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Coronavirus live updates: Ireland closes all schools and colleges | |
(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. |
The streets in Denmark were this morning almost empty during the rush hour as the Danes followed the the danish Prime Minister’s recommendation for people to stay home, writes reader Ralf Kauffmann. | |
What exactly happens once someone is infected with this new virus? The Guardian’s Science Weekly podcast explains. | |
The US vice-president, Mike Pence, has defended the Trump administration’s restrictions on travel from 26 European nations, saying the centre of the pandemic has shifted from Asia to Europe, Reuters reports. | |
In a round of television interviews, Pence said thousands more cases of Covid-19 were expected in the United States, and that clamping down on travel from Europe was just part of the government’s strategy to fight the outbreak. | |
Speaking to NBC’s Today, he said: “We know there will be more infections in the days ahead. We’re trying to hold that number down as much as possible.” | |
And he told CNN: “We’ve recognixed ... that the epicentre of the coronavirus has shifted from China and South Korea to Europe.” | |
He added that Trump made the decision to impose the travel ban “on the spot” after a briefing from health experts in the Oval Office. | |
Spain’s health ministry has said the number of confirmed cases in the country has risen to 2,968, and that 84 people have died. | |
The new figures came as the two houses of the country’s parliament suspended all activities for a fortnight and Spain’s equality minister, Irene Montero, became the latest MP to be diagnosed with the virus. | |
All cabinet members are being checked for the virus after Montero, whose partner is the Podemos leader and deputy prime minister, Pablo Iglesias, tested positive. King Felipe and Queen Letizia are also being tested after the queen participated in a joint event with Montero last Friday. | |
All schools, nurseries and universities in the Madrid region have been shut until 23 March, and all gatherings of more than 1,000 people banned. Catalonia, Galicia, Murcia and the Basque country are also planning to shut down their educational institutions to try to halt the spread of the virus. | |
The death toll from coronavirus in Spain has risen from 47 to 84 in the last day, according to Reuters, citing the country’s health ministry. | |
How will pupils who have free school meals be fed if schools in England close for a long period? | |
Vic Goddard, the headteacher of Passmores Academy secondary school, who featured in Channel 4’s Educating Essex documentary series, has a plan: | |
The Guardian reported on the issue earlier this week. | The Guardian reported on the issue earlier this week. |
A shutdown of schools and universities in Malta has been announced by the prime minister, Robert Abela. | A shutdown of schools and universities in Malta has been announced by the prime minister, Robert Abela. |
He also banned mass gatherings. “The government will not tolerate people going on with mass events. Now is not the time for such attitudes,” he said according to Times Malta. | He also banned mass gatherings. “The government will not tolerate people going on with mass events. Now is not the time for such attitudes,” he said according to Times Malta. |
Here’s a summary of another busy day on the coronavirus front. | Here’s a summary of another busy day on the coronavirus front. |
Ireland’s taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, has announced the closure of all schools, colleges and childcare facilities from tomorrow. “I know that some of this is coming as a real shock... but we’re doing it for each other,” he said. | Ireland’s taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, has announced the closure of all schools, colleges and childcare facilities from tomorrow. “I know that some of this is coming as a real shock... but we’re doing it for each other,” he said. |
Europeans have been reacting with alarm to Donald Trump’s move to ban travel from 26 European countries in the Schengen zone. Dacian Cioloş, a former prime minister of Romania who now leads the Renew group, accused Trump of trying find a scapegoat for his own failures to act. | Europeans have been reacting with alarm to Donald Trump’s move to ban travel from 26 European countries in the Schengen zone. Dacian Cioloş, a former prime minister of Romania who now leads the Renew group, accused Trump of trying find a scapegoat for his own failures to act. |
The US travel ban prompted more heavy losses on the financial markets. The FTSE 100 was still down over 5%, having briefly hit its lowest level since 2012 this morning. | The US travel ban prompted more heavy losses on the financial markets. The FTSE 100 was still down over 5%, having briefly hit its lowest level since 2012 this morning. |
India has barred the entry of all foreign tourists for one month starting tomorrow in a bid to contain the coronavirus. The ban on foreign visitors includes foreign nationals of Indian origin. | India has barred the entry of all foreign tourists for one month starting tomorrow in a bid to contain the coronavirus. The ban on foreign visitors includes foreign nationals of Indian origin. |
Actors Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson have announced that they have both tested positive for Covid-19 while filming in Australia. | Actors Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson have announced that they have both tested positive for Covid-19 while filming in Australia. |
A nursing home in Basingstoke has become the first care home for older people to be hit by the virus. Oakridge House been closed to visitors after a person tested positive. A paramedic in Hertfordshire has also tested positive. | A nursing home in Basingstoke has become the first care home for older people to be hit by the virus. Oakridge House been closed to visitors after a person tested positive. A paramedic in Hertfordshire has also tested positive. |
