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Coronavirus live updates: Justin Trudeau's wife tests positive, Australia bans gatherings, sporting world in crisis Coronavirus live updates: Justin Trudeau's wife tests positive, Australia bans gatherings, sporting world in crisis
(32 minutes later)
First case at UN headquarters; Australian Grand Prix cancelled, Italy deaths pass 1,000. Follow the latest news. First case at UN headquarters; Australian Grand Prix cancelled, schools close across Europe. Follow the latest news.
Universities and colleges across the US are halting teaching, moving lessons online, and even asking students to move out of campus accommodation in an attempt to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Dozens of institutions – including UCLA, NYU, Yale and Princeton – are cancelling in-person lessons in favour of online teaching. Harvard and Amherst have gone as far as to ask their students to move out, disrupting the lives of thousands of students in the process.
The first case of someone suffering from Covid-19 can be traced back to 17 November, according to media reports on unpublished Chinese government data.
The report, in the South China Morning Post, said Chinese authorities had identified at least 266 people who contracted the virus last year and who came under medical surveillance, and the earliest case was 17 November – weeks before authorities announced the emergence of the new virus.
The Chinese government was widely criticised over attempts to cover up the outbreak in the early weeks, including crackdowns on doctors who tried to warn colleagues about a new Sars-like virus which was emerging in the city of Wuhan in Hubei province.
Singaporeans have been advised by the country’s health ministry to defer all non-essential travel to Italy, France, Spain and Germany.
China’s city of Yichang in central Hubei province will loosen travel curbs adopted to rein in a coronavirus outbreak, allowing people to move in and out, the government said on Friday, in a statement on its website. It will also allow the return of people from outside the province, employing a “health code” monitoring system that makes use of mobile telephone.
Nepal has closed all of its Himalayan peaks including Mount Everest this climbing season because of fears of the coronavirus outbreak, a government minister said on Friday, Reuters reports. Nepal, home to eight of the world’s 14 highest mountains including Mount Everest, gets more than four million dollars in permit fees for the world’s highest peak and other mountains every year.
Tourism Minister Yogesh Bhattarai said expeditions to all peaks in the March-May spring season had been suspended.
“Climbing this season has been closed,” Bhattarai told Reuters. “It is as a precaution for that,” he added, when asked it its was because of the coronavirus. Nepal has confirmed just one case of the coronavirus - a student studying in China on a trip home - out of 450 people tested. The suspension of expeditions in Nepal will affect hundreds of foreign climbers now preparing for the spring season, a window of relatively good weather between the end of the bitterly cold winter and the rainy season, which begins in June. Everest, the world’s highest mountain at 8,850 metres (29,035 feet), is on the border between Nepal and the Chinese region of Tibet. China announced the closure of its side of the mountain on Thursday.
The coronavirus pandemic is forcing the food service industry to review its policies.
This brushing off of illness is common in many places within the food service and restaurant industry and has been for many years. But with the recent coronavirus outbreak, being sick is no longer something people can shrug off given the illness’ ability to spread rapidly and efficiently.
The culture around sick leave in the food service industry is that it is nearly nonexistent. The CDC says that 15% of food workers have paid sick leave. That means a bulk of people in the industry are part of the 32 million American workers who are without paid sick leave.
Poor sick leave policies are an “industry standard” in food service, particularly fast food, said Judy Conti, government affairs director for the National Employment Law Center. The US does not have a federal sick leave policy, with 12 states and Washington DC having paid sick leave laws.
A nurse on the frontline of Italy’s coronavirus outbreak has described the experience as “war-like”.
Doctors and nurses are working around the clock as the country tries to halt the spread of a virus that has so far claimed over 1000 Italian lives.
Among the dead was a 59-year-old doctor and close friend of Roberta Re, a nurse at Piacenza hospital in Emilia-Romagna, the region with the second highest number of cases.
“It’s an experience I would compare to a world war,” Re told the Guardian. “But it’s a war that isn’t fightable with traditional arms – as we don’t yet know who the enemy is and so it’s difficult to fight. The only weapon we do have to avoid things getting even worse is to stay at home and to respect the rules, to do what they did in China, as this is paying off.”
A summary of the latest developments in the global coronavirus outbreak, below:
Today’s Covid-19 news so far has included the effects of the virus on sports stars, politicians, religious ceremonies, New York City, the Nikkei and the United Nations – as the number of deaths worldwide approached 5,000.
Here is what has been going on:
A female diplomat from the Philippines mission to the United Nations tested positive for coronavirus. She is the first known case at the world body’s New York headquarters.
New York state banned all gatherings with 500 or more people as New York City declared a state of emergency.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints suspended all of its worship services globally because of the spread of the coronavirus.
The Vatican closed all Catholic churches across Rome to stem the spread of the virus.
Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, wife of Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau, tested positive for coronavirus. Justin Trudeau in self-isolation.
Chelsea player Callum Hudson-Odoi tested positive for coronavirus, becoming the first confirmed infection among Premier League players.
The Australian share market closed 4.4% up after falling almost 7% on opening.
