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Coronavirus live updates: UK government says 'significant' outbreak will spread at speed
Coronavirus live updates: fourth death confirmed in UK, as head of New York's airports tests positive
(32 minutes later)
With cases spiking sharply across Europe and emergency measures in place from California to Saudi Arabia, investors have sent shares tumbling
With cases spiking sharply across Europe and emergency measures in place from California to Saudi Arabia, investors have sent shares tumbling
Madonna has cancelled shows in Paris on Tuesday and Wednesday due to restrictions imposed over the coronavirus outbreak, promoter Live Nation has told Reuters.
France on Sunday banned gathering of more than 1,000 people as the death toll and number of coronavirus infections continued to rise.
The Guardian’s film editor, Catherine Shoard, reports that the organisers of the Cannes film festival continue to plan for the event to go ahead, despite France’s ban on gatherings of more than 1,000 people.
Germany has reported its first two confirmed coronavirus deaths.
A spokesman for the health ministry in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia said an 89 year-old woman had died in the town of Essen and another patient had died in the highly affected region of Heinsberg.
The authorities in Heinsberg are due to hold a press conference at 6.30pm local time, at which they are expected to give more details.
A 60-year-old who died in Egypt at the weekend was the first German citizen to die of the virus.
The Irish government has decided to cancel the St Patrick’s Day parade in Dublin, after advice from the National Public Health Emergency Team, according to the Press Association news agency.
Another patient in the UK has died after contracting the coronavirus, the health secretary, Matt Hancock, has confirmed.
A Royal Wolverhampton NHS trust spokesperson said:
You can read Hancock’s statement in full on our UK politics live blog.
The head of the port authority of New York and New Jersey has tested positive for coronavirus, the governor of New York has announced.
Andrew Cuomo posted this thread on the most recent confirmed cases in New York state:
Following an emergency meeting of the party leaders, the European parliament will sit for only one day this week, on Tuesday, and there will not be any votes as the chamber does not have the facility for its members to vote remotely.
In the UK, the commissions of the House of Commons and the House of Lords have confirmed there are no plans to suspend parliament because of coronavirus.
In the UK, the commissions of the House of Commons and the House of Lords have confirmed there are no plans to suspend parliament because of coronavirus.
A joint statement said: “The commissions of both houses met today to discuss parliament’s response to coronavirus. “There are no plans to suspend parliament.
A joint statement said: “The commissions of both houses met today to discuss parliament’s response to coronavirus. “There are no plans to suspend parliament.
“We continue to act entirely in line with the advice of Public Health England, and the speakers and political leadership of both houses are keeping the situation under constant review.”
“We continue to act entirely in line with the advice of Public Health England, and the speakers and political leadership of both houses are keeping the situation under constant review.”
A priest in the Washington DC area has tested positive for coronavirus, according to local media.
A priest in the Washington DC area has tested positive for coronavirus, according to local media.
Worshippers who visited Christ church Georgetown last week have been instructed to self-isolate and the church has suspended all activities.
Worshippers who visited Christ church Georgetown last week have been instructed to self-isolate and the church has suspended all activities.
In Brussels, a first case of coronavirus has been diagnosed among staff at the European commission. The woman had returned from Italy and has been in quarantine since last week. She is the third official or diplomat working within the EU’s institutions in the city to be diagnosed.
In Brussels, the first case of coronavirus has been diagnosed among staff at the European commission. The woman had returned from Italy and has been in quarantine since last week. She is the third official or diplomat working within the EU’s institutions in the city to be diagnosed.
In Germany, where 1,153 cases of coronavirus had been confirmed by 2pm local time, the health minister, Jens Spahn, has appealed to citizens to travel as little as they can, to work from home when possible, and to contact doctors by telephone in cases where the virus is suspected.
In Germany, where 1,153 cases of coronavirus had been confirmed by 2pm local time, the health minister, Jens Spahn, has appealed to citizens to travel as little as they can, to work from home when possible, and to contact doctors by telephone in cases where the virus is suspected.
In a press conference held this afternoon with a leading virologist from Charité University teaching hospital in Berlin, as well as the director of the Robert Koch Institute, the leading body on public health, Spahn advised people to avoid public transport and to “go by bike or foot” where possible, adding that the main goal was to slow the spread of the virus to avoid overburdening the health service, which has a total of 28,000 emergency beds.
In a press conference held this afternoon with a leading virologist from Charité University teaching hospital in Berlin, as well as the director of the Robert Koch Institute, the leading body on public health, Spahn advised people to avoid public transport and to “go by bike or foot” where possible, adding that the main goal was to slow the spread of the virus to avoid overburdening the health service, which has a total of 28,000 emergency beds.
