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Coronavirus latest updates: Trump tests negative as Spain orders nationwide lockdown Coronavirus latest updates: Trump tests negative as Spain orders nationwide lockdown
(32 minutes later)
Spanish PM’s wife tests positive; France and Israel announce partial closure of country; scientists condemn UK ‘herd immunity’ strategy. Follow live newsSpanish PM’s wife tests positive; France and Israel announce partial closure of country; scientists condemn UK ‘herd immunity’ strategy. Follow live news
In the Philippines, police have started sealing off Metropolitan Manila, home to more than 12 million people, AP reports. Australia’s prime minister, Scott Morrison, is giving a media conference now. It’s quite general stuff but the main point is that the government is trying to contain the spread and therefore ease the burden on hospitals.
Thousands of police, backed by the army and coast guard, started sealing the densely populated capital from most domestic travellers Sunday in one of Southeast Asia’s most drastic containment moves against the new coronavirus.Mayors also announced plans to impose a night curfew in Metropolitan Manila. Residents have been asked to stay home except for work and urgent errands under monthlong restrictions that took effect Sunday.The citywide quarantine means the suspension of domestic travel by land, air and sea to and from the capital region. Large gatherings like concerts, movies and cockfighting will be prohibited and most government work in executive department offices will be suspended in the metropolis. School closures at all levels were extended by a month. Officials said the temporary restrictions will not amount to a lockdown of the capital because many workers and emergency personnel like medical staff will be able to enter and leave the capital. Residents can move within the metropolis on their way to work or for urgent errands, including medical emergencies, officials said. The national security council has discussed the country’s emergency response plan, he says, and will continue to be driven by medical advice.
Many people will get the virus, but for eight out of 10 it will be mild and will pass.
But for older people and those with existing conditons it will be serious. Our main aim is to protect the vulnerable, he says. We can’t stop the virus but we can stop the spread, he said.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will announce a multi-billion dollar economic stimulus on Tuesday as the country awakens to the shock measures needed to fight Covid-19, AAP reports.
On Saturday, Ardern announced almost all international arrivals, including Kiwi citizens, would be required to self-isolate for a fortnight on their return from overseas.
The decision will have significant ramifications for the New Zealand economy, particularly the travel industry on which the South Pacific nation is deeply reliant.
The two new confirmed cases of coronavirus in the country – announced earlier today – are an Australian man in 60s who arrived in Wellington from Brisbane on March 14; and woman in her 30s from Denmark who arrived in Auckland on March 10, then flew to Christchurch, Stuff.nz reports.
In Australia, the state of New South Wales has confirmed 22 new coronavirus cases.
NSW Health has updated the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in the state to 134.
That’s 22 new cases confirmed in the 24 hours from 11 am Saturday to 11 am Sunday.
Of the new cases, three people had recently travelled to the United States and their overseas travel is considered the likely source. Another case had returned from Singapore and another from the Philippines.
Five have caught the infection after contact with other confirmed cases of Covid-19. The source for the remainder of the 22 new cases is still being investigated. One of the cases under investigation is a 40-year-old man who had also recently travelled to the US and another 32-year-old man was also listed as having recently travelled overseas.
Some other data from NSW Health:The total number of cases that are under investigation as possible Covid-19 cases is 1924.20,511 other people have returned negative tests for Covid-19.
There’s a new coronavirus meme: people – and trams – as hand sanitisers.
Here is Harry Styles:
Here are Melbourne trams:
Here is lil Uzi Vert:
UK trade secretary Liz Truss:
Timothée Chalamet:
In the Philippines, police have started sealing off metropolitan Manila, home to more than 12 million people, AP reports.
Thousands of police, backed by the army and coast guard, started sealing the densely populated capital from most domestic travellers Sunday in one of south-east Asia’s most drastic containment moves against the new coronavirus.Mayors also announced plans to impose a night curfew in metropolitan Manila. Residents have been asked to stay home except for work and urgent errands under month-long restrictions that took effect Sunday.The city-wide quarantine means the suspension of domestic travel by land, air and sea to and from the capital region. Large gatherings like concerts, movies and cockfighting will be prohibited and most government work in executive department offices will be suspended in the metropolis. School closures at all levels were extended by a month. Officials said the temporary restrictions will not amount to a lockdown of the capital because many workers and emergency personnel like medical staff will be able to enter and leave the capital. Residents can move within the metropolis on their way to work or for urgent errands, including medical emergencies, officials said.
In Australia, Dr Adam Visser, the director of critical care at Toowoomba hospital in regional Queensland, has posted an impassioned plea for the Australian community to take individual action to help “flatten the curve” and keep intensive care units from being overwhelmed by Covid-19 cases.In Australia, Dr Adam Visser, the director of critical care at Toowoomba hospital in regional Queensland, has posted an impassioned plea for the Australian community to take individual action to help “flatten the curve” and keep intensive care units from being overwhelmed by Covid-19 cases.
Visser finished his post asking the prime minister to “lock down” Australia to halt the spread of Covid-19.Visser finished his post asking the prime minister to “lock down” Australia to halt the spread of Covid-19.
In transport news that’s a little more fun:In transport news that’s a little more fun:
Meanwhile, social media users are posting pictures from US airports – Chicago O’Hare International Airport and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport in Texas – showing general chaos and tightly packed crowds.Meanwhile, social media users are posting pictures from US airports – Chicago O’Hare International Airport and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport in Texas – showing general chaos and tightly packed crowds.