India registered its first coronavirus death: a 76-year-old man in Karnataka who had fallen sick on returning to India on 29 February after a pilgrimage to Mecca.
Japan again insisted that the Tokyo Olympics will go ahead this summer, hours after Donald Trump added to speculation that the coronavirus pandemic could force them to be postponed or cancelled.
Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Disneyland Paris Resort announced they would close through the end of the month, starting at the close of business Sunday.
Ghana and Gabon confirmed their first cases, becoming the ninth and tenth countries in sub-Saharan Africa to register positive cases.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison advised against non-essential travel, and, from Monday, gatherings over 500 people. He said he would be attending a football match this weekend. The advice did not extend to schools and universities.
The Australian Grand Prix was cancelled, after a member of the McLaren Racing Team tested positive for Covid-19.
A second person has tested positive for coronavirus in Turkey, the country’s health ministry has said.A second person has tested positive for coronavirus in Turkey, the country’s health ministry has said.
In Vietnam, there is also a risk of British nationals being turned away from, or asked to leave, hotels in Vietnam, the British Embassy in Hanoi said in a statement on Twitter.In Vietnam, there is also a risk of British nationals being turned away from, or asked to leave, hotels in Vietnam, the British Embassy in Hanoi said in a statement on Twitter.
“You are at risk of being put into quarantine or instructed to self-isolate for 14 days even after you have arrived in Vietnam if you either develop flu-like symptoms, or it is suspected you have been in contact with some who has tested for coronavirus. There are also increased restrictions on British nationals wishing to visit Vietnam.“You are at risk of being put into quarantine or instructed to self-isolate for 14 days even after you have arrived in Vietnam if you either develop flu-like symptoms, or it is suspected you have been in contact with some who has tested for coronavirus. There are also increased restrictions on British nationals wishing to visit Vietnam.
“From 12 March, Vietnam has suspended its visa waiver programme for British nationals. There are reports that e-visas have also been suspended and the Vietnamese embassy in London will not be processing visa applications until further notice.“From 12 March, Vietnam has suspended its visa waiver programme for British nationals. There are reports that e-visas have also been suspended and the Vietnamese embassy in London will not be processing visa applications until further notice.
“The Vietnamese embassy in London say that it is possible to get a visa, but there is uncertainty around the replacement process and timeline for such applications.”“The Vietnamese embassy in London say that it is possible to get a visa, but there is uncertainty around the replacement process and timeline for such applications.”
The statement added that British citizens are “strongly advised” to familiarise themselves with these risks before travelling.The statement added that British citizens are “strongly advised” to familiarise themselves with these risks before travelling.
So far, 10 British citizens are among those who have tested positive for the virus.So far, 10 British citizens are among those who have tested positive for the virus.
Key attractions across Hanoi, as well as the ancient town of Hoi An, in central Vietnam, have closed, while several areas in Quang Ninh province, including Ha Long Bay, a Unesco world heritage site, and Bai Tu Long Bay, have also stopped receiving visitors.Key attractions across Hanoi, as well as the ancient town of Hoi An, in central Vietnam, have closed, while several areas in Quang Ninh province, including Ha Long Bay, a Unesco world heritage site, and Bai Tu Long Bay, have also stopped receiving visitors.
A total of 44 cases have so far been confirmed across the country.A total of 44 cases have so far been confirmed across the country.
The British embassy in Hanoi has warned UK travellers of a risk that they will be placed in “safe but basic” quarantine centres and turned away from hotels if they travel to Vietnam, where a cluster of cases has been linked to a flight from London.
Tens of tourists believed to have been exposed to the virus on board a flight that arrived in Hanoi on 2 March have been placed in isolation. Meanwhile, a growing number of Vietnam’s most popular holiday attractions have closed their doors to tourists.
The country appeared to have contained the virus after recording no new cases for 22 days. But over the past week, 28 new infections have been confirmed.
The British embassy in Hanoi said on Friday that there is “a high risk for British nationals of being put into 14 days of quarantine, either on arrival or during your trip to Vietnam, regardless of your route.
It added: Vietnamese quarantine centres are safe but basic, not guaranteed to meet Public Health England’s standards.”
JP Morgan is calling a global recession.They have ‘dramatically’ revised their forecasts for two main reasons, they said in a note:
A sudden stop. The breadth of “social distancing” is increasing at a dramatic pace. Italy is now in total lockdown and the US as well as other countries are suspending flights from a wide range of nations. A broad range of public events has been canceled for the coming weeks.
Markets spasm. Financial conditions are tightening sharply as perceptions of credit quality across a wide range of asset classes deteriorates and market liquidity dries up. Credit spreads and market measures of corporate and sovereign default risk have widened markedly.
The bank says:
The Australian market has finished up 4.4% for the day, after being down as much as 8% during the day.
That’s a range of more than 12 percentage points, representing an extraordinary rollercoaster ride of a day.
Earlier, the Reserve Bank made a dramatic intervention in the markets in a bid to stop a credit crunch, pumping AU$8.8bn (US$5.3) in short-term funding into the banks.
