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Coronavirus: What measures are countries taking to stop it? Coronavirus: What measures are countries taking to stop it?
(5 days later)
Countries around the world are taking different measures to try to stop the spread of coronavirus. Countries around the world are intensifying their efforts to try to stop the spread of coronavirus.
Governments say they are acting on medical and scientific advice from leading experts. Governments say they are acting on medical and scientific advice from experts.
But the measures - and their timing - have varied widely, highlighting the many factors at play. But the measures and their timing have varied widely, highlighting the many factors at play.
Who is restricting travel and movement? Who is restricting travel from abroad?
The US has introduced restrictions on 26 European countries, preventing anyone (except US citizens) from entering the country if they've been in Europe's border-free travel zone in the past 14 days, and is now extending this ban to include the UK and Republic of Ireland. A lot of countries have now limited entry, or imposed other forms of restriction on travellers. And airlines have also cancelled flights on some routes.
India says it's suspending visas for all foreigners for a month, with a few exemptions such as for diplomats, official or employment purposes. Australia and New Zealand have said they are banning entry to all foreigners.
Kuwait has also stopped issuing visas to foreign visitors. Canada, the US and the European Union have also imposed border restrictions.
And various countries around the world have now stopped or restricted entry to travellers from the countries worst affected by the virus, like China, Italy, Iran and South Korea. The EU this week effectively sealed its external borders to anyone from outside the bloc for at least 30 days.
Italy is now in a major lockdown, with special permission needed for travel within the country, and some countries have advised their nationals against non-essential travel there. The US has told its citizens not to travel outside the country, warning that they could find themselves having to remain abroad for an indefinite period.
Spain is poised to declare a 15-day national lockdown, with its citizens allowed out only for emergencies or to work or buy food. The UK government has urged British citizens not to travel abroad at all unless it's essential.
When the outbreak began in China, the authorities there restricted travel nationwide and told people to stay at home, only relaxing this recently. And some European states are now either fully or partially closing their land borders to neighbouring countries or carrying out checks on those who want to cross.
The Iranian authorities have also tried to restrict travel between cities, but they did not seal off the holy city of Qom, where there were large numbers of cases. The US has closed its northern border with Canada and is cracking down on people trying to cross illegally from Mexico.
And US nationals coming back from affected countries are required to pass through designated US airports for screening.
China and other Asian countries are beginning to see some cases being brought back from abroad. China is now requiring anyone who has visited countries with severe outbreaks to quarantine themselves for 14 days if they want to visit certain areas.
Hong Kong wants new arrivals to wear an electronic tag so their movements can be tracked.
India has suspended all visas for foreigners until mid-April and Japan has banned entry to certain categories of Chinese nationals and non-nationals who have been in Iran, South Korea or Italy in the past two weeks.
What about movement within countries?
Italy began a major lockdown on 12 March, which has now been extended beyond the original end date of 25 March. France has said its 15-day lockdown might also be extended.
Under these measures, people need permission to move around, and most public venues are closed. Spain has told people not to leave their homes unless they need food, medicine or to go to work.
The authorities in France and Spain have also fined people who have ignored the rules.
The US state of California has introduced major restrictions, stopping people leaving home unless it's necessary and forcing businesses deemed non-essential to close.
In Latin America, Argentina has become the first country to impose a nationwide lockdown.
So far, there's been no lockdown in the UK, although people have been urged to work from home and not visit pubs, bars and restaurants. In London, some public transport is being suspended, and some underground train stations closed.
When the outbreak began in China, the authorities there restricted travel nationwide and told people to stay at home, relaxing this only recently.
The Iranian authorities have also tried to restrict travel between cities but have not sealed off the holy city of Qom, where there have been large numbers of cases.
The World Health Organization (WHO) advice is not to apply travel restrictions, except for a temporary period.The World Health Organization (WHO) advice is not to apply travel restrictions, except for a temporary period.
"In general, evidence shows that restricting the movement of people and goods during public health emergencies is ineffective in most situations," it said."In general, evidence shows that restricting the movement of people and goods during public health emergencies is ineffective in most situations," it said.
Who is screening at airports?
Some countries - if they are not barring entry - are screening arrivals at airports and other transport hubs. This can involve questioning travellers about their recent movements, their health and carrying out temperature checks.
However, there are doubts about how effective screening for high temperatures is because coronavirus symptoms can take days to appear.
Which countries are screening at airports?
Airports in Italy have been running temperature checks on passengers since early February, and there are also tests at railway stations. Thermometers are a common sight at airports throughout Asia.
And the US - as part of the travel restrictions announced on Europe - has said its citizens will be screened at designated airports.
How many tests are being carried out?How many tests are being carried out?
There is considerable variation in how many people are being tested for coronavirus around the world. There is considerable variation in how many people are being tested for coronavirus around the world, and there isn't information from every country.
South Korea has been carrying out more tests per head of population than anyone else, with nearly 20,000 people tested every day.South Korea has been carrying out more tests per head of population than anyone else, with nearly 20,000 people tested every day.
