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Coronavirus live updates: Trump suspends all travel from Europe to US for 30 days, excluding UK Coronavirus live updates: Trump suspends all travel from Europe to US for 30 days, excluding UK
(32 minutes later)
Tom Hanks tests positive in Australia, NBA basketball season suspended indefinitely, WHO declares pandemic. Follow the latest.Tom Hanks tests positive in Australia, NBA basketball season suspended indefinitely, WHO declares pandemic. Follow the latest.
Rural Australian pharmacists are struggling to source essential medications due to overwhelming demand on wholesalers amid the coronavirus crisis, the Guardian’s Felicity Nelson reports.
The spread of Covid-19 has not yet caused a national shortage of medications and experts say there is no need whatsoever to panic buy.
But the flood of orders from pharmacies has led to temporary shortages in some rural areas.At least three major drug wholesalers have written to pharmacists warning of unprecedented demands for stock and apologising for supply chain challenges, according to documents seen by The Medical Republic and shared with Guardian Australia.
On Today’s episode of Science Weekly Extra: what happens once someone is infected with the new coronavirus?
Following our first Covid-19 episode last week, we received an incredible response, with so many interesting new areas to explore. One of those was what exactly happens once someone is infected with this new virus. As Nicola Davis find outs, whilst scientists are still racing to figure the exact details out, insights can be gleaned from other viral infections like influenza.
Australia has extended its existing travel ban for China, Iran, South Korea and Italy, and is reviewing whether to extend a travel ban to Europe.
AAP has meanwhile reported that the Australian Capital Territory has confirmed its first case of Covid-19.
The man aged in his 30s was tested for Covid-19 at the Weston Creek Walk-in Centre clinic on Wednesday, with the positive result confirmed on Thursday.
He’s being treated at Canberra Hospital and precautions are being taken to ensure the safety of staff and the broader community.
On Thursday the national security committee of cabinet met and decided to extend the existing ban on travel from China, Iran, South Korea and Italy by one week.
Under the rules of the travel ban:
Foreign nationals are not allowed to enter Australia for 14 days from the time they left the affected country;
Australian citizens and permanent residents are able to enter Australia but are required to self-isolate at home for 14 days from the day they left the affected country.
In Sydney, Australia, somebody has used skywriting to remind the city’s people to “Wash hands”.
With less than half an hour of trade left to go on the Australian market, it looks likely to finish the day down between 5% and 6%.But it’s hard to be sure because the market is extremely volatile today.It was about 2% down in early trade before sliding a percentage point as Australian prime minister Scott Morrison and treasurer Josh Frydenberg announced details of a $17.6bn stimulus package.President Donald Trump’s announcement that most travel from Europe to the US would be banned sent the market into panic selling mode, with the benchmark ASX200 index diving to be as much as 7% down for the day.It has recovered slightly since then. At about 3.45pm it was down 5.4%.
A quiet confusion hung overhead at San Francisco Airport’s international terminal on Wednesday night, as travellers canceled flights and sought to make sense of Donald Trump’s sudden coronavirus-related travel ban.
Many of the travellers who planned on flying to Europe that evening had no guarantee that they would be able to return back to the United States once their trips had concluded, forcing some to make last-minute calls on dream vacations.
Tulio Mello, 51, was preparing to board his flight to Istanbul when his friend called and told him not to get on the plane. “They had started announcing group one,” he said.
Turkey is not one of the countries included in the travel ban, but a mixture of misinformation, panic and precaution dominated the decisions made at San Francisco’s airport. A number of passengers on Mello’s Turkish Airlines flight left with him, waiting by the airline’s counter for their luggage, some on hold with customer service.
“There are just so many differentials that can happen,” he said. “I think there is one case (of coronavirus) in Turkey, but imagine in five days they find 400 people and then they say you have to stay 14 days in quarantine. It just wouldn’t be great to go for five days and then end up stuck for 30 days.”
For those who want to read Donald Trump’s speech in full, you can find it here. He did not pull any punches on who he blamed for the outbreak of the virus in the US:For those who want to read Donald Trump’s speech in full, you can find it here. He did not pull any punches on who he blamed for the outbreak of the virus in the US:
As we know, the travel ban from Europe only includes countries in the Schengen Area that have officially abolished all passport and all other types of border controls. The countries in the Schengen Area are: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.As we know, the travel ban from Europe only includes countries in the Schengen Area that have officially abolished all passport and all other types of border controls. The countries in the Schengen Area are: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
The restrictions do not apply to American residents or to travel from the UK. Most immediate family members of US citizens are exempt.The restrictions do not apply to American residents or to travel from the UK. Most immediate family members of US citizens are exempt.