“The longer we can slow down the development of the virus, the better,” he said, adding that the restrictions people would face to their daily lives “will last for months rather than weeks”.
“The longer we can slow down the development of the virus, the better,” he said, adding that the restrictions people would face to their daily lives “will last for months rather than weeks”.
He urged people to act just as they would if they wanted to avoid catching the flu or a cold. “Every individual should weigh up and decide what it is easier to avoid, and what is harder,” he said, adding that going to work was more important than going to a football match.
He urged people to act just as they would if they wanted to avoid catching the flu or a cold. “Every individual should weigh up and decide what it is easier to avoid, and what is harder,” he said, adding that going to work was more important than going to a football match.
He said he was not in favour of shutting schools and kindergartens, because that would leave tens of thousands of medical staff unable to go to work, which would have a hugely detrimental effect on the health system. He said organisers of large events had so far been too hesitant to cancel them.
He said he was not in favour of shutting schools and kindergartens, because that would leave tens of thousands of medical staff unable to go to work, which would have a hugely detrimental effect on the health system. He said organisers of large events had so far been too hesitant to cancel them.
Yesterday he followed France’s example, by recommending the cancellation of all gatherings of 1,000 people or more, although because of Germany’s federal system he could not enforce the recommendation, but could only hope that regional authorities would implement it.
Yesterday he followed France’s example, by recommending the cancellation of all gatherings of 1,000 people or more, although because of Germany’s federal system he could not enforce the recommendation, but could only hope that regional authorities would implement it.
There are plans in place for Bundesliga games to take place in empty stadiums, so-called ghost matches.
There are plans in place for Bundesliga games to take place in empty stadiums, so-called ghost matches.
All St Patrick’s Day parades in Ireland are expected to be cancelled in an effort to curb the spread of coronavirus, the Irish Times is reporting.
All St Patrick’s Day parades in Ireland are expected to be cancelled in an effort to curb the spread of coronavirus, the Irish Times is reporting.
Cork was the first Irish city to cancel its parade, with Dublin and others to follow.
Cork was the first Irish city to cancel its parade, with Dublin and others to follow.
“Based on the demographic of those attending the parade, the close proximity of people attending the event and the duration of the event (among other considerations), Cork city council is not in a position to provide the necessary assurances in relation to current WHO guidelines,” the council said.
“Based on the demographic of those attending the parade, the close proximity of people attending the event and the duration of the event (among other considerations), Cork city council is not in a position to provide the necessary assurances in relation to current WHO guidelines,” the council said.
The government was expected to make a similar announcement later on Monday after the taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, chaired a cabinet subcommittee on coronavirus.
The government was expected to make a similar announcement later on Monday after the taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, chaired a cabinet subcommittee on coronavirus.
Pressure had grown on the government to cancel the event, which draws 500,000 spectators and participants, after local authorities axed dozens of smaller parades around the country.
Pressure had grown on the government to cancel the event, which draws 500,000 spectators and participants, after local authorities axed dozens of smaller parades around the country.
Ireland has recorded 21 cases of coronavirus, including at least three involving community transmission.
Ireland has recorded 21 cases of coronavirus, including at least three involving community transmission.
Authorities said over the weekend they could not dispute a report that 1.9 million people could become infected.
Authorities said over the weekend they could not dispute a report that 1.9 million people could become infected.
Here is an update on the situation in Luxor.
Egypt’s ministry of tourism and state information service has announced that tour sites remain open in Luxor, despite an earlier statement from the national Tour Guide Association that trips would be cancelled today owing to concerns about coronavirus.
“Tourist activities are proceeding normally in Luxor today,” said the Ministry of Antiquities. “Thousands of visitors have flocked onto its different archaeological sites.”
The Tour Guide Association said this morning that hot air balloon rides, organised visits to archeological sites and other gatherings would be cancelled today.
A tour guide in the area told the Guardian several tourists had been quarantined in their hotel rooms and on cruise ships, as they awaited a visit by officials to screen them for Covid-19, after 45 passengers and crew on a cruise ship tested positive for the virus and were quarantined last week.
But some tourists arriving in Luxor today were not subject to the same measures, and moved freely around the ancient city.
“We reached Luxor in the morning and were supposed to get to the cruise [ship] by 10am,” said Ananya Bhattacharya, who arrived in Egypt for a holiday on 7 March and took a train to Luxor, arriving this morning. She said that her temperature was taken on arrival at Cairo airport and she was made to sign a declaration concerning the virus.