It did this by agreeing to buy assets such as portfolios of loans from the banks for cash, and then sell them back the same assets later on.While the late rally erased losses experienced on Thursday, when the market dived 7.4%, the damage inflicted since coronavirus selling began on 20 February still means all gains since the start of last year have been wiped out.
India has registered its first coronavirus death: a 76-year-old man in Karnataka who had fallen sick on returning to India on 29 February after a pilgrimage to Mecca. He died on Tuesday and was later confirmed to have tested positive. Officials are tracing all the people he came into contact with.
As the number of cases rose to 73, the Delhi government ordered the closure of all schools, colleges, and cinemas till 31 March and made it mandatory for shopping malls, government offices and public spaces to be disinfected every day.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has told all ministers not to travel abroad.
With the Indian Premier League – a hugely popular cricket tournament – starting on 29 March, the government has advised against going ahead with it but left the decision to the organisers.
Google confirmed today that one of its employees in Bengaluru is infected. The man had recently returned from Greece.
On Thursday, the Indian stock market saw the worst crash since 2008, crashing by 2,919 points.
Japan has again insisted that the Tokyo Olympics will go ahead this summer, hours after Donald Trump added to speculation that the coronavirus pandemic could force them to be postponed or cancelled.The country’s Olympics minister, Seiko Hashimoto, said Tokyo 2020 organisers would continue to plan for a “safe and secure” Games, due to open on 24 July.
Trump had caused consternation among Japanese officials when he told suggested on Thursday that postponing the Olympics for a year was preferable to holding events in empty venues.Trump told reporters in the White House that he “just can’t see having no people there”.“Maybe they postpone it for a year... if that’s possible,” he said, adding that he preferred that idea to “having empty stadiums all over the place. I think if you cancel it, make it a year later that’s a better alternative than doing it with no crowd.”Trump and Japan’s prime minister, Shinzo Abe, discussed the coronavirus and Olympic preparations in a phone call on Friday morning, but did not raise the issue of cancelation or postponement, according to a Japanese government account of the call.Trump later appeared more upbeat about the Olympics’ prospects, tweeting that he had told Abe “that the just completed Olympic venue is magnificent. He has done an incredible job, one that will make him very proud. Good things will happen for Japan and their great Prime Minister. Lots of options!”Despite the massive disruption the outbreak has caused to sporting competitions around the world, Japanese officials have spent several days trying to quash speculation that the Games could become the sports world’s biggest victim of the virus.
Preparations for the Olympic Games continued on Thursday, although on a much smaller scale than usual, due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The traditional lighting of the Olympic flame in Olympia, Greece, was held without spectators present, and with only a small number of delegations, officials and journalists in attendance.After the Greek actress, Xanthi Georgiou, ignited the flame using the sun’s rays and a parabolic mirror at the Temple of Hera, the head of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, said the Games’ organisers were committed to the “success” of the games, despite “difficult circumstances”.Bach added: “We’re strengthened in this commitment by the many authorities and sports organisations around the world who are taking so many significant measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus.”
New Zealand’s opposition leader Simon Bridges has tweeted his approval of the announcement by Australia’s prime minister Scott Morrison in the last hour that from Monday all non-essential mass gatherings will be banned. He has urged his country’s government, led by Jacinda Ardern, to do the same.
New Zealand has five confirmed cases of Covid-19 and two probable cases. The country has not had any new cases in five days.
Singapore will deny from Monday entry or transit to visitors who have been in Italy, France, Spain or Germany in the last 14 days, as part of measures to control the fast-spreading coronavirus, the health ministry said on Friday.
The southeast Asian travel hub, which also advised against non-essential travel to the four countries, will immediately halt docking by cruise ships, it added.
Singapore has a similar ban in place for travellers from Iran, South Korea and China, where the virus first surfaced late last year.
RNZ reports a further two cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in French Polynesia, a day after the territory announced its first confirmed case, which was the first confirmed case in the Pacific Islands.
President Edouard Fritch announced yesterday that French Polynesian politician Maina Sage had been confirmed with the virus after returning from Paris on 7 March. Sage was resting at home in self-isolation in Tahiti. She is French Polynesia’s representative in the French National Assembly (French Polynesia being an overseas French collectivity).
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.
Today, RNZ reports that two more cases have been confirmed – one of whom was a person close to Sage and the other was a Swiss tourist who fell ill on the atoll of Fakarava. He has been flown to Tahiti.
There has been widespread fear across the Pacific region about the coronavirus outbreak. An epidemic of measles across the Pacific last year highlighted the potential for transmission of infectious diseases, adding to existing burdens on public health systems from non-communicable diseases.
Here’s our report from yesterday:
In short, the position of Australia’s Scott Morrison is, as he has just said: “People can go about their normal essential business they do each day.”
They should however avoid gatherings over 500 people – excluding schools and university lectures – from Monday, and reconsider non-essential travel.
Morrison also says Parliament will continue as normal.
Australia’s New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian says, “It’s safe to go to school. When it’s not, we will shut down that particular school and work with the school community to reopen at the appropriate time.”