minister alone: as when Tony Blair, when in office, decided not to close the London Underground on a day after 7/7 following what had been deemed to be a credible terror threat. No attack took place. Meeting over and phones recovered, the idea is that everybody in the room will have a concise shared understanding of the problem and agree what the next steps are in tackling it. But some aspects sit ultimately with the prime minister alone: as when Tony Blair decided not to close the London Underground the day after 7/7, after what had been deemed to be a credible terrorism threat. No attack took place.
The European commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, has said the coronavirus is a having a “vast impact” on Europe’s economy during a press conference in Brussels to mark the first 100 days of her tenure leading the EU’s executive branch. She said:The European commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, has said the coronavirus is a having a “vast impact” on Europe’s economy during a press conference in Brussels to mark the first 100 days of her tenure leading the EU’s executive branch. She said:
In light of the epidemic, Von der Leyen criticised the EU’s 27 member states for failing to agree on the next seven-year budget for the bloc.In light of the epidemic, Von der Leyen criticised the EU’s 27 member states for failing to agree on the next seven-year budget for the bloc.
She said: “If I look at the tasks ahead of us we’re running short of the flexibility to act in crises as we see them right now. I call urgently on all member states to find agreement now.”She said: “If I look at the tasks ahead of us we’re running short of the flexibility to act in crises as we see them right now. I call urgently on all member states to find agreement now.”
More than 100 Britons stuck on a coronavirus-hit cruise ship off the coast of California will soon be allowed to leave the vessel, the PA news agency is reporting. More than 100 Britons stuck on a coronavirus-hit cruise ship off the coast of California will soon be allowed to leave, Press Association has reported.
Passengers will disembark the Grand Princess from Monday – a process the liner’s operator said would take a number of days. Passengers will disembark the Grand Princess from Monday, a process the liner’s operator said would take a number of days. Britons onboard have described feeling tired and “fed up”, having been confined to their cabins since Thursday. See my earlier post here for background.
Britons onboard have described feeling tired and “fed up”, having been confined to their cabins since Thursday. See my earlier post here for background. A spokeswoman for the ship’s operator, Princess Cruises, said: “Disembarkation will commence in order of priority, as defined and directed by both state and local authorities. It is expected to be a multiple-day process.”
A spokeswoman for the operator Princess Cruises said: “Disembarkation will commence in order of priority, as defined and directed by both state and local authorities. It is expected to be a multiple-day process.”
The government has said it is working to secure a repatriation flight for Britons stuck on a coronavirus-hit cruise ship.The government has said it is working to secure a repatriation flight for Britons stuck on a coronavirus-hit cruise ship.
There are thought to be more than 140 British nationals onboard the Grand Princess, which is currently off the coast of California. 21 people onboard have tested positive for Covid-19.There are thought to be more than 140 British nationals onboard the Grand Princess, which is currently off the coast of California. 21 people onboard have tested positive for Covid-19.
The ship is expected to dock in Oakland on Monday, but only passengers requiring treatment and state residents are expected to be able to disembark.The ship is expected to dock in Oakland on Monday, but only passengers requiring treatment and state residents are expected to be able to disembark.
The Foreign Office said it had contacted all British nationals on board the ship:The Foreign Office said it had contacted all British nationals on board the ship:
Albania has announced measures to tackle a potential outbreak of Covid-19 after confirming its first two cases of coronavirus, reports Helena Smith, the Guardian’s correspondent in Greece, Turkey and Cyprus.Albania has announced measures to tackle a potential outbreak of Covid-19 after confirming its first two cases of coronavirus, reports Helena Smith, the Guardian’s correspondent in Greece, Turkey and Cyprus.
Speaking to the media this morning, the prime minister, Edi Rama, said all schools, as of today, would be closed for the next two weeks and flights to northern Italy cancelled until at least 3 April.Speaking to the media this morning, the prime minister, Edi Rama, said all schools, as of today, would be closed for the next two weeks and flights to northern Italy cancelled until at least 3 April.
Authorities in the country – one of Europe’s poorest states – said two people, described as a father and son, had tested positive after recently returning to Albania from Italy. A short distance across the Adriatic Sea, Italy, like Greece, is home to a large community of Albanians who migrated after the collapse of communism.Authorities in the country – one of Europe’s poorest states – said two people, described as a father and son, had tested positive after recently returning to Albania from Italy. A short distance across the Adriatic Sea, Italy, like Greece, is home to a large community of Albanians who migrated after the collapse of communism.