They will begin at 11.59pm on Friday.They will begin at 11.59pm on Friday.
It’s unclear at the moment how the US would account for travellers who travel from Europe to the US, via London, given the UK is exempt.It’s unclear at the moment how the US would account for travellers who travel from Europe to the US, via London, given the UK is exempt.
You can read our explainer of what we do know, below.You can read our explainer of what we do know, below.
French Polynesia has announced the first case of Covid-19 in Tahiti, the first confirmed case of the coronavirus across the Pacific Islands.French Polynesia has announced the first case of Covid-19 in Tahiti, the first confirmed case of the coronavirus across the Pacific Islands.
President Edouard Fritch, said that French Polynesian politician Maina Sage had been confirmed with the virus after returning from Paris on 7 March. Sage is resting at home in self-isolation in Papeete.President Edouard Fritch, said that French Polynesian politician Maina Sage had been confirmed with the virus after returning from Paris on 7 March. Sage is resting at home in self-isolation in Papeete.
French Polynesia, which comprises more than 100 islands, the largest of which is Tahiti, is a French overseas collectivity. Sage is French Polynesia’s representative in the French National Assembly.French Polynesia, which comprises more than 100 islands, the largest of which is Tahiti, is a French overseas collectivity. Sage is French Polynesia’s representative in the French National Assembly.
During her time in Paris, Sage served on a National Assembly commission with France’s culture minister Franck Riester, who has also been confined in France after contracting Covid-19.During her time in Paris, Sage served on a National Assembly commission with France’s culture minister Franck Riester, who has also been confined in France after contracting Covid-19.
Announcing the first confirmed case of the coronavirus in Tahiti, President Fritch reassured people about government plans for monitoring, testing and isolation. He stated, however: “I invite the population to avoid travel outside the country.”Announcing the first confirmed case of the coronavirus in Tahiti, President Fritch reassured people about government plans for monitoring, testing and isolation. He stated, however: “I invite the population to avoid travel outside the country.”
In Australia, more from Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson’s positive coronavirus diagnosis:In Australia, more from Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson’s positive coronavirus diagnosis:
While Hanks had regularly posed for photos with fans at Coolangatta Beach on the Gold Coast and a cafe near Mount Warning on the New South Wales far north coast, the premier said she did not believe a selfie would constitute close contact.While Hanks had regularly posed for photos with fans at Coolangatta Beach on the Gold Coast and a cafe near Mount Warning on the New South Wales far north coast, the premier said she did not believe a selfie would constitute close contact.
“Tom has been having a wonderful time on the Gold Coast and we are so lucky to have Tom in Queensland,” she said.“Tom has been having a wonderful time on the Gold Coast and we are so lucky to have Tom in Queensland,” she said.
“But what it is, is people who have come in very close contact with him in recent days [our] experts will now work very closely with him with Baz [Luhrmann] and all the cast the crew and then they will isolate those people who have been in that close proximity.“But what it is, is people who have come in very close contact with him in recent days [our] experts will now work very closely with him with Baz [Luhrmann] and all the cast the crew and then they will isolate those people who have been in that close proximity.
“From what the chief health officer has told me it’s over 15 minutes of being in very close contact, so a selfie wouldn’t count as that.”“From what the chief health officer has told me it’s over 15 minutes of being in very close contact, so a selfie wouldn’t count as that.”
She said Hanks and Wilson would receive “the best treatment in our hospital”.She said Hanks and Wilson would receive “the best treatment in our hospital”.
“I’m very confident with the physicians that we have that will be treating Tom and his wife and like I said we wish them all the very best for a speedy recovery,” she said.“I’m very confident with the physicians that we have that will be treating Tom and his wife and like I said we wish them all the very best for a speedy recovery,” she said.
“I know the thoughts of Queenslanders and all Australians are with Tom and Rita during this time.”“I know the thoughts of Queenslanders and all Australians are with Tom and Rita during this time.”