Compare that with an average of about 1,500 a day in England - although there are now plans to ramp this up to 10,000 daily. By mid-March, the UK was testing more than 6,000 a day - although there are now plans to ramp this up to 10,000, and eventually 25,000 a day.
The US has so far carried out even fewer tests, with reports of shortages at some health centres. The US has so far carried out considerably fewer tests, with reports of shortages at some health centres. It's not clear exactly how many people have been tested so far, but one estimate says that as of 19 March, it was just over 82,000 in total.
How severe the outbreak has been is another factor, with countries which see a spike in cases generally starting to increase the numbers they test.
Who has closed schools and colleges?Who has closed schools and colleges?
The UN's educational, scientific and cultural body Unesco says that as of 13 March, 39 countries had closed all their schools. A further 22 had closed some at a local level. More and more countries are doing so.
School closures can be very disruptive socially and economically, and governments will be weighing up the pros and cons. The UN's educational, scientific and cultural body Unesco says that as of 18 March, 107 countries had closed all their schools. A further 12 had closed some schools at a local level.
Ireland has announced it's closing its schools and colleges until 29 March, and there've been school closures at national or local level in other European countries. The UK announced on 18 March that all schools would be closing until further notice, except for certain groups of children.
In the UK and Germany, a relatively small number of schools have been closed temporarily to allow for deep cleaning after staff or pupils tested positive or returned from high-risk areas. The Republic of Ireland has already closed its schools and colleges until 29 March, and there have been school closures at national or local level in other European countries.
China closed schools in many areas, and Japan has asked all schools to close until the end of the school year, which is in late March. Germany also announced school closures this week.
Italy has closed all its schools until April as part of the nationwide lockdown. There have also been nationwide school closures in Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia. China shut schools in many areas, and Japan has asked all schools to close until the end of the school year, which is in late March.
What about sporting events? Italy has closed all its schools until April as part of the nationwide lockdown. There have also been nationwide shutdowns in Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia.
What about sporting and cultural events?
Coronavirus is having a major impact on the sporting calendar.Coronavirus is having a major impact on the sporting calendar.
In football, games were already being cancelled or played in empty stadiums but, after a number of players and coaches tested positive for the virus in different countries, the authorities have gone further. Football matches were already being cancelled or played in empty stadiums, but after a number of players and coaches tested positive for the virus in various countries, the authorities have now gone further.
Uefa have postponed all matches in the Champions League and the Europa League. Uefa has postponed all matches in the Champions and Europa Leagues. Other leagues around the world have also been suspended, including all English football until 30 April at the earliest.
England's Premier League has been suspended (until 4 April) along with elite football in Spain, Portugal, France, Italy the Netherlands and a number of other countries. And in Formula 1 motor racing, the Dutch, Spanish and Monaco Grands Prix have been postponed.
Rugby Union's Six Nations matches, due to be played on 14 March between Italy and England and France and Ireland, were postponed.
The Indian Wells tennis tournament in California was cancelled after a public health emergency was declared for the Coachella Valley.The Indian Wells tennis tournament in California was cancelled after a public health emergency was declared for the Coachella Valley.
A number of marathons have been affected including the Barcelona marathon which has been moved from 15 March to 25 October. April's London marathon is also being postponed until October. A number of marathons have been affected - Barcelona's has been moved from 15 March to 25 October and the London marathon has been put back from April until October.
Meanwhile, Japan's Olympics Minister Seiko Hashimoto has said everything is being done to allow the Games to go ahead on 24 July, but said it could be delayed until later in the year. Meanwhile, Japan's Olympics Minister, Seiko Hashimoto, has said everything is being done to allow the Games to go ahead on 24 July, but he admitted it could be delayed until later in the year.
The recent torch-lighting ceremony in ancient Olympia was held without spectators, before the rest of the relay in Greece was suspended. The handover of the Olympic flame in Athens took place behind closed doors, after the symbolic relay race was suspended due to coronavirus concerns.
The flame handover in Athens next week will be done behind closed doors because of coronavirus concerns. In New York, Broadway shows are being closed for a month and St Patrick's Day celebrations on 17 March were cancelled throughout the island of Ireland.
Are museums and tourist attractions still open? Saudi Arabia has temporarily barred pilgrims wanting to visit the holy sites, and Iraq has introduced restrictions on access to its religious sites.
Some of the world's most famous visitor attractions have closed, restricted entry or told visitors to minimise close contact with each other.
Disney has announced that it is closing its theme parks in Florida and Paris. Hong Kong's Disneyland remains closed as do Disney theme parks in Japan.
There have also been temporary closures of tourist sites across Italy, and restrictions or new measures introduced for visitors to other attractions in Europe.
In France, the Louvre museum, the palace at Versailles and the Eiffel Tower have now been closed following a government order to ban gatherings of more than 100 people.
In New York, Broadway shows are being closed for a month while St Patrick's Day celebrations have been cancelled throughout the island of Ireland.
Saudi Arabia has temporarily halted the entry of pilgrims wanting to visit the holy sites, and Iraq introduced restrictions on access to religious sites.
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