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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) | |
Global recession fears intensify; Tom Hanks tests positive in Australia; NBA basketball season suspended indefinitely. Follow the latest. | Global recession fears intensify; Tom Hanks tests positive in Australia; NBA basketball season suspended indefinitely. Follow the latest. |
Ireland’s caretaker taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, is due to meet Donald Trump in the Oval Office this morning, the first meeting with an EU leader since the president’s travel ban announcement. | |
Varadkar was in the US ahead of the ban, which does not include flights from Ireland as it is not one of the Schengen zone countries Trump has targeted. | |
Varadkar’s two-day visit is the shortest undertaken for an Irish premier in recent memory and he was forced to cancel some engagements yesterday to deal with the Coronavirus crisis at home. | |
The US has also curtailed the traditional Irish American festivities with this afternoon’s shamrock ceremony in the White House usually headed by the US president and taoiseach of the day cancelled. | |
It is understood that Varadkar’s breakfast meeting with the vice-president, Mike Pence, this morning is also going ahead. Earlier it was announced that New York’s St Patrick’s day parade has been cancelled. | |
Austria has reported its first coronavirus death. | |
A 69-year-old man has died in Vienna after contracting the virus, city authorities said on Thursday, Reuters reports. | |
Austria has confirmed 302 cases so far, and four people have recovered. | |
A paramedic with the East of England Ambulance Service has tested positive for coronavirus. | |
An NHS spokesman said: | |
Hertfordshire is the worst hit council area in the UK with 18 confirmed. | |
Trump’s travel ban has prompted another plunge in the markets. | |
Wild trading in London has driven the FTSE 100 as low as 5,482 points, down over 6% today. | |
Every single company on the blue-chip index, and on the smaller FTSE 250 index, is down. | |
Cineworld has slumped 30% after it warned it could breach its banking covenants if cinemas are forced to close (see earlier post). | |
Wall Street is heading for another slump too – trading in futures contracts have been suspended ‘limit down’, after falling 5%. | |
A man in Rome has come up with an extreme way of enforcing social distancing. | |
There is a “big question mark” over whether large-scale events such as football matches should go ahead as Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, has warned. | |
Sturgeon warned it is highly likely “significant numbers” of people will get the virus, with 36 cases confirmed in Scotland so far and the first case of community transmission north of the border reported on Wednesday. | |
She said that while cancelling mass gatherings did not have a significant impact on reducing the spread of the virus, such events tie up resources that could be used elsewhere. | |
She told ITV’s Good Morning Britain: | |
Here’s video of Paris Saint-Germain players celebrating their Champions League win over Borussia Dortmund with thousands of their fans who had been locked out of match in an effort to slow the spread of the new coronavirus. | Here’s video of Paris Saint-Germain players celebrating their Champions League win over Borussia Dortmund with thousands of their fans who had been locked out of match in an effort to slow the spread of the new coronavirus. |
Paul Hunter, professor in medicine at the University of East Anglia, points out that the science does not support Trump’s European travel ban. | |
In comments circulated by the Science Media Centre, he said: | In comments circulated by the Science Media Centre, he said: |
The Financial Times reports a suspected coronavirus cases in a camp for internally displaced people in northern Iraq. | The Financial Times reports a suspected coronavirus cases in a camp for internally displaced people in northern Iraq. |
A nursing and residential home in Basingstoke in Hampshire has closed to visitors after a person tested positive for Covid-19. | A nursing and residential home in Basingstoke in Hampshire has closed to visitors after a person tested positive for Covid-19. |
Oakridge house cares for up to 91 people who have a range of needs including diabetes and dementia. | Oakridge house cares for up to 91 people who have a range of needs including diabetes and dementia. |
Hampshire county council could not confirm whether the person who has tested positive for the virus was a resident or staff member, the BBC reports. | Hampshire county council could not confirm whether the person who has tested positive for the virus was a resident or staff member, the BBC reports. |
The council said it was working closely with Public Health England to minimise the risk of the virus spreading further. | The council said it was working closely with Public Health England to minimise the risk of the virus spreading further. |
