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Coronavirus live updates: WHO declares pandemic as Italy introduces stricter measures Coronavirus live updates: WHO declares pandemic as Italy introduces stricter measures
(31 minutes later)
Iran’s cases have increased to 9,000; US cases now stand at over 1,000; China reports record lows. Follow the latest.Iran’s cases have increased to 9,000; US cases now stand at over 1,000; China reports record lows. Follow the latest.
More on that AU$750 payment. In short, 6.5 million Australians will be getting a cheque for $750. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg says:
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison is answering questions from the media now.
Question: Will this package be enough to save the nation?
Morrison:
For the Australian economy to continue to move forward, says Morrison, “businesses need to continue to go forward and do what they do each day.” Money is going to the people who “are most likely to churn that into the economy quite quickly.”
The $17.6bn stimulus package revealed by the Australian government this morning has failed to stem losses on the stock exchange, with shares continuing to fall as prime minister Scott Morrison and treasurer Josh Frydenberg detailed the measures.A market that had fallen by 2% before Morrison began speaking at about 10.35am fell further to be off by almost 3% by 10.50.
Businesses will benefit most from Australia’s stimulus package.
Australian treasurer Josh Frydenberg, who just spoke, said:
It’s all about jobs, says Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
“Jobs provide people with choice, jobs are just so important” on how Australia deals with the “difficult months” ahead, he adds.
“It is a health crisis, but it is a health crisis with very significant economic impacts.”
All up, over the next two financial years, the stimulus package will cost AU$22bn.
The stimulus package is worth just under AU$18bn.
The measures include:
$750 across the full gambit of those who receive all sorts of benefit payments.
The waiting period will be waived for what is currently called the ‘sickness allowance’ (On March 20, it becomes the JobSeeker payment) for casuals who have to self-isolate.
Businesses with over $50m in turnover will be eligible for a payment of $25,000.
Australian prime minister Scott Morrison is speaking now, addressing the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak in the country, as well as the government’s planned stimulus measures.
The ASX is down 2.4% since opening this morning.
In Brazil, where there are now 69 confirmed coronavirus cases, the Folha de S.Paulo newspaper site has reported adding one in Northeastern state of Bahia and 16 at the Albert Einstein hospital in São Paulo to the 52 released by the Health Ministry earlier.
Dominic Phillips reports that Brazil expects more growth in locally transmitted cases, according to a health official speaking on Wednesday.
“From now on the number of cases of local transmission will increase,” João dos Reis, executive secretary at Brazil’s health ministry told the country’s Senate Wednesday. “People will contract the disease without us being able to establish the origin of the virus.”
The government will buy 20 million surgical masks and four million hospital masks, he said, according to the Agência Senado agency. He also said the government will hire 5,000 new doctors and create a thousand more beds in intensive care units, he said.
In China, more on the rescues from the collapsed virus quarantine hotel in Quanzhou, southeastern China in which at least 20 other people died. A man was pulled out alive after being trapped for 69 hours under the rubble, the official Xinhua News Agency said.In China, more on the rescues from the collapsed virus quarantine hotel in Quanzhou, southeastern China in which at least 20 other people died. A man was pulled out alive after being trapped for 69 hours under the rubble, the official Xinhua News Agency said.
The man was sent to hospital immediately after being rescued late on Tuesday afternoon. Another nine people are missing from the collapse on Saturday.The man was sent to hospital immediately after being rescued late on Tuesday afternoon. Another nine people are missing from the collapse on Saturday.
A 10-year-old boy and his mother had been rescued around midnight Monday after being trapped for 52 hours. The condition of all three survivors remains unknown.A 10-year-old boy and his mother had been rescued around midnight Monday after being trapped for 52 hours. The condition of all three survivors remains unknown.
The hotel in the city of Quanzhou had been a quarantine site for people exposed to the new coronavirus. Rescuers at the scene of the collapse had protective gear and disinfectant to minimize exposure to the virus.The building had reportedly been modified illegally before the collapse.The hotel in the city of Quanzhou had been a quarantine site for people exposed to the new coronavirus. Rescuers at the scene of the collapse had protective gear and disinfectant to minimize exposure to the virus.The building had reportedly been modified illegally before the collapse.
The Australian stock market has followed overseas exchanges downwards, shedding 1.8% as the country waited for the government to reveal details of a stimulus package.Overnight, Australian time, US markets fell by between 5% and 6%, while the London exchange’s benchmark FTSE index dropped a more modest 1.4%.Ten minutes after the start of trade on the ASX the benchmark ASX200 index was down 1.8%, led by mining stocks, which were down an average of about 2.5%.Prime minister Scott Morrison is to announce details of his stimulus package shortly. He is expected to address the media any minute now.The Australian stock market has followed overseas exchanges downwards, shedding 1.8% as the country waited for the government to reveal details of a stimulus package.Overnight, Australian time, US markets fell by between 5% and 6%, while the London exchange’s benchmark FTSE index dropped a more modest 1.4%.Ten minutes after the start of trade on the ASX the benchmark ASX200 index was down 1.8%, led by mining stocks, which were down an average of about 2.5%.Prime minister Scott Morrison is to announce details of his stimulus package shortly. He is expected to address the media any minute now.
