'UK may be included in US travel ban as WHO calls Europe 'centre of pandemic' – as it happened' diff viewer (47/48)

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~~Trump says UK may be included in coronavirus travel ban as WHO calls Europe 'centre of pandemic' – as it happened~~	UK may be included in US travel ban as WHO calls Europe 'centre of pandemic' – as it happened
2020-03-14 02:02:18 UTC	2020-03-14 02:34:17 UTC (32 minutes later)
Mount Everest calls off climbing season; Canadian prime minister self-isolates; London Underground driver tests positive. This blog is now closed	Mount Everest calls off climbing season; Canadian prime minister self-isolates; London Underground driver tests positive. This blog is now closed
We are closing this blog now and launching a new one here. On Saturday Australia’s chief medical officer Professor Brendan Murphy said school closures are not yet warranted, though mass gatherings of more than 500 people will be banned in Australia from Monday. He said not everyone should rush out and get tested if they had symptoms.	We are closing this blog now and launching a new one here. On Saturday Australia’s chief medical officer Professor Brendan Murphy said school closures are not yet warranted, though mass gatherings of more than 500 people will be banned in Australia from Monday. He said not everyone should rush out and get tested if they had symptoms.
Murphy said that in Australia, “Community transmission is so low at the moment that we are focusing our testing on returned travellers or contacts of people who are sympathetic. We don’t want people with an ordinary mild cold in Australia to get tested. We need to preserve the testing for those who needed it.”	Murphy said that in Australia, “Community transmission is so low at the moment that we are focusing our testing on returned travellers or contacts of people who are sympathetic. We don’t want people with an ordinary mild cold in Australia to get tested. We need to preserve the testing for those who needed it.”
Elsewhere in the world, the US president Donald Trump, after initially declaring coronavirus a “hoax,” has declared a national emergency, which he described as “two very big words”. He’s freed up $50 billion in federal resources to the states to combat the virus, but refused to take responsibility for lack of testing availability and delays in rolling tests out.	Elsewhere in the world, the US president Donald Trump, after initially declaring coronavirus a “hoax,” has declared a national emergency, which he described as “two very big words”. He’s freed up $50 billion in federal resources to the states to combat the virus, but refused to take responsibility for lack of testing availability and delays in rolling tests out.
And in the UK, mass gatherings are set to be banned.	And in the UK, mass gatherings are set to be banned.
In Australia there are now 197 confirmed cases of coronavirus , including three deaths. From Monday, gatherings of more than 500 people will be banned. The chief medical officer Professor Brendan Murphy has just said this has put Australia in a good position.	In Australia there are now 197 confirmed cases of coronavirus , including three deaths. From Monday, gatherings of more than 500 people will be banned. The chief medical officer Professor Brendan Murphy has just said this has put Australia in a good position.
Earlier in the day Australia’s shadow health minister Chris Bowen slammed the prime minister Scott Morrison’s handling of the virus. Bowen questioned why the prime minister and other minister’s were not tested after the home affairs minister Peter Dutton was diagnosed with Covid-19 on Friday. Dutton has now been admitted to hospital. Bowen accused the cabinet of failing to take the same measures the community is being told to undertake in terms of self-isolation and testing.	Earlier in the day Australia’s shadow health minister Chris Bowen slammed the prime minister Scott Morrison’s handling of the virus. Bowen questioned why the prime minister and other minister’s were not tested after the home affairs minister Peter Dutton was diagnosed with Covid-19 on Friday. Dutton has now been admitted to hospital. Bowen accused the cabinet of failing to take the same measures the community is being told to undertake in terms of self-isolation and testing.
But in a press conference immediately after Bowen’s, Australia’s chief medical officer Professor Brendan Murphy backed Morrison’s decision not to get tested. Murphy said;	But in a press conference immediately after Bowen’s, Australia’s chief medical officer Professor Brendan Murphy backed Morrison’s decision not to get tested. Murphy said;
Murphy said only people in close contact with someone in the 24-hour period before they developed symptoms needed to go through testing and isolation. Murphy said:	Murphy said only people in close contact with someone in the 24-hour period before they developed symptoms needed to go through testing and isolation. Murphy said:
This is because people are most likely to spread the disease when showing symptoms, such as coughing and spluttering.	This is because people are most likely to spread the disease when showing symptoms, such as coughing and spluttering.