Hanks and Wilson’s son, Chet Hanks, posted on Instagram that he just spoke to his parents, who are both “fine, they’re not even that sick. They’re not that worried about it, they’re not tripping. but they’re going through the necessary health precautions obviously.”Hanks and Wilson’s son, Chet Hanks, posted on Instagram that he just spoke to his parents, who are both “fine, they’re not even that sick. They’re not that worried about it, they’re not tripping. but they’re going through the necessary health precautions obviously.”
“Yeah, it’s true my parents got coronavirus. Crazy,” he says.“Yeah, it’s true my parents got coronavirus. Crazy,” he says.
Reactions to Donald Trump’s speech earlier include this, from David Litt, who wrote speeches for Obama: “As a former presidential speechwriter, my careful rhetorical analysis is that he’s gonna get us all killed.”Reactions to Donald Trump’s speech earlier include this, from David Litt, who wrote speeches for Obama: “As a former presidential speechwriter, my careful rhetorical analysis is that he’s gonna get us all killed.”
Donald Trump’s first Oval Office address – that almost sacred altar for US presidents on prime time television – came in January 2019 amid a partial government shutdown and asserted that only a border wall can keep out dangerous illegal immigrants.Donald Trump’s first Oval Office address – that almost sacred altar for US presidents on prime time television – came in January 2019 amid a partial government shutdown and asserted that only a border wall can keep out dangerous illegal immigrants.
His second such address on Wednesday night was again couched in terms around the need to resist a foreign invasion that is someone else’s fault. The problem is that the coronavirus is already inside America and spreading.His second such address on Wednesday night was again couched in terms around the need to resist a foreign invasion that is someone else’s fault. The problem is that the coronavirus is already inside America and spreading.
And the message was delivered by a 73-year-old man with a sniffing habit who did not seem to be a glowing picture of health nor entirely at ease reading from a TelePrompter. His bold assertion last week – “I like this stuff. I really get it … Maybe I have a natural ability” – seemed even more incredible than before.And the message was delivered by a 73-year-old man with a sniffing habit who did not seem to be a glowing picture of health nor entirely at ease reading from a TelePrompter. His bold assertion last week – “I like this stuff. I really get it … Maybe I have a natural ability” – seemed even more incredible than before.
The latest on Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, who are in Australia and have confirmed they have tested positive for coronavirus:The latest on Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, who are in Australia and have confirmed they have tested positive for coronavirus:
The premier of Queensland, Annastacia Palaszczuk, said on Thursday that health officials would conduct contact tracing to determine who had been in close contact with Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson.The premier of Queensland, Annastacia Palaszczuk, said on Thursday that health officials would conduct contact tracing to determine who had been in close contact with Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson.
“People who have come in close contact with Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson will now need to self isolate and quarantine,” she said.“People who have come in close contact with Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson will now need to self isolate and quarantine,” she said.
Shortly before health minister Greg Hunt’s announcement that the question of travel from Europe had been referred to the Health Protection Principal Committee, Australia’s foreign minister Marise Payne – who is in Washington DC to meet with US officials – said there were no immediate plans to expand Australia’s current travel restrictions to other countries such as the US or regions like Europe, but that these restrictions were continually being re-assessed.Shortly before health minister Greg Hunt’s announcement that the question of travel from Europe had been referred to the Health Protection Principal Committee, Australia’s foreign minister Marise Payne – who is in Washington DC to meet with US officials – said there were no immediate plans to expand Australia’s current travel restrictions to other countries such as the US or regions like Europe, but that these restrictions were continually being re-assessed.
“I think the important thing about our response is that we have acted early in our decisions around travel restrictions that we’ve needed to impose – always focused on protecting the health and safety of Australians. We are constantly reviewing our travel restrictions.”Payne said government-issued travel bans were becoming almost “self-fulfilling” with people unwilling to travel as the global Covid-19 pandemic took hold.“To an extent these are about to become self-fulfilling in some ways, given the restriction and the constraints on airlines around the world. That is having an impact, most certainly, on people’s ability to travel.“If you’re travelling at the moment you will see that we have very subdued airports, that we have a much lower level of activity. So I think it is, in fact, in some ways, addressing itself.”“I think the important thing about our response is that we have acted early in our decisions around travel restrictions that we’ve needed to impose – always focused on protecting the health and safety of Australians. We are constantly reviewing our travel restrictions.”Payne said government-issued travel bans were becoming almost “self-fulfilling” with people unwilling to travel as the global Covid-19 pandemic took hold.“To an extent these are about to become self-fulfilling in some ways, given the restriction and the constraints on airlines around the world. That is having an impact, most certainly, on people’s ability to travel.“If you’re travelling at the moment you will see that we have very subdued airports, that we have a much lower level of activity. So I think it is, in fact, in some ways, addressing itself.”
