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Coronavirus live updates: WHO declares pandemic as Italy introduces stricter measures Coronavirus live updates: US suspends all travel from Europe for 30 days
(32 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.
US president Donald Trump: “Our future remains brighter than anyone can imagine. Acting with compassion and love we will heal the sick,” he says.
CNN says “In a generation we have not heard an announcement as serious as this from a US president.”
Trump plans to have the Small Business Administration provide economic loans in affected states and territories for small businesses. Asking congress to increase funding for this programme by US$50bn.
“I will never hesitate to take any of the necessary steps to protect the health safety and wellbeing of the American people,” Trump says of the European travel restrictions.
“No nation is more prepared or resilient than the United States.”
US President Donald Trump says, “If you are sick or not feeling well, stay home.
To ensure that Americans will not suffer financial hardship he will soon be taking “unprecedented measures” for financial relief for workers who cannot work due to illness.
Donald Trump says Americans should avoid “non-essential travel to crowded areas”
Trump is addressing the nation from the Oval Office.
“Testing capabilities are expanding rapidly. Day by day we are moving very very quickly... the risk for ordinary Americans is very very low... the elderly population must be very very careful.”
US president Donald Trump says the travel restrictions will not apply to the United Kingdom.
In the US, Donald Trump says, “To keep new cases from entering our shores we will be suspending all travel from Europe to the US for the next 30 days.”
There are currently 1276 cases in the US, according to Johns Hopkins University
US President Donald Trump is speaking now from the Oval Office in Washington, as the country’s coronavirus cases near 1,300. He appears to be reading a prepared statement.
“We will ultimately and expeditiously defeat this virus,” he says.
We getting the latest figures from China now, with Reuters reporting that there are 15 new infections in mainland China, eight of which are in Hubei. There have been 11 new deaths, ten of which were in Hubei.
China’s total number of cases is 80,793 as of the end of March 11.
Donald Trump is expected to deliver a speech in fifteen minutes’ time, at 9pm EST.
He’ll be speaking from the Oval Office, as the US reckons with the spread of coronavirus and the White House grapples with the severity of the situation.
After days of downplaying the threat, Trump announced he would be delivering a prime-time address to the nation at 9pm ET on the federal response to what the World Health Organization has now declared a global pandemic.
Trump’s speech comes on a tumultuous day as cases in the US topped 1,000 and the number of deaths rose to 37, while fluctuations in the financial markets continued and Washington strained to respond. Testifying on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, Dr Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, warned that the outbreak in the US is going to get worse.
“I can say we will see more cases, and things will get worse than they are right now,” Fauci told the House Oversight and Reform Committee. He said it is “10 times more lethal than the seasonal flu”.
The University of Tasmania, in Australia, has warned staff and students that a woman who tested positive to coronavirus visited the library of their Sandy Bay campus on Monday, 9 March.
In a statement, vice-chancellor Professor Rufus Black said:
The Australian stock market has given the thumbs down to the Morrison government’s stimulus package.Shares, which were already down about 2% when Australian prime minister Scott Morrison and treasurer Josh Frydenberg began talking at around 10.35am, fell as the politicians spoke.Within 10.50am the benchmark ASX200 was down 3%. After some choppy trade, it was off by 2.9% at 11.30am.The package relies heavily on money for business, which gets around three quarters of the stimulus, and while there is cash for people on benefits the amount is less than that handed out by the Rudd government during the global financial crisis and there is nothing for workers without families.
There is another sea of red on stock market boards in Asia Pacific on Thursday morning.The Nikkei in Japan has dropped 2.3% and the Kospi in Seoul is off 1.2%. As we’ve seen already, the Australian market has fallen almost 3% despite the announcement of a federal government emergency stimulus package. Comparisons being made with the massive household giveaway by the Kevin Rudd government in 2009.There is another sea of red on stock market boards in Asia Pacific on Thursday morning.The Nikkei in Japan has dropped 2.3% and the Kospi in Seoul is off 1.2%. As we’ve seen already, the Australian market has fallen almost 3% despite the announcement of a federal government emergency stimulus package. Comparisons being made with the massive household giveaway by the Kevin Rudd government in 2009.
Focus will now be on what Trump has to say later today but another Fed rate cut, which everyone is already expecting, might not be enough as Eleanor Creagh from Saxa Capital Markets in Sydney suggests here:Focus will now be on what Trump has to say later today but another Fed rate cut, which everyone is already expecting, might not be enough as Eleanor Creagh from Saxa Capital Markets in Sydney suggests here:
The Pixies, currently touring in Australia, are postponing their remaining performances, the Guardian’s Steph Harmon reports:The Pixies, currently touring in Australia, are postponing their remaining performances, the Guardian’s Steph Harmon reports:
Here is the mandatory #washyourlyrics, Pixies edition:Here is the mandatory #washyourlyrics, Pixies edition:
To wrap up that presser from Australian prime minister Scott Morrison, here is the country’s stimulus package at a glance. All figures are in AUD.To wrap up that presser from Australian prime minister Scott Morrison, here is the country’s stimulus package at a glance. All figures are in AUD.