Bhattacharya arrived in Luxor as Egyptian officials tried to contain the virus, while attempting to prevent damage to its tourism industry, which accounts for about 12% of GDP.
“We visited Karnak and Luxor temples – both were open when we went,” she said. “We were then told we’d have to wait around until our cruise received an all-clear from health officials, who were inspecting it for signs of coronavirus.”
She added that they were finally able to board the ship at 3.30pm local time.
An Indian passenger on the Asara nile cruise in Luxor, where 45 passengers and crew were quarantined after testing positive for the virus, told the Bangalore-based site the News Minute that many remained quarantined on the ship.
This followed an onboard announcement on 6 March – hours before passengers were expecting to disembark – that they would be quarantined on board for 15 days, the passenger, Vanitha Rengaraj, said. “We have been asked to stay inside our rooms and not venture outside.
There is a doctor on the ship all the time, and a few nurses. “They [officials] have also briefed us on what to do if we have symptoms like vomiting, fever etc,” Rengaraj said.
Manchester airport’s Terminal 3 seems a lot quieter than usual. It was home to Flybe, which collapsed last week, so that is perhaps one of the reasons why.
There are posters instructing people to self-isolate if they have flown in from certain parts of Italy. Terminal 3 also seems to be where most of the inbound and outbound Italian flights are.
Seana Corr, from Wirral, travels to Milan quite often for work. Describing her flight from Milan today, the 27-year-old said it was one of the easiest she had experienced because there were only about five people onboard, so passengers got through security quickly. There did not seem to be any special checks or precautions, she said.
“Information-wise, they told us to wash our hands frequently, which we should all be doing anyway, and there were signs everywhere. They gave us the standard information.”
Corr said in Milan it seemed like “everything has been cancelled”, adding: “There are no social gatherings anymore. It’s all closed down.
“The area is supposed to be in lockdown. whether they’re enforcing it or not right away is another matter. The streets are empty, people are out of work, the shops are empty because people have started stockpiling. Bars and restaurants are closed. There are no guards on the streets. Children are playing out in the streets, however, because they are not in school.”
Corr decided to find the earliest UK-bound flight available because she was afraid of being trapped in Milan. “I was worried I wouldn’t be able to get back, so I went online and panic-booked. Same-day flights were very expensive.”
A lot of people were feeling the area was like a “post-apocalyptic war zone”, she said. “It’s really not. It’s just quite boring because there’s nothing on. It’s not as exciting as everyone’s making out. It was the right decision to leave.”
A total of 23 people have tested positive for coronavirus in Scotland, up from 18 on Sunday, as the first minister warned of a “significant outbreak” across the UK.
Nicola Sturgeon told a press briefing on Monday afternoon that none of the Scottish patients were significantly unwell, and that Scotland may be a few days “behind the current”, compared with some parts of the UK.
“There is an increasing inevitability that we will face a significant outbreak of coronavirus across the UK,” she said.
She said Scotland, like the rest of the UK, was still in the containment phase of the outbreak. Measures to delay the spread of the virus – the next stage of the UK’s response to the outbreak – would be “about mitigating the impact of the outbreak of the coronavirus, not eradicating it”, Sturgeon said.
“And I think it’s important to say, so there is clarity. Even with all these measures we are, in all likelihood, facing over the next number of weeks a very challenging situation.”
When asked whether Scotland’s rurality would protect it from a large outbreak, Sturgeon said: “I would expect to see an increase of cases … I would not want to assume our rurality would protect us in any way from this virus. I think we would be affected broadly in the same way as the rest of the UK.”
Dr Catherine Calderwood, Scotland’s chief medical officer, said: “I wouldn’t read anything into the small numbers at the moment being reassuring. This is what happened in England at the beginning of the outbreak.”
A maintenance worker at Disneyland Paris has tested positive for coronavirus, but the theme park remains open in line with current official guidance about public gatherings, Press Association has reported.
A spokesman said: “We have been notified that a cast member, who works backstage and does not have contact with guests, has tested positive and is receiving treatment.
“We have been in regular contact with the local health authorities and continue to implement preventive measures in line with their recommendations to help protect our guests and cast members.”
On Friday, as French health authorities reported 577 confirmed cases of the virus including nine deaths, President Emmanuel Macron said the country was likely move to the highest level of epidemic alert in the coming days.
A total of 319 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the UK, up from 273 on Sunday, the Department of Health has said.
A total of 24,960 people have been tested with 24,641 negative results. Three patients have died after testing positive for the illness.
Our Brussels bureau chief, Daniel Boffey, reports that the EU’s heads of state and government will hold a video conference on Tuesday to discuss the implications of coronavirus.
