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Coronavirus live updates: Italy-wide lockdown comes into force Coronavirus live updates: Italy-wide lockdown comes into force
(32 minutes later)
UK and US had worst days trading since 2008 GFC; Global cases near 110,000; Grand Princess passengers disembark. Follow the latest news.UK and US had worst days trading since 2008 GFC; Global cases near 110,000; Grand Princess passengers disembark. Follow the latest news.
South Korea on Tuesday reported fewer than 150 new cases for the first time in two weeks.
A total of 131 infections were confirmed on Monday, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.
Three more people died, it added, taking the death toll to 54.
Monday’s final figure marked the fourth consecutive daily fall and was the lowest for a single day since late February.
“The number of new Covid-19 cases has been declining, so we can assess the rate of increase is coming to a standstill,” said Yoon Tae-ho at the Central Disaster Management Headquarters.
But the outbreak was still spreading, he added, warning against any relaxation of containment efforts.
Cyprus’ largest hospital suspended most services on Tuesday, authorities said, after a medical doctor heading the heart surgical ward tested positive for coronavirus, Reuters reports. The 64-year-old doctor was one of two individuals first to test positive on the Mediterranean island. He had recently returned from Britain and had contact with patients.
Effective Tuesday, all admissions, outpatient clinics, surgeries and visitations at Nicosia general hospital were suspended for 48 hours, when the situation would be reviewed, the health ministry announced early on Tuesday.
The operation of the cardio surgery ward had also been suspended and patients would be gradually discharged, depending on their general health condition, the ministry said.
The Australian Labor Party warning the government not to drag its feet on help for casual workers in the midst of a looming coronavirus employment crisis, after a roundtable discussion on the issue led to no concrete solutions for vulnerable employees.
Labor MPs Tony Burke and Linda Burney said Australia’s 3.3 million casual and contract workforce could not afford to wait to learn whether or not they would be paid sick leave in the event they were forced to self-isolate for two weeks.
“If casuals aren’t given that reassurance sooner rather than later we run the risk people will turn up to work when they’re sick because they simply cannot afford to stay home and lose their pay,” the Labor MPs said.
“This isn’t just about supporting Australia’s often vulnerable or insecure casual workers – it’s about containing the spread of this virus.”
Here are a few more reactions from Italy under lockdown, or #ItaliaZonaRossa.
Below, a video taken of the supermarket “madness” after the announcement that the lockdown conditions would be extended to the entire country:
“Let’s take a moment to think about the people who fled the red zone to wake up in the red zone”, says this user:
In Italy, here are a few of the lockdown rules imposed on 60 million people in the country, as reported by AFP.
Don’t Travel
From Tuesday, the movements of Italy’s population of 60 million are severely limited. Travel is only allowed for “urgent, verifiable work situations and emergencies or health reasons”.
People who have tested positive for Covid-19 must not leave their homes for any reason.
To avoid work-related travel, public and private companies have been urged to put their staff on leave.
Gatherings cancelled
The latest decree prohibits “all forms of gatherings in public places or sites open to the public” – going further than the rules that went into force over the weekend in large parts of northern Italy.
Sporting events of all levels and disciplines were cancelled, stopping play in the top-flight Serie-A football league.
Venues closed
To encourage people to stay in, bars and restaurants are only allowed to open between 6am and 6pm, and only if it is possible to keep a distance of at least a metre between customers.
While supermarkets will remain open, large shopping centres and department stores must close on public holidays and the day before public holidays.
School’s out
Schools and universities are closed, and all exams cancelled.
Religious institutions will stay open, as long as people can stay a metre from one another – but ceremonies such as marriages, baptisms and funerals are banned.
As Italians wake up to their first day of nationwide lockdown this morning, people are posting pictures online of the queues outside supermarkets.
Some are criticising the rush to the shops. One user tweeted in Italian of the queues (roughly translated):
“And after the young people who went to have a drink, tonight Conte communicates that all of Italy is a red zone and that one must avoid going out, the Italian cares and goes to queue at the supermarket. WE DESERVE TO BE THE JOKE OF ALL EUROPE.”
Staying with China for now: the soaring price of pork and other food, as well as the rising cost of medical supplies during the coronavirus outbreak kept Chinese consumer inflation close to eight year highs in February, officials said Monday.Staying with China for now: the soaring price of pork and other food, as well as the rising cost of medical supplies during the coronavirus outbreak kept Chinese consumer inflation close to eight year highs in February, officials said Monday.
Analysts said the figure would likely remain elevated for some time as measures put in place around the country to contain the deadly outbreak have put a huge dent in supplies of key goods.Analysts said the figure would likely remain elevated for some time as measures put in place around the country to contain the deadly outbreak have put a huge dent in supplies of key goods.