The package is worth $18bn in this financial year and $22bn over the 15 months it will run.The package is worth $18bn in this financial year and $22bn over the 15 months it will run.
The instant asset threshold is increased from $30,000 to $150,000.The instant asset threshold is increased from $30,000 to $150,000.
The Boosting Cash Flow for Employers measure will provide up to $25,000 back to small and medium-sized businesses, with a minimum payment of $2,000 for eligible businesses.The Boosting Cash Flow for Employers measure will provide up to $25,000 back to small and medium-sized businesses, with a minimum payment of $2,000 for eligible businesses.
Eligible employers can apply for a wage subsidy of 50% of the apprentice’s or trainee’s wage for up to 9 months from 1 January 2020 to 30 September 2020.Eligible employers can apply for a wage subsidy of 50% of the apprentice’s or trainee’s wage for up to 9 months from 1 January 2020 to 30 September 2020.
Households that receive a government payment will receive a $750 from March 31.Households that receive a government payment will receive a $750 from March 31.
A $1bn ‘Coronavirus fund’ will be established.A $1bn ‘Coronavirus fund’ will be established.
Back to Australia now, where Prime Minister Morrison is speaking with the treasurer, Josh Frydenberg, about the government’s stimulus package response to the economic impact of coronavirus on the country, which started the year with a significant blow from the bushfires:Back to Australia now, where Prime Minister Morrison is speaking with the treasurer, Josh Frydenberg, about the government’s stimulus package response to the economic impact of coronavirus on the country, which started the year with a significant blow from the bushfires:
Question: Will this starve off a recession? Is that the job?Question: Will this starve off a recession? Is that the job?
Scott Morrison:Scott Morrison:
Moving away from the Australian news for a moment and over to football, where the Juventus defender Daniele Rugani has tested positive for coronavirus, the Serie A club said on Wednesday.Moving away from the Australian news for a moment and over to football, where the Juventus defender Daniele Rugani has tested positive for coronavirus, the Serie A club said on Wednesday.
“The footballer, Daniele Rugani, has tested positive for coronavirus-Covid-19 and is currently asymptomatic,” Juve said in a statement. “Juventus Football Club is currently activating all the isolation procedures required by law, including those who have had contact with him.”“The footballer, Daniele Rugani, has tested positive for coronavirus-Covid-19 and is currently asymptomatic,” Juve said in a statement. “Juventus Football Club is currently activating all the isolation procedures required by law, including those who have had contact with him.”
Rugani has made seven appearances for Juventus this season but was an unused substitute for Juventus on Sunday in their behind-closed-doors victory against Internazionale. Rugani was also seen training with the first team on Tuesday.Rugani has made seven appearances for Juventus this season but was an unused substitute for Juventus on Sunday in their behind-closed-doors victory against Internazionale. Rugani was also seen training with the first team on Tuesday.
Here are the main measures involved in the Australian stimulus package response to the coronavirus from our story earlier today:Here are the main measures involved in the Australian stimulus package response to the coronavirus from our story earlier today:
Australian businesses will receive an assistance package worth at least $8.7bn in response to the coronavirus outbreak, as the government seeks to urgently stimulate the economy and stave off a looming recession.Australian businesses will receive an assistance package worth at least $8.7bn in response to the coronavirus outbreak, as the government seeks to urgently stimulate the economy and stave off a looming recession.
Cash payments for businesses, wage subsidies for apprentices and a massive expansion of the instant asset write-off aimed at encouraging the sale of cars, utes, tools and industrial equipment will form the centrepiece of the business boost that will kick in as early as Friday.Cash payments for businesses, wage subsidies for apprentices and a massive expansion of the instant asset write-off aimed at encouraging the sale of cars, utes, tools and industrial equipment will form the centrepiece of the business boost that will kick in as early as Friday.
The business package, to be announced on Thursday, will also be accompanied by assistance for households, with direct cash payments for households to form part of the overall economic stimulus plan, expected to be worth more than $15bn.The business package, to be announced on Thursday, will also be accompanied by assistance for households, with direct cash payments for households to form part of the overall economic stimulus plan, expected to be worth more than $15bn.
A major focus of the business package, which aims to “keep business in business and Australians in jobs”, will be a tax-free cashflow boost for employers worth up to $25,000.A major focus of the business package, which aims to “keep business in business and Australians in jobs”, will be a tax-free cashflow boost for employers worth up to $25,000.
More on that AU$750 payment. In short, 6.5 million Australians will be getting a cheque for $750. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg says: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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.