A national remembrance service to mark the one year anniversary of the Christchurch mosques attack in New Zealand has been cancelled due to the coronavirus.	A national remembrance service to mark the one year anniversary of the Christchurch mosques attack in New Zealand has been cancelled due to the coronavirus.
As recently as Friday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the event could take place as New Zealand is yet to record a community transmission of Covid-19.	As recently as Friday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the event could take place as New Zealand is yet to record a community transmission of Covid-19.
“This is a pragmatic decision. We’re very saddened to cancel, but in remembering such a terrible tragedy, we shouldn’t create the risk of further harm being done,” she said.	“This is a pragmatic decision. We’re very saddened to cancel, but in remembering such a terrible tragedy, we shouldn’t create the risk of further harm being done,” she said.
Health officials announced the country’s sixth confirmed case of the disease.	Health officials announced the country’s sixth confirmed case of the disease.
Australia’s shadow health minister Chris Bowen has criticised Australian prime minister Scott Morrison for not cancelling large public gatherings sooner. From Monday, mass-gatherings of more than 500 people will banned, but will not include schools and universities.	Australia’s shadow health minister Chris Bowen has criticised Australian prime minister Scott Morrison for not cancelling large public gatherings sooner. From Monday, mass-gatherings of more than 500 people will banned, but will not include schools and universities.
Until Friday Morrison insisted he would go to the football to see the Shark’s first NRL match, drawing criticism from his opponents and some public health workers. Morrison said: “‘The fact that I would still be going on Saturday speaks not just to my passion for my beloved Sharks; it might be the last game I get to go to for a long time”.	Until Friday Morrison insisted he would go to the football to see the Shark’s first NRL match, drawing criticism from his opponents and some public health workers. Morrison said: “‘The fact that I would still be going on Saturday speaks not just to my passion for my beloved Sharks; it might be the last game I get to go to for a long time”.
Following public pressure Morrison has now said he will not attend the game. On Saturday morning Bowen said Morrison had displayed “a gob-smacking lack of judgement”. He said the public were tired of mixed-messaging from the federal government;	Following public pressure Morrison has now said he will not attend the game. On Saturday morning Bowen said Morrison had displayed “a gob-smacking lack of judgement”. He said the public were tired of mixed-messaging from the federal government;
On Australia’s home affairs minister Peter Dutton being tested with coronavirus, Bowen said; “We wish him the best, this is not a pleasant disease”. However, Bowen said there was “a lack of information before the Australian people, and this confusion makes it worse”.	On Australia’s home affairs minister Peter Dutton being tested with coronavirus, Bowen said; “We wish him the best, this is not a pleasant disease”. However, Bowen said there was “a lack of information before the Australian people, and this confusion makes it worse”.
Major supermarkets Coles and Woolworths have announced further restrictions on items such as toilet paper and non-perishable foods as they struggle to cope with panic-buying. The Woolworths website currently appears to be offline as people flock to the site to make purchases.	Major supermarkets Coles and Woolworths have announced further restrictions on items such as toilet paper and non-perishable foods as they struggle to cope with panic-buying. The Woolworths website currently appears to be offline as people flock to the site to make purchases.
Melbourne bureau-chief Melissa Davey here with you for the next eight hours or so bringing you the latest developments. You can contact me at melissa.davey@theguardian.com or on Twitter.	Melbourne bureau-chief Melissa Davey here with you for the next eight hours or so bringing you the latest developments. You can contact me at melissa.davey@theguardian.com or on Twitter.
Here in Australia the Victorian government will soon reveal more details about event cancellations following the cancellation of the Grand Prix on Friday. For the first time in almost a century, Sydney’s Royal Easter Show has been cancelled.	Here in Australia the Victorian government will soon reveal more details about event cancellations following the cancellation of the Grand Prix on Friday. For the first time in almost a century, Sydney’s Royal Easter Show has been cancelled.
The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee has issued a statement saying “the time has come to put in place social distancing measures to mitigate spread, rather than a strategy based primarily on case finding”. These measures include:	The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee has issued a statement saying “the time has come to put in place social distancing measures to mitigate spread, rather than a strategy based primarily on case finding”. These measures include:
Limiting non-essential organised gatherings to fewer than 500 people	Limiting non-essential organised gatherings to fewer than 500 people
Limiting non-essential meetings or conferences of critical workforce eg healthcare professionals and emergency services	Limiting non-essential meetings or conferences of critical workforce eg healthcare professionals and emergency services
Encouraging all Australians to exercise personal responsibility for social distancing measures	Encouraging all Australians to exercise personal responsibility for social distancing measures
Initiating measures to protect vulnerable populations, such as reducing visitors to all residential care facilities and remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities	Initiating measures to protect vulnerable populations, such as reducing visitors to all residential care facilities and remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
However schools, universities and shopping centres are not included in the ban.	However schools, universities and shopping centres are not included in the ban.