Consumer inflation rose 5.2 percent on-year last month, slightly down from 5.4 percent the month before, which was the highest since October 2011. The reading was in line forecasts in a Bloomberg News survey.Consumer inflation rose 5.2 percent on-year last month, slightly down from 5.4 percent the month before, which was the highest since October 2011. The reading was in line forecasts in a Bloomberg News survey.
Food prices rose almost 22 percent, with pork increasing 135 percent – following a 116 percent rise in January – as the country’s pig herds are ravaged by African Swine Fever that has seen millions of pigs culled.Food prices rose almost 22 percent, with pork increasing 135 percent – following a 116 percent rise in January – as the country’s pig herds are ravaged by African Swine Fever that has seen millions of pigs culled.
More on Xi’s visit to Wuhan and the state of the outbreak in China:More on Xi’s visit to Wuhan and the state of the outbreak in China:
“It is obvious that Xi could not have visited Wuhan earlier because the risk of him contracting the virus there was too high initially,” said Professor Zhang Ming of Renmin University. “He is there now to reap the harvest.”“It is obvious that Xi could not have visited Wuhan earlier because the risk of him contracting the virus there was too high initially,” said Professor Zhang Ming of Renmin University. “He is there now to reap the harvest.”
In other signs that officials feel the tide has turned, on Tuesday, China’s Hubei province said it was studying plans to allow people in medium- or low-risk areas to begin travelling.In other signs that officials feel the tide has turned, on Tuesday, China’s Hubei province said it was studying plans to allow people in medium- or low-risk areas to begin travelling.
According to the official Hubei Daily, authorities may begin using “health code”, a mobile-based system that assigns individuals colours that determine if they are safe to travel.According to the official Hubei Daily, authorities may begin using “health code”, a mobile-based system that assigns individuals colours that determine if they are safe to travel.
Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Wuhan on Tuesday is “a major sign that officials believe the outbreak is under control,” the AFP reports.Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Wuhan on Tuesday is “a major sign that officials believe the outbreak is under control,” the AFP reports.
Xi’s unannounced visit comes as unprecedented quarantine measures that have sealed off Wuhan and the rest of central Hubei province since late January appear to have paid off, with new infections dropping dramatically in recent weeks.Xi’s unannounced visit comes as unprecedented quarantine measures that have sealed off Wuhan and the rest of central Hubei province since late January appear to have paid off, with new infections dropping dramatically in recent weeks.
China’s most powerful leader since Mao Zedong is usually a daily fixture in state media but has stayed out of the spotlight for much of the crisis and assigned Premier Li Keqiang to oversee the response to the epidemic.China’s most powerful leader since Mao Zedong is usually a daily fixture in state media but has stayed out of the spotlight for much of the crisis and assigned Premier Li Keqiang to oversee the response to the epidemic.
Li and a vice premier have already visited the virus-stricken city of Wuhan.Li and a vice premier have already visited the virus-stricken city of Wuhan.
But as the number of new cases has fallen in recent weeks, state media has played up Xi’s role in the fight against the outbreak, releasing a speech last month in which he said he had been giving instructions since early January.But as the number of new cases has fallen in recent weeks, state media has played up Xi’s role in the fight against the outbreak, releasing a speech last month in which he said he had been giving instructions since early January.
Authorities have faced rare and fierce criticism online over their handling of the virus, with local officials coming under particular scrutiny for punishing whistleblowers in an apparent attempt to cover up the outbreak in early January.Authorities have faced rare and fierce criticism online over their handling of the virus, with local officials coming under particular scrutiny for punishing whistleblowers in an apparent attempt to cover up the outbreak in early January.
The Philippines’ Rappler news reports that AirAsia is offering 6 million seats at a one-way base fare of a single Philippine Peso, which I’ve calculated as roughly one fifth of one US Dollar, or 0.02c.The Philippines’ Rappler news reports that AirAsia is offering 6 million seats at a one-way base fare of a single Philippine Peso, which I’ve calculated as roughly one fifth of one US Dollar, or 0.02c.
In other news of the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on the world’s airlines, Boeing Co. shares dropped more than 12% on Monday amid a broader market plunge as pressure mounted on global aviation from the spread of the coronavirus and U.S. regulators said they disagreed with Boeing’s argument about the safety of wiring bundles on the grounded 737 MAX jet.In other news of the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on the world’s airlines, Boeing Co. shares dropped more than 12% on Monday amid a broader market plunge as pressure mounted on global aviation from the spread of the coronavirus and U.S. regulators said they disagreed with Boeing’s argument about the safety of wiring bundles on the grounded 737 MAX jet.