We’re expecting Donald Trump to speak in an hour and a half’s time, at 9pm Eastern Time, or for our Australian readers, 12pm AEST.We’re expecting Donald Trump to speak in an hour and a half’s time, at 9pm Eastern Time, or for our Australian readers, 12pm AEST.
Hello and welcome to today’s coronavirus liveblog. The WHO has declared the coronavirus a “pandemic”, something they had been careful not to do until now. What does that mean for you and for the global economy? We’ll have the latest throughout the day.Hello and welcome to today’s coronavirus liveblog. The WHO has declared the coronavirus a “pandemic”, something they had been careful not to do until now. What does that mean for you and for the global economy? We’ll have the latest throughout the day.
Here are the biggest developments from the last few hours:Here are the biggest developments from the last few hours:
The World Health Organization has declared a coronavirus pandemic, as it expressed concern “about alarming levels of inaction”. The WHO director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said the number of cases outside China has increased 13-fold in the past two weeks and there are now 118,000 cases in 114 countries and 4,291 people have lost their lives.The World Health Organization has declared a coronavirus pandemic, as it expressed concern “about alarming levels of inaction”. The WHO director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said the number of cases outside China has increased 13-fold in the past two weeks and there are now 118,000 cases in 114 countries and 4,291 people have lost their lives.
Italians are facing up to yet more stringent measures designed to combat the outbreak. The country’s prime minister, Giuseppe Conte, has now said shops – barring supermarkets, food stores and chemists – will be shut down, while companies must close all their departments that are not essential to production.Italians are facing up to yet more stringent measures designed to combat the outbreak. The country’s prime minister, Giuseppe Conte, has now said shops – barring supermarkets, food stores and chemists – will be shut down, while companies must close all their departments that are not essential to production.
A third UK government minister is in isolation. In addition to the unnamed cabinet minister, the junior health minister Ed Argar is also self-isolating after having dinner with Nadine Dorries on Thursday night, the Guardian understands.A third UK government minister is in isolation. In addition to the unnamed cabinet minister, the junior health minister Ed Argar is also self-isolating after having dinner with Nadine Dorries on Thursday night, the Guardian understands.
The number of UK cases rose by 87 in 24 hours to 460. Including Scotland’s first community transmission. The number of UK citizens who have died rose to 1o.The number of UK cases rose by 87 in 24 hours to 460. Including Scotland’s first community transmission. The number of UK citizens who have died rose to 1o.
The UK chancellor, Rishi Sunak, has announced a £30bn package to try ease the impact of coronavirus and promised the NHS “whatever it needs” to tackle the crisis, as the Bank of England cut interest rates.The UK chancellor, Rishi Sunak, has announced a £30bn package to try ease the impact of coronavirus and promised the NHS “whatever it needs” to tackle the crisis, as the Bank of England cut interest rates.
Brexit talks due to take place in London next week have been thrown into doubt because of coronavirus. Michael Gove told MPs that fresh concerns about the safety of the talks had been raised by EU officials.Brexit talks due to take place in London next week have been thrown into doubt because of coronavirus. Michael Gove told MPs that fresh concerns about the safety of the talks had been raised by EU officials.
Iran announced a record increase in cases to 9,000 as the country’s death toll from the virus increased to 354. Friday prayers have been cancelled for a third week in a row.Iran announced a record increase in cases to 9,000 as the country’s death toll from the virus increased to 354. Friday prayers have been cancelled for a third week in a row.
The death toll from the coronavirus in Italy rose from 631 to 827 in a day. At the same time, the total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in the country rose by more than 2,000, from 10,149 on Tuesday to 12,462 today.The death toll from the coronavirus in Italy rose from 631 to 827 in a day. At the same time, the total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in the country rose by more than 2,000, from 10,149 on Tuesday to 12,462 today.
India and Kuwait have effectively banned foreign visitors.Guatemala has banned Europeans from entry, despite the central American country being yet to record a case.India and Kuwait have effectively banned foreign visitors.Guatemala has banned Europeans from entry, despite the central American country being yet to record a case.
States of emergency have been declared in Michigan and Massachusetts, as the number of Covid-19 cases in the US passed 1000. Three security officers have tested positive at California’s San Jose airport.States of emergency have been declared in Michigan and Massachusetts, as the number of Covid-19 cases in the US passed 1000. Three security officers have tested positive at California’s San Jose airport.
China has reported only 24 new cases and 22 new deaths nationally, including a record low of 13 cases in Wuhan. Lockdowns have been partially lifted in the Hubei province, and key industries will be allowed to resume in Wuhan.China has reported only 24 new cases and 22 new deaths nationally, including a record low of 13 cases in Wuhan. Lockdowns have been partially lifted in the Hubei province, and key industries will be allowed to resume in Wuhan.