The chief medical officers from England, Wales, Scotland and Northern have instructed doctors to change the way they work to deal with “very abnormal emergency situation”. A letter to doctors waned: “Clinicians may need to depart, possibly significantly, from established procedures in order to care for patients in the highly challenging time-bound circumstances of the peak of an epidemic.” | The chief medical officers from England, Wales, Scotland and Northern have instructed doctors to change the way they work to deal with “very abnormal emergency situation”. A letter to doctors waned: “Clinicians may need to depart, possibly significantly, from established procedures in order to care for patients in the highly challenging time-bound circumstances of the peak of an epidemic.” |
Every member of the Spanish cabinet is being tested for coronavirus after the country’s equality minister, Irene Montero, became the latest politician to test positive for the virus. Spanish football matches have also been suspended for two weeks. | Every member of the Spanish cabinet is being tested for coronavirus after the country’s equality minister, Irene Montero, became the latest politician to test positive for the virus. Spanish football matches have also been suspended for two weeks. |
The total number of coronavirus cases worldwide now stands at 126,258, according to figures from Johns Hopkins University. There have been 4,638 deaths. | The total number of coronavirus cases worldwide now stands at 126,258, according to figures from Johns Hopkins University. There have been 4,638 deaths. |
Mainland China reported 15 new infections, eight of which are in Hubei. There have been 11 new deaths, 10 of which were in Hubei. | Mainland China reported 15 new infections, eight of which are in Hubei. There have been 11 new deaths, 10 of which were in Hubei. |
The NBA has suspended play indefinitely after after a Utah Jazz player preliminarily tested positive for Covid-19. | The NBA has suspended play indefinitely after after a Utah Jazz player preliminarily tested positive for Covid-19. |
Italy’s government has ordered all shops, bars and restaurants across the country to close after the country’s death toll from the coronavirus outbreak rose by 31% in the space of 24 hours to a total of 827. | Italy’s government has ordered all shops, bars and restaurants across the country to close after the country’s death toll from the coronavirus outbreak rose by 31% in the space of 24 hours to a total of 827. |
As governments across Europe cancelled events, shut schools and imposed travel bans and the World Health Organization formally declared a pandemic, the Italian prime minister, Giuseppe Conte, said all stores would close nationwide bar those selling “basic necessities”, such as pharmacies and supermarkets. | As governments across Europe cancelled events, shut schools and imposed travel bans and the World Health Organization formally declared a pandemic, the Italian prime minister, Giuseppe Conte, said all stores would close nationwide bar those selling “basic necessities”, such as pharmacies and supermarkets. |
“Industries can stay open, but with strict measures in place, as well as essential services such as banks. Transport will be guaranteed,” Conte said on Wednesday night, warning Italy’s population of over 60 million not to “rush to the supermarkets” as shelves would be restocked as normal. | “Industries can stay open, but with strict measures in place, as well as essential services such as banks. Transport will be guaranteed,” Conte said on Wednesday night, warning Italy’s population of over 60 million not to “rush to the supermarkets” as shelves would be restocked as normal. |
Ireland’s taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, has announced the closure of all schools, colleges and childcare facilities from tomorrow as part of a partial lockdown that will apply from 6pm tonight until 29 March. | Ireland’s taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, has announced the closure of all schools, colleges and childcare facilities from tomorrow as part of a partial lockdown that will apply from 6pm tonight until 29 March. |
All indoor gatherings of 100 people or more and outdoor gatherings of 500 or more will be cancelled. | All indoor gatherings of 100 people or more and outdoor gatherings of 500 or more will be cancelled. |
Public transport will still run and shops will remain open. He said: | Public transport will still run and shops will remain open. He said: |
Staff should work from home where possible with meetings online if possible. | Staff should work from home where possible with meetings online if possible. |
Varadkar said he was acting on new medical advice the government had received following a meeting of the national emergency team last night. | Varadkar said he was acting on new medical advice the government had received following a meeting of the national emergency team last night. |
“The virus is all over the world, it will continue to spread but it can be slowed,” he said in an address outside Blair House in Washington before a breakfast meeting with the US vice president Mike Pence. | “The virus is all over the world, it will continue to spread but it can be slowed,” he said in an address outside Blair House in Washington before a breakfast meeting with the US vice president Mike Pence. |
“Acting together as one nation we can save many lives our economy will suffer but in time it will bounce back,” he warned. | “Acting together as one nation we can save many lives our economy will suffer but in time it will bounce back,” he warned. |
McLaren have withdrawn from the Australian Grand Prix, scheduled for this Sunday, after a member of their team staff tested positive for coronavirus. The news throws increasing doubt on the race going ahead. | McLaren have withdrawn from the Australian Grand Prix, scheduled for this Sunday, after a member of their team staff tested positive for coronavirus. The news throws increasing doubt on the race going ahead. |
A statement from the team said: | A statement from the team said: |
Earlier on Wednesday, the world champion Lewis Hamilton admitted he was “shocked” that the race was planned to go ahead at all amid the ongoing outbreak. | Earlier on Wednesday, the world champion Lewis Hamilton admitted he was “shocked” that the race was planned to go ahead at all amid the ongoing outbreak. |
When asked why he thought it was going ahead, Hamilton pointedly noted: “Cash is king. I can’t add much more to it. I don’t feel like I should shy away from my opinion.” | When asked why he thought it was going ahead, Hamilton pointedly noted: “Cash is king. I can’t add much more to it. I don’t feel like I should shy away from my opinion.” |