The leaders will discuss sanitary, scientific and economic cooperation. The president of the European council, Charles Michel, tweeted: “Following consultations, I will hold a EUCO members conference call shortly on Covid-19 to coordinate EU efforts. We need to cooperate in order to protect the health of our citizens.”
Over in New York, stock market trading was briefly suspended after coronavirus fears triggered a wave of selling.
The S&P 500 index plunged by 7% at the Wall Street open, which triggered automatic circuit-breakers to let investors catch their breath.
Energy stocks and banks were particularly badly hit, as global markets suffered their worst day since the 2008 crisis.
Head to our business live blog for more details.
With cases of coronavirus jumping from 45 to 73 in less than 48 hours in Greece, health authorities have announced further precautionary measures to be enforced with immediate effect.
The measures, which include a two-week ban on sporting events, came as Greece’s Olympic Committee announced that for the first time since 1984 this week’s flame-lighting ceremony for the Tokyo 2020 games will be held without spectators.
The event, which usually takes place in front of an audience of thousands, is unlikely to be seen by more than a hundred people when it gets under way in ancient Olympia on Thursday, organisers say.
The prefecture of Ileia in the west of Greece, to which Olympia belongs, is one of the regions hardest hit by the outbreak, although there were signs today of more cases in Athens, with media reporting that personnel at the Israeli embassy had also tested positive for the virus.
A 40-year-old woman, who had visited Israel on a tour of the Holy sites, is in isolation in a hospital in Mytilene, the capital of Lesbos, also suspected of having contracted the virus.
Although an official announcement is expected later today, doctors say the case has all but been confirmed and the woman’s two children have been withdrawn from school at their mother’s request.
The case has raised fears of an outbreak on the island, which is hosting 27,000 migrants and refugees – with most housed in notoriously unhygienic conditions in Moria, its biggest camp.
The woman, who works in a supermarket in Plomari, had by her own admission been in contact with countless people upon her return from the trip.
A coronavirus outbreak on the island would seriously test its overstretched medical services.
A body representing thousands of hospital doctors has postponed its annual conference so they can help the NHS’s efforts to tackle the virus, amid fears that services could become overwhelmed.
The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) announced it was putting off its Medicine 2020 gathering from April to next January “so that doctors can concentrate on looking after patients with Covid-19 and avoid putting themselves at any increased risk from the virus. [The] move … signals the RCP’s concern to protect the NHS frontline workforce as best it can”.
About 1,000 health professionals were due to attend the event at the ICC in Birmingham city centre. The college represents about 28,000 hospital doctors in England, though has some members elsewhere too.
Prof Andrew Goddard, the RCP’s president, said:
The RCP is the latest medical body to postpone a large gathering. Last week the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, which represents A&E doctors across the UK, cancelled its spring CPD conference.
Here is a summary of today’s lobby briefing, as reported by our political correspondents Andrew Sparrow and Rowena Mason. It was not a full briefing on Cobra as the meeting was ongoing, but here are the latest updates.
The prime minister’s spokesman said:
The UK is still in the contain phase, but it is accepted that the disease will spread at speed – and the outbreak will be “significant”.
Any steps to delay the disease have to be introduced at the optimum time. The Cobra meeting this morning discussed what measures could be brought in when it worsens.
The government will be led by the evidence and scientific advice. If there is further guidance, it will be issued. At the moment the advice is for people to wash their hands thoroughly.
Elderly people who are worried and already staying at home do not need to – the general advice applies to carry on business as usual and wash hands.
The government has been issuing guidance to people returning from specific areas. Temperature checks on arrival are not effective and the government has an evidence-based clinical approach to this.
The number of cases in the UK is increasing, there have been the first fatalities and it is clear that transmission is taking place in-country, not just from travellers.
There are no plans to stop flights to the UK from quarantined areas of Italy.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) will be speaking to supermarkets about what measures can be taken to ensure supplies to shops. Defra will look at help for vulnerable and isolated groups at 4pm today but it is understood it will look closely at lifting restrictions on times when vans can deliver to homes.
The Bank of England has said it will take all steps necessary to protect the economy.
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport held a meeting with a range of sporting bodies this morning – events are not being cancelled at this point.
The prime minister has said there is no need for panic buying.
Whether local elections will be delayed is a matter for the Electoral Commission to advise on.
The Foreign Office continues to work with US authorities on what can be done to bring home the 142 Britons on the Grand Princess cruise ship.
A Sage meeting is expected tomorrow, along with a further Cobra meeting on Wednesday.
You can follow Andy’s coverage on our politics live blog, here.
