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Coronavirus live updates: fourth death confirmed in UK, as head of New York's airports tests positive 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 tumblingWith cases spiking sharply across Europe and emergency measures in place from California to Saudi Arabia, investors have sent shares tumbling
At the press conference in London Sir Patrick Vallance, the UK government’s chief scientific adviser, says it is important to introduce measures to delay the spread of coronavirus “at the right time in the right combinations”.
Boris Johnson has just starting giving a press conference in London about coronavirus. Earlier today he chaired a meeting of Cobra, the UK government’s emergency committee to discuss this.
Johnson says the UK is still “in the contain phase of the outbreak”. But he says the scientists have said “containment is extremely unlikely to work on its own.”
He says the government is not preparing to move to the “delay” phase of the coronavirus action plan.
There is further coverage of the press conference here, on Andrew Sparrow’s UK politics live blog.
More than 58,600 people have recovered in China, says Dr Maria Van Kerkhove of the WHO. She says that more than 80% globally will recover.
In China, 80% of cases have had a mild or moderate infection. Mild can include a mild form or pneumonia, says Van Kerkhove.
Diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease and chronic respiratory disease are among the risk factors for death, she says.
Mortality in people aged over 80 with coronavirus from Chinese data is 20%, says Van Kerkhove, although she says the figure is not based on the latest statistics.
Asked about use/or lack of it of the word pandemic, Dr Michael Ryan, from the WHO, says that countries like Singapore and China have “demonstrated real success in turning the disease around”.
Tedros adds:
Ryan says a number of countries have imposed restrictions on import of personal protective equipment. He describes such “hoarding”, preventing material reaching those who need, it as something we’d like to avoid.
Dr Maria Van Kerkhove says transmission in health facilities has not been a major driver of the spread of the virus.
Ryan says:
Tedros says only a handful of countries have signs of sustained community transmission.Tedros says only a handful of countries have signs of sustained community transmission.
Of the four countries with the most cases, China is bringing its outbreak under control and there is also a decline in new cases in South Korea, he says.Of the four countries with the most cases, China is bringing its outbreak under control and there is also a decline in new cases in South Korea, he says.
Tedros praises Italy’s aggressive measures.Tedros praises Italy’s aggressive measures.
The World Health Organization is currently giving a press conference (you can watch the live feed at the top of this page).The World Health Organization is currently giving a press conference (you can watch the live feed at the top of this page).
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director general, says the world “is not at the mercy” of the virus.Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director general, says the world “is not at the mercy” of the virus.
He says with decisive, early action the spread of the virus can be slowed.He says with decisive, early action the spread of the virus can be slowed.
Most people with the virus will recover, he says, pointing to China where he says 70% have recovered.Most people with the virus will recover, he says, pointing to China where he says 70% have recovered.
Tedros also highlights that 93% of cases are from four countries.Tedros also highlights that 93% of cases are from four countries.
Closing schools and cancelling mass gatherings in countries can be considered in countries where the virus is rife, he says.Closing schools and cancelling mass gatherings in countries can be considered in countries where the virus is rife, he says.
Here are the main points from Matt Hancock’s response to the urgent question on coronavirus in the House of Commons just now:Here are the main points from Matt Hancock’s response to the urgent question on coronavirus in the House of Commons just now:
Hancock said there had now been four deaths from coronavirus in the UK. The fourth fatality has only just been announced.Hancock said there had now been four deaths from coronavirus in the UK. The fourth fatality has only just been announced.
He said as of this morning there had been 319 cases in the UK.He said as of this morning there had been 319 cases in the UK.
The UK would “make the right choices of which action to pursue at the right moment”, he said. It would be a mistake to act too early, he said, adding:The UK would “make the right choices of which action to pursue at the right moment”, he said. It would be a mistake to act too early, he said, adding:
He said the number of cases in China and South Korea was still rising, but at a slowing rate. But he said the number of cases in Iran, Italy, Switzerland, France and Germany was growing. In Italy there were 1,492 more cases overnight, and 102 more deaths.He said the number of cases in China and South Korea was still rising, but at a slowing rate. But he said the number of cases in Iran, Italy, Switzerland, France and Germany was growing. In Italy there were 1,492 more cases overnight, and 102 more deaths.
Public Health England had tested nearly 25,000, and the time taken to carry out tests was being reduced, he said.Public Health England had tested nearly 25,000, and the time taken to carry out tests was being reduced, he said.
He said the government was making available an extra £46m to find a vaccine and develop more rapid diagnostic tests.He said the government was making available an extra £46m to find a vaccine and develop more rapid diagnostic tests.
Hancock said the NHS was “well prepared”, with record numbers of doctors and nurses.Hancock said the NHS was “well prepared”, with record numbers of doctors and nurses.
An extra 700 people had been taken on to help the 111 phone line take calls, he said.An extra 700 people had been taken on to help the 111 phone line take calls, he said.
Responding to coronavirus was a “national effort” and everyone would have to play their part, Hancock said. For members of the public, that meant washing hands and following public health advice. But it could also mean volunteering, he said.Responding to coronavirus was a “national effort” and everyone would have to play their part, Hancock said. For members of the public, that meant washing hands and following public health advice. But it could also mean volunteering, he said.
He said the government would soon bring forward emergency legislation to help people and services deal with the outbreak. The bill would be “temporary and proportionate”, he said.He said the government would soon bring forward emergency legislation to help people and services deal with the outbreak. The bill would be “temporary and proportionate”, he said.
The government was taking action to help Britons on the Grand Princess cruise ship, off the coast of California, to come home.The government was taking action to help Britons on the Grand Princess cruise ship, off the coast of California, to come home.
You can see Hancock’s statement in full on our UK politics live blog.You can see Hancock’s statement in full on our UK politics live blog.
More than 111,600 people have been infected by coronavirus across the world, and 3,884 have died, according to the latest Reuters tally.More than 111,600 people have been infected by coronavirus across the world, and 3,884 have died, according to the latest Reuters tally.
Here is our video explainer featuring the Guardian’s health editor, Sarah Boseley, on what we can do to protect ourselves.Here is our video explainer featuring the Guardian’s health editor, Sarah Boseley, on what we can do to protect ourselves.
Madonna has cancelled shows in Paris on Tuesday and Wednesday due to restrictions imposed over the coronavirus outbreak, the promoter Live Nation has told Reuters.Madonna has cancelled shows in Paris on Tuesday and Wednesday due to restrictions imposed over the coronavirus outbreak, the promoter Live Nation has told Reuters.
On Sunday France banned gatherings of more than 1,000 people as the death toll and number of coronavirus infections continued to rise.On Sunday France banned gatherings 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.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.
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.”
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.
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 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”.
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.
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.
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.
“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.
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.
Authorities said over the weekend they could not dispute a report that 1.9 million people could become infected.