Boeing Co said late on Monday an employee at its Everett facility in Washington state has tested positive for the coronavirus and has now been quarantined. “As a precaution, we’ve asked all coworkers of the employee who were in close contact to remain home to self-quarantine and self-monitor,” the company saidBoeing Co said late on Monday an employee at its Everett facility in Washington state has tested positive for the coronavirus and has now been quarantined. “As a precaution, we’ve asked all coworkers of the employee who were in close contact to remain home to self-quarantine and self-monitor,” the company said
Underscoring the global risks for America’s largest exporter, Ethiopian investigators singled out faulty 737 MAX systems in a new interim report on last year’s crash, the second of two fatal accidents that plunged Boeing into its worst-ever crisis.Underscoring the global risks for America’s largest exporter, Ethiopian investigators singled out faulty 737 MAX systems in a new interim report on last year’s crash, the second of two fatal accidents that plunged Boeing into its worst-ever crisis.
Here is a summary of the latest major developments in the coronavirus outbreak – and the economic repercussions – around the world.Here is a summary of the latest major developments in the coronavirus outbreak – and the economic repercussions – around the world.
Markets rallied after Donald Trump proposed ‘huge’ economic measures. On Monday, the US and UK stock markets both suffered their worst daily slump since the 2008 financial crisis. In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average has plunged by more than 2,000 points, closing down 7.8%.Markets rallied after Donald Trump proposed ‘huge’ economic measures. On Monday, the US and UK stock markets both suffered their worst daily slump since the 2008 financial crisis. In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average has plunged by more than 2,000 points, closing down 7.8%.
The ASX steadied to be up by almost 1.2% with less than two hours left to trade, in a dramatic turnaround from the grim picture at the opening, when the benchmark ASX200 index tumbled 3.7%.The ASX steadied to be up by almost 1.2% with less than two hours left to trade, in a dramatic turnaround from the grim picture at the opening, when the benchmark ASX200 index tumbled 3.7%.
Mainland China reported no new locally transmitted coronavirus cases outside of Hubei province, where the outbreak began, for the third straight day, while major Chinese cities remained on alert for imported infections. Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Wuhan.Mainland China reported no new locally transmitted coronavirus cases outside of Hubei province, where the outbreak began, for the third straight day, while major Chinese cities remained on alert for imported infections. Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Wuhan.
The WHO said the threat of a pandemic is ‘very real’ but stressed the virus could still be controlledThe WHO said the threat of a pandemic is ‘very real’ but stressed the virus could still be controlled
Australia now has 100 confirmed coronavirus cases, but has said the focus remains on screening incoming travellers, as there have been very few cases of community transmission.Australia now has 100 confirmed coronavirus cases, but has said the focus remains on screening incoming travellers, as there have been very few cases of community transmission.
Panama and Mongolia reported their first cases of the virus.Panama and Mongolia reported their first cases of the virus.
The death toll passed 4,000, and infections are now at over 113,000.The death toll passed 4,000, and infections are now at over 113,000.
More than 60 million were placed in lockdown conditions in Italy as the measures imposed on the northern “red zone” were extended to the whole country. The steps announced by the Italian prime minister Giuseppe Conte included the suspension of all public gatherings and strict travel restrictions.More than 60 million were placed in lockdown conditions in Italy as the measures imposed on the northern “red zone” were extended to the whole country. The steps announced by the Italian prime minister Giuseppe Conte included the suspension of all public gatherings and strict travel restrictions.
Australia’s Qantas airline reduced its international flying capacity by a quarter, grounding eight Airbus A380s and leaving just two of the largest planes in its fleet flying.Australia’s Qantas airline reduced its international flying capacity by a quarter, grounding eight Airbus A380s and leaving just two of the largest planes in its fleet flying.
Western Australia health minister Roger Cook says there are six confirmed cases in the state, and that the patients are in isolation. He added that the three new WA clinics dedicated to testing for coronavirus “remain busy, as we expected them to be, but so far they’re working... to do some diversion away from our emergency departments.”Western Australia health minister Roger Cook says there are six confirmed cases in the state, and that the patients are in isolation. He added that the three new WA clinics dedicated to testing for coronavirus “remain busy, as we expected them to be, but so far they’re working... to do some diversion away from our emergency departments.”
He said we will be hearing from WA’s Chief Health Officer at 14:30 western time (17:30 eastern).He said we will be hearing from WA’s Chief Health Officer at 14:30 western time (17:30 eastern).
In Western Australia, health minister Roger Cook is addressing the media regarding the outbreak in the state.