Australian Medical Association president Dr Tony Bartone said the evidence around schools “can be somewhat difficult to interpret clearly, and we need to be understanding and follow the evidence in that respect”.	Australian Medical Association president Dr Tony Bartone said the evidence around schools “can be somewhat difficult to interpret clearly, and we need to be understanding and follow the evidence in that respect”.
On Saturday morning the president of the Australian Primary Principals Association, Malcolm Elliott, told the ABC that “some schools are a little more advanced than others” in their preparation. He said;	On Saturday morning the president of the Australian Primary Principals Association, Malcolm Elliott, told the ABC that “some schools are a little more advanced than others” in their preparation. He said;
Here’s a summary of the latest events.	Here’s a summary of the latest events.
The global death toll reached 5,359, while 142,557 cases have been confirmed. In addition, 70,176 people have recovered, according to figures from Johns Hopkins University. The institution draws from official figures, so the true toll could be higher.	The global death toll reached 5,359, while 142,557 cases have been confirmed. In addition, 70,176 people have recovered, according to figures from Johns Hopkins University. The institution draws from official figures, so the true toll could be higher.
The US president declared a national emergency. Donald Trump, who started out by dismissing coronavirus as a hoax, took the major step of designating it a national emergency. That allowed him to sweep aside a host of rules and regulations in order to try to stop its spread. But he repeatedly refused to accept any responsibility for his own administration’s response to the outbreak.	The US president declared a national emergency. Donald Trump, who started out by dismissing coronavirus as a hoax, took the major step of designating it a national emergency. That allowed him to sweep aside a host of rules and regulations in order to try to stop its spread. But he repeatedly refused to accept any responsibility for his own administration’s response to the outbreak.
Europe is now the centre of the pandemic, the WHO said. Its director general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said the continent has more cases and deaths than the rest of the world combined apart from China.	Europe is now the centre of the pandemic, the WHO said. Its director general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said the continent has more cases and deaths than the rest of the world combined apart from China.
The UK is set to ban mass gatherings – a significant U-turn by Downing Street. A Whitehall source briefed reporters that ministers are working on a plan to stop “various types of public event, including mass gatherings, beginning next week”. The government has thus deemed such measures unnecessary.	The UK is set to ban mass gatherings – a significant U-turn by Downing Street. A Whitehall source briefed reporters that ministers are working on a plan to stop “various types of public event, including mass gatherings, beginning next week”. The government has thus deemed such measures unnecessary.
The UK death toll reached 11 as the first death in Scotland was confirmed. The nation’s chief medical officer, Catherine Calderwood, said the patient was an “older person who had underlying health conditions”.	The UK death toll reached 11 as the first death in Scotland was confirmed. The nation’s chief medical officer, Catherine Calderwood, said the patient was an “older person who had underlying health conditions”.
The UK could be added to the US’ travel ban, Trump said. Responding to news of a significant uptick in the number of UK cases, Trump indicated he was thinking of extended his ban to a country he has thus far protected, while taking others off the list.	The UK could be added to the US’ travel ban, Trump said. Responding to news of a significant uptick in the number of UK cases, Trump indicated he was thinking of extended his ban to a country he has thus far protected, while taking others off the list.
UK sporting events and elections were postponed. Almost all professional football in Britain, including a significant portion of the grassroots game, was suspended. Rugby fixtures were put off and the London marathon was postponed. In golf, the Masters, which is played in the US, was also cancelled. Local and mayoral elections due to take place in the UK later this year were put back to 2021.	UK sporting events and elections were postponed. Almost all professional football in Britain, including a significant portion of the grassroots game, was suspended. Rugby fixtures were put off and the London marathon was postponed. In golf, the Masters, which is played in the US, was also cancelled. Local and mayoral elections due to take place in the UK later this year were put back to 2021.
Spain declared a state of emergency, while a host of other countries announced strict new measures. Among them were France, Canada and Cyprus, as well as Bosnia, Switzerland and a string of others.	Spain declared a state of emergency, while a host of other countries announced strict new measures. Among them were France, Canada and Cyprus, as well as Bosnia, Switzerland and a string of others.