So far there have been 13 confirmed cases of the virus in Hampshire, making it one of the worst hit areas in the UK. | So far there have been 13 confirmed cases of the virus in Hampshire, making it one of the worst hit areas in the UK. |
In Brussels, EU politicians and diplomats suggested that Trump was seeking to find a scapegoat for his own failures over management of the coronavirus. | In Brussels, EU politicians and diplomats suggested that Trump was seeking to find a scapegoat for his own failures over management of the coronavirus. |
Dacian Cioloş, a former prime minister of Romania who now leads the Renew group in the European parliament within which MEPs from Emmanuel Macron’s party sit, tweeted: | Dacian Cioloş, a former prime minister of Romania who now leads the Renew group in the European parliament within which MEPs from Emmanuel Macron’s party sit, tweeted: |
Staff who work in the UK parliament are demanding guidance on how to deal with thousands of visitors and potential security threats during the coronavirus crisis. | Staff who work in the UK parliament are demanding guidance on how to deal with thousands of visitors and potential security threats during the coronavirus crisis. |
It comes amid growing disquiet among 650 MPs and more than 3,000 support staff over how to keep parliament functioning without shutting out the public they are meant to serve. | It comes amid growing disquiet among 650 MPs and more than 3,000 support staff over how to keep parliament functioning without shutting out the public they are meant to serve. |
At least three Whitehall departments - HM Revenue and Customs, the Department of Health and the Cabinet Office - are testing out systems which would allow thousands of staff to work from home for several months at a time. | At least three Whitehall departments - HM Revenue and Customs, the Department of Health and the Cabinet Office - are testing out systems which would allow thousands of staff to work from home for several months at a time. |
A letter from Prospect union, GMB and PCS unions to the Speaker, Lindsay Hoyle, has asked for “clear guidance” on how parliamentary staff including tourists guides and security guards can minimise the risk of infection. | A letter from Prospect union, GMB and PCS unions to the Speaker, Lindsay Hoyle, has asked for “clear guidance” on how parliamentary staff including tourists guides and security guards can minimise the risk of infection. |
Ken Gall, chair of the joint union committee across parliament, wrote that there were many unanswered questions from parliament’s 3,000 staff which must be addressed urgently. In a leaked email to the Speaker circulated to other members of the House of Commons Commission, he wrote: | Ken Gall, chair of the joint union committee across parliament, wrote that there were many unanswered questions from parliament’s 3,000 staff which must be addressed urgently. In a leaked email to the Speaker circulated to other members of the House of Commons Commission, he wrote: |
Max Freedman, the chair of Unite’s parliamentary branch, which represents MPs’ staff, told the Guardian that his members should be allowed to work from home. | Max Freedman, the chair of Unite’s parliamentary branch, which represents MPs’ staff, told the Guardian that his members should be allowed to work from home. |
“MPs may wish to carry on as normal, but House of Commons authorities must explain why they aren’t allowing staff to work remotely – something that can be done with minimum disruption – to stop further spread within a large and mobile workplace. MPs should also allow staff to work remotely particularly if they are at increased risk,” he said. | “MPs may wish to carry on as normal, but House of Commons authorities must explain why they aren’t allowing staff to work remotely – something that can be done with minimum disruption – to stop further spread within a large and mobile workplace. MPs should also allow staff to work remotely particularly if they are at increased risk,” he said. |
At least three government departments have told some staff to work remotely on Friday in preparation for asking thousands of civil servants to stay away from central London offices if the disease spreads dramatically, Whitehall sources have confirmed. | At least three government departments have told some staff to work remotely on Friday in preparation for asking thousands of civil servants to stay away from central London offices if the disease spreads dramatically, Whitehall sources have confirmed. |