We “have already seen a school be shut down in New South Wales. So it is inevitable that at some point in Western Australia there will be a child, a student, who will contract the virus,” he says.
In Australia, here’s a wrap of that press conference earlier with chief medical officer Brendan Murphy and health officer Greg Hunt.
The key message from the Australian government today is “upscaling”. With 100 confirmed cases now in Australia, the government is upscaling, the states are upscaling, general practitioners are upscaling.
More concretely, the government is reviewing travel advisories for Australians to Italy, which Hunt said in the press conference just now will be forthcoming in the next 24 hours. It’s also boosting staff to the inundated coronavirus information hotline, that has been struggling with the volume of calls over the past few days.
Murphy sought to clarify questions around who should or should not present for testing for the virus.
“Our focus at the moment is testing people who are returned travellers who have acute respiratory symptoms, cough sore throat and the like, and contacts of confirmed cases,” Murphy said.
“At the moment we are not recommending that general members of the community with acute respiratory symptoms – colds, flu, and the like – be tested.”
Murphy also sought to downplay fears regarding Australia’s status health-wise.
“In Australia, our situation is very much the same as it’s been over the last few days,” he said.
There were no recommendations yet for a complete lockdown of any areas of Australia.
In Victoria, Australia, authorities have confirmed three new cases of coronavirus in the state, bringing the total number of cases to 18.
The 16th case is a man in his 70s who returned to Melbourne from Singapore on March 6 at 12.15 am on flight EK404, Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton has confirmed.
“The flight manifest of EK404 is being obtained to begin contact tracing of passengers in the same and adjacent rows. He had earlier travelled to Israel, Jordan, Egypt and Singapore.”The 17th case is a household contact of a confirmed Victorian case of Covid-19 who returned on the February 28 flight UA60 from the United States.
She is understood to be the first documented case of patient-to-patient transmission in the state, Dr. Sutton confirmed.
The 18th case is a a man in his 70s who arrived home in Melbourne from Los Angeles on March 8 on flight VA24. He presented to hospital for testing immediately and is now isolated at home with one household contact.
Contact tracing of passengers in the same and adjacent rows on the flight has begun. Earlier, Victorian authorities said the state’s Coronavirus Hotline (1800 675 398) and Nurse-On-Call Hotline 1300 60 60 24 were experiencing system issues due to extraordinary call volumes.
Chinese president Xi Jinping has arrived in Wuhan, where the coronavirus outbreak first began, on Tuesday morning.
He is set to inspect epidemic control efforts and visit front line staff such as medical workers, state media reported. His visit to the city marks the first time he has done so since the epidemic started late last year.
With less than two hours of trade left in the day, the ASX has steadied to be up by almost 1.2%.This is a dramatic turnaround from the grim picture at the opening of trade, when the benchmark ASX200 index tumbled 3.7%.US president Donald Trump’s announcement of a stimulus package shortly after 10am, Australian time, reversed what was looking to be a second day of heavy losses.Poor confidence of business managers, revealed in a NAB survey at about 11.30am, could not dent the comeback.All eyes in the market will now be on what Australia’s government decides to include in its stimulus package, due out as soon as Wednesday.
Just doubling back to the beginning of that news conference, Greg Hunt, the Australian health minister, also medical experts were reviewing the status of Italian travel advisories. An update on that is expected in the next 24 hours.
Addressing concerns expressed by casual workers or workers who do not have sick cover, Hunt said the attorney general and industrial relations minister, along with the chief medical officer, met at around table with employers and employees to discuss maintaining the workforce and “helping those people who are within the workforce that, at some stage, are affected by the virus in terms of their continuity of employment.”
I expect we will here more on this in the coming days, given that millions of Australians may not have access to sick cover from their work.
Australia’s health minister, Greg Hunt, says this is a once in 50 year challenge and that Australians should take heart from the current understanding that people can only get this disease once. And, as such, this crisis will pass.
Australia’s health minister, Greg Hunt, says efforts to contain the virus so far has been a great community effort.
The next question is about clinics being set up to treat potential patients. Greg Hunt, Australia’s health minister, says there are four hospitals in the state of Victoria who are operating clinics. The Gold Coast (in the northern state of Queensland) has them, he says and New South Wales is undertaking its own operations.
He emphasises that people can call state or national hotlines for information.
Brendan Murphy, the chief medical officer, says the national hotline will be given a very clear script of information and GPs will have access to this too.
Prof Brendan Murphy is being asked how testing is done in Australia and he said it’s done by getting a swap from the nose or throat or lung. He says the testing kit is looking for the genetic material of the virus and the current method is very reliable.