In Australia, Victorian health minister Jenny Mikakos says there have been 5,200 negative tests in Victoria.In Australia, Victorian health minister Jenny Mikakos says there have been 5,200 negative tests in Victoria.
There are 27 confirmed cases in the state.There are 27 confirmed cases in the state.
There are 12 screening clinics across the state, says Mikakos. “We are already seeing increased demand of people presenting for testing,” she says. The state’s call centre has received over 21,000 calls.There are 12 screening clinics across the state, says Mikakos. “We are already seeing increased demand of people presenting for testing,” she says. The state’s call centre has received over 21,000 calls.
Australian Health Minister Greg Hunt is speaking now.Australian Health Minister Greg Hunt is speaking now.
“In Australia we have 128 cases,” he says.“In Australia we have 128 cases,” he says.
The Prime Minister and the national security committee have met and decided to refer the question of travel from Europe to the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (composed of chief medical officers), following Trump’s announcement.The Prime Minister and the national security committee have met and decided to refer the question of travel from Europe to the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (composed of chief medical officers), following Trump’s announcement.
Now for the latest reactions to Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s coronavirus stimulus package, which economists say will do its bit to boost confidence – but, they add, further cash maybe needed:
“The decision not to pump much cash, relatively speaking, into the wallets of ordinary Australians is the biggest gamble in the Morrison government’s stimulus package,” writes the Guardian’s senior business reporter Ben Butler. So will it pay off?
Guardian Australia political editor Katharine Murphy writes, “Regions and communities that are severely impacted by the coronavirus will be given access to taxpayer support through a new $1bn fund – but it is unclear how the fund will operate, because the practicalities will be worked through with the states.”
In the US, CNN has more now on the US coronavirus travel ban for Europe announced by President Donald Trump earlier today.
The ban exempts all countries NOT in the Schengen Area travel zone, acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Chad Wolf explained the ban in a statement issued on Twitter.
We’ll have a fuller story explaining the ban and its implications – including whether Europeans could skirt the ban by traveling through the UK and other countries – shortly.
There has been no lack of major Covid-19 news today, as the virus affects Hollywood actors, major sporting events and prompts Donald Trump to place a travel ban on all flights from Europe.
US President Donald Trump introduced a total travel ban from Europe, excluding the UK, for 30 days. The ban does not extend to trade.
Actors Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson have announced that they have both tested positive for Covid-19 while filming in Australia.
The St. Patrick’s Day parade in New York City has been canceled this year for the first time since 1762, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said on Wednesday night.
In Hong Kong, an 80-year-old man has denied he was “patient zero” for the Diamond Princess cruise ship outbreak.
The total number of coronavirus cases worldwide now stands at 126,135, according to figures from Johns Hopkins University.
Mainland China reported 15 new infections, eight of which are in Hubei. There have been 11 new deaths, ten of which were in Hubei.
Australia’s ASX200 was down over 7% following Trump’s Europe travel ban.
The NBA has suspended play indefinitely after after a player on the Utah Jazz preliminarily tested positive for Covid-19.
Two more Formula One team members have been tested for the coronavirus at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. The event has not been cancelled.
Juventus defender Daniele Rugani has tested positive for coronavirus, the Serie A club said on Wednesday.
The Australian stock market gave the thumbs down to the Morrison government’s stimulus package and Trump’s travel ban.
Rita Wilson, the actor and singer, has posted a similar statement to the one made by her husband Tom Hanks earlier today on her Instagram stories.
Hanks and Wilson, both currently in Australia, have both confirmed that they have contracted the coronavirus.