As Number 10 begins preparations for allowing most civil servants to work from home, some staff at the Department of Health and Social Care and the Cabinet Office have been told to stay away but continue to work, sources said. Parts of HMRC are preparing to close on Monday and Tuesday, sources said. | As Number 10 begins preparations for allowing most civil servants to work from home, some staff at the Department of Health and Social Care and the Cabinet Office have been told to stay away but continue to work, sources said. Parts of HMRC are preparing to close on Monday and Tuesday, sources said. |
Dave Penman, the head of the FDA union, which represents the most senior civil servants in Whitehall, said his members are seeking a delicate balance between public access and staff safety. | Dave Penman, the head of the FDA union, which represents the most senior civil servants in Whitehall, said his members are seeking a delicate balance between public access and staff safety. |
He said: | He said: |
The giant German contracting firm Bilfinger, which works for a number of water utilities companies in the UK, has sent a draconian memo to staff banning them from travel to China, South Korea, Italy and Iran. | The giant German contracting firm Bilfinger, which works for a number of water utilities companies in the UK, has sent a draconian memo to staff banning them from travel to China, South Korea, Italy and Iran. |
The memo, leaked to the Guardian, also orders any staff member displaying flu-like symptoms to inform their supervisors and contact a doctor. | The memo, leaked to the Guardian, also orders any staff member displaying flu-like symptoms to inform their supervisors and contact a doctor. |
It also bans meetings of more than 50 people and recommends video calls instead. “Smaller face-to-face meetings should continue to be held when absolutely necessary for effective business performance,” it says. | It also bans meetings of more than 50 people and recommends video calls instead. “Smaller face-to-face meetings should continue to be held when absolutely necessary for effective business performance,” it says. |
It informs staff that two of the company’s employees have tested positive for Covid-19. | It informs staff that two of the company’s employees have tested positive for Covid-19. |
European politicians reacted with astonishment to Trump’s decision to bar entry to the US to travellers from the 26-nation Schengen zone, highlighting its apparently political nature and warning above all of the move’s economic impact. | European politicians reacted with astonishment to Trump’s decision to bar entry to the US to travellers from the 26-nation Schengen zone, highlighting its apparently political nature and warning above all of the move’s economic impact. |
Charles Michel, the president of the European council, said the EU27 would “assess the situation” but stressed that economic disruption “must be avoided”. Europe was “taking all necessary measures to contain the spread of the Covid-19 virus, limit he number of affected people and support research,” he added. | Charles Michel, the president of the European council, said the EU27 would “assess the situation” but stressed that economic disruption “must be avoided”. Europe was “taking all necessary measures to contain the spread of the Covid-19 virus, limit he number of affected people and support research,” he added. |
Alexander Stubb, the former Finnish foreign minister, tweeted that while any attempt to contain the coronavirus outbreak was welcome, Trump’s decision to exclude the UK from a European travel ban was “nothing short of irresponsible” | Alexander Stubb, the former Finnish foreign minister, tweeted that while any attempt to contain the coronavirus outbreak was welcome, Trump’s decision to exclude the UK from a European travel ban was “nothing short of irresponsible” |
Stubb noted that viruses “do not recognise borders” and said decisions about dealing with the coronavirus outbreak, which has infected more than 126,000 people and killed more than 4,600, “should be based on facts, not politics”. | Stubb noted that viruses “do not recognise borders” and said decisions about dealing with the coronavirus outbreak, which has infected more than 126,000 people and killed more than 4,600, “should be based on facts, not politics”. |
Iceland now has 90 confirmed Covid-19 cases, which in a county of only 364,000 people, could represent the highest percentage infection rate in the world, reader Louise Todd points out. | Iceland now has 90 confirmed Covid-19 cases, which in a county of only 364,000 people, could represent the highest percentage infection rate in the world, reader Louise Todd points out. |
Reykjavik’s Grapevine has the latest: | Reykjavik’s Grapevine has the latest: |
Update: Reader, Diego Sánchez Santaya, points out that San Marino has more than 60 cases in a population of 30,000, which represents an infection rate 10 times higher than Iceland’s. | Update: Reader, Diego Sánchez Santaya, points out that San Marino has more than 60 cases in a population of 30,000, which represents an infection rate 10 times higher than Iceland’s. |