Calling for calm, Rama said a €3.2m fund had been set up to deal with the disease, with public health officials devising a plan of action to limit and delay the spread of the virus.Calling for calm, Rama said a €3.2m fund had been set up to deal with the disease, with public health officials devising a plan of action to limit and delay the spread of the virus.
Albania, which is desperate to begin accession talks with the EU, is still recovering from years of Stalinist rule with a health system that is far from robust. Rama said the government was in close consultation with the World Health Organization.Albania, which is desperate to begin accession talks with the EU, is still recovering from years of Stalinist rule with a health system that is far from robust. Rama said the government was in close consultation with the World Health Organization.
The transport secretary, Grant Shapps, has written to the EU commission calling for an end to “use-it-or-lose-it” rules, which he said could lead to some airlines running “ghost” services to ensure they do not have their flight slots taken from them.The transport secretary, Grant Shapps, has written to the EU commission calling for an end to “use-it-or-lose-it” rules, which he said could lead to some airlines running “ghost” services to ensure they do not have their flight slots taken from them.
The “80:20” rule – which means airlines must use 80% of their allocation – has already been eased on flights to and from Hong Kong and mainland China, and Shapps said such measures should be widened to cover other flights in and out of Europe.The “80:20” rule – which means airlines must use 80% of their allocation – has already been eased on flights to and from Hong Kong and mainland China, and Shapps said such measures should be widened to cover other flights in and out of Europe.
Dr David Nabarro, one of the World Health Organization’s six special envoys on coronavirus, has said the government is likely to be considering restrictions on religious and community gatherings to help delay the spread of the disease. The PA news agency reports that he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme:Dr David Nabarro, one of the World Health Organization’s six special envoys on coronavirus, has said the government is likely to be considering restrictions on religious and community gatherings to help delay the spread of the disease. The PA news agency reports that he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme:
Dr Nabarro added:Dr Nabarro added:
The family of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian dual national imprisoned in Iran, say she has been seen by a doctor and advised that her condition is likely to improve. They announced a week ago that they believed she had contracted coronavirus in Tehran’s Evin prison, where she is serving a jail sentence for espionage, a charge she strenuously denies. The Free Nazanin campaign said in a statement on Sunday night:The family of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian dual national imprisoned in Iran, say she has been seen by a doctor and advised that her condition is likely to improve. They announced a week ago that they believed she had contracted coronavirus in Tehran’s Evin prison, where she is serving a jail sentence for espionage, a charge she strenuously denies. The Free Nazanin campaign said in a statement on Sunday night:
Her family added that she was still not healthy and was persistently becoming sick even before the outbreak of coronavirus in Iran.Her family added that she was still not healthy and was persistently becoming sick even before the outbreak of coronavirus in Iran.
Vietnam has suspended its visa-waiver programme for citizens from Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Spain, in an effort to prevent the spread of coronavirus within its borders.Vietnam has suspended its visa-waiver programme for citizens from Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Spain, in an effort to prevent the spread of coronavirus within its borders.
The Guardian’s south-east Asia correspondent, Rebecca Ratcliffe, reports that the announcement follows confirmation of several new cases linked to a flight that arrived in Hanoi from London on 2 March. The country had gone 22 days without reporting any new infections before the new cluster of cases emerged.The Guardian’s south-east Asia correspondent, Rebecca Ratcliffe, reports that the announcement follows confirmation of several new cases linked to a flight that arrived in Hanoi from London on 2 March. The country had gone 22 days without reporting any new infections before the new cluster of cases emerged.
Seven British citizens are among the 14 new patients to test positive over recent days. Officials have since quarantined tens of passengers from the flight as well as their contacts.Seven British citizens are among the 14 new patients to test positive over recent days. Officials have since quarantined tens of passengers from the flight as well as their contacts.
The British Foreign Office said it was in contact with authorities in Vietnam over the issue, but did not state how many British citizens were in isolation. As of Sunday, Vietnam reported that it had recorded a total of 30 infections.The British Foreign Office said it was in contact with authorities in Vietnam over the issue, but did not state how many British citizens were in isolation. As of Sunday, Vietnam reported that it had recorded a total of 30 infections.