“Hello, folks. Tom and I are down here in Australia. We felt a bit tired, like we had colds, and some body aches. I had some chills that came and went. Slight fevers too,” she wrote. “To play things right, as is needed in the world right now we were both tested for the coronavirus, and were found to be positive.“Well, now. What to do next? The medical officials have protocols that must be followed. We Hanks’ will be tested, observed and isolated for as long as public health and safety requires. Not much more to it than a one-day-at-a-time approach, no? “We’ll keep the world posted and updated. Keep us in your prayers!”
The Australian Academy of Science has made a helpful explainer answering your coronavirus questions, including whether or not to stockpile toilet paper.
In Hong Kong, an 80-year-old man has denied he was “patient zero” for the Diamond Princess cruise ship outbreak.
The Hong Kong man, who gave his surname as Wu, told the South China Morning Post that he had been unfairly identified as the source of the Covid-19 outbreak which infected more than 700 and killed eight.
Wu was the first confirmed case from the cruise ship’s 3,700 passengers, diagnosed after he returned home to Hong Kong. The diagnosis prompted the eventual quarantining of the thousands still on the ship, and in subsequent reports Wu has been reported as the index case.
However Wu told the Post reports that he had begun coughing before he boarded were wrong, and that it started several days into the trip. He was diagnosed after returning disembarking in Hong Kong with about 130 other passengers.
Wu was traveling with his wife and daughters, none of whom became sick, the report said, and their journey from Hong Kong to Tokyo involved interaction with multiple groups of people.
Health official said that while Wu was the first identified patient from the cruise, there were at least two people who developed symptoms before he did.
“The timing doesn’t support that he was the first case, as his symptoms’ onset was January 23,” said Professor David Hui Shu-cheong, a respiratory medicine expert from Chinese University, who added there were many uncertainties about the case.
“I think it is very likely the Hong Kong man got infected from others such as on the bus because there were two confirmed cases on the cruise who developed symptoms before him and his family tested negative.”
Wu, who was hospitalised with the disease, told the Post he was recovering and in good health.
“Because of me, my family had to suffer from quarantine. I don’t want to bring more trouble to them,” he said. “But I cannot accept people calling me the source.”
Here’s the latest on Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, who have confirmed they have tested positive for coronavirus while in Australia.
The Guardian understands that early on Thursday morning cast and crew attached to the film received an email instructing them to stay away from set after a member of the production tested positive for the virus.
In the lead up to shooting, normal practice would involve lead actors to have close contact with wardrobe and hair and makeup departments for screen tests and sound tests. These often involve close physical contact with potentially dozens of crew.
In a statement the US production company behind the film, Warner Bros, said it was “taking precautions” to protect its employees.
Hanks and Wilson, who is a singer as well as an actor, had been travelling to different locations in Australia and had posted photos from Sydney and Brisbane on Instagram.
Wilson performed at the famous Sydney Opera House over the weekend and had appeared on the Nine breakfast morning show Today earlier in the week.
Famously approachable, Hanks had regularly posed for photos with fans at Coolangatta Beach on the Gold Coast and a cafe near Mount Warning on the New South Wales far north coast.
In the US, the St. Patrick’s Day parade in New York City has been canceled this year, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said on Wednesday night. The parade is one of the most high-profile – and oldest – US public events to be felled by the global coronavirus pandemic. Organisers plan to hold the event at a later date, Cuomo said in a statement. The parade is usually held on 17 March, attracting millions of spectators who line up along Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue to celebrate the patron saint of Ireland. The tradition dates back to 1762, organisers say.
In Australia, the federal opposition has said the country should immediately close schools and cancel mass events, arguing the “public health emergency” requires urgent, even “draconion” action.
Labor shadow cabinet minister Bill Shorten said Australia needed to implement social distancing “not in weeks and months but in days”.
“The only way to make sure this pandemic is not worse than it otherwise could be is to have more drastic social distancing measures,” he told Sky News.
In New Zealand, the ministry of health said there had been no new cases of coronavirus for the fifth consecutive day in a row.
The two people who had been hospitalised for the virus were now recovering at home.
Yesterday around the country 100 tests for the virus took place around the country, the ministry of heath’s Ashley Bloomfield said. Daily monitoring of those in self-isolation was “usually a phone call” he said.Around 9000 people are currently in self-isolation in New Zealand, and the director said there had been no reports of non-compliance. “We’re operating in an environment where it’s high trust,” Bloomfield said, though his ministry were conducting research into how to “force” people into self-isolation if they needed too.