In the US, United Airlines Co said late Saturday it would begin cutting flights to the United Kingdom after Washington expanded travel restrictions to Britain and Ireland, and Southwest Airlines moved toward flight cuts as the coronavirus outbreak sapped demand.In the US, United Airlines Co said late Saturday it would begin cutting flights to the United Kingdom after Washington expanded travel restrictions to Britain and Ireland, and Southwest Airlines moved toward flight cuts as the coronavirus outbreak sapped demand.
Delta Airlines Inc also said it planned to start cutting flights to the United Kingdom. Southwest, one of the few U.S. airlines still flying a full schedule, said it was “seriously considering” cutting flights.Delta Airlines Inc also said it planned to start cutting flights to the United Kingdom. Southwest, one of the few U.S. airlines still flying a full schedule, said it was “seriously considering” cutting flights.
US Vice President Mike Pence said restrictions on the UK and Ireland will begin Monday at midnight, barring most non-U.S. citizens from entering the United States who have been in those countries within the last 14 days. They do not bar flights to and from the United States, and Americans and permanent residents can still travel. US airlines are scrambling to shore up capital. Among cost-cutting measures, airlines are offering employees voluntary unpaid leaves of absence to match staffing with flights. On Friday, Delta said it would cut capacity 40% in the next few months, the largest reduction in its history. It will eliminate nearly all flights to continental Europe for 30 days and will park up to 300 aircraft. United and American Airlines also announced cuts to European service this week.US Vice President Mike Pence said restrictions on the UK and Ireland will begin Monday at midnight, barring most non-U.S. citizens from entering the United States who have been in those countries within the last 14 days. They do not bar flights to and from the United States, and Americans and permanent residents can still travel. US airlines are scrambling to shore up capital. Among cost-cutting measures, airlines are offering employees voluntary unpaid leaves of absence to match staffing with flights. On Friday, Delta said it would cut capacity 40% in the next few months, the largest reduction in its history. It will eliminate nearly all flights to continental Europe for 30 days and will park up to 300 aircraft. United and American Airlines also announced cuts to European service this week.
In Australia, the Victorian premier Daniel Andrews says the country will need to look at tougher travel rules, similar to those that have been enacted in New Zealand, to slow the spread of Covid-19.In Australia, the Victorian premier Daniel Andrews says the country will need to look at tougher travel rules, similar to those that have been enacted in New Zealand, to slow the spread of Covid-19.
And he says restrictions should be in place for travellers from the United States.And he says restrictions should be in place for travellers from the United States.
“It’s a little difficult to explain why say China, who have very few new cases, there are travel bans there, but the United States, people are free to travel when we’re seeing many, many new cases and indeed the majority of Victoria’s new cases are connected to those who have travelled from the United States,” Andrews said at a media conference on Sunday.“It’s a little difficult to explain why say China, who have very few new cases, there are travel bans there, but the United States, people are free to travel when we’re seeing many, many new cases and indeed the majority of Victoria’s new cases are connected to those who have travelled from the United States,” Andrews said at a media conference on Sunday.
He said he would be arguing for tougher measures during today’s meeting of the new national cabinet set up to deal with Covid-19.He said he would be arguing for tougher measures during today’s meeting of the new national cabinet set up to deal with Covid-19.
“I think that arrangements similar to New Zealand will absolutely be on the agenda to be discussed today”.“I think that arrangements similar to New Zealand will absolutely be on the agenda to be discussed today”.
New Zealand now requires all travellers entering the country to self-isolate for 14 days to try to stop the spread of the virus.Andrews said he would also move “swiftly” to close Victorian schools if and when he has such advice from health authorities.“It’s much more likely when, rather than if,” he said.New Zealand now requires all travellers entering the country to self-isolate for 14 days to try to stop the spread of the virus.Andrews said he would also move “swiftly” to close Victorian schools if and when he has such advice from health authorities.“It’s much more likely when, rather than if,” he said.
In Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson news, it appears that so far the couple have not passed on their coronavirus infections – which they announced earlier this week – to any members of the cast and crew of the Elvis Presley biopic they are in Australia to film.
A representative for the production said no cast or crew had come down with the virus although production had ceased for two weeks.
“We are aware of only the one case of the coronavirus amongst our cast and crew, and additionally the cast member’s wife,” the statement said.
“Working closely with the Queensland Health Department we have delayed our start date by approximately two weeks to allow for the cast member’s full recovery.”
Hanks tweeted on Friday that the pair were “taking it one day at a time” while in isolation in a Gold Coast, Queensland hospital.
New Zealand has confirmed two new cases of coronavirus, one of which is an Australian man. We’ll have more on this soon.
In Australia, the Sydney climate strike scheduled for 15 May has been cancelled, School Strike 4 Climate has announced on Facebook.
The post adds:
“The good news is that we are still intending to hold powerful online activities for May 15 and will be in touch about this once the plan has been confirmed. The fight for climate justice continues!”
A 78-year-old Canadian who was on a cruise ship isolated in Brazil’s northeastern port of Recife tested positive for coronavirus, Brazilian TV network Globo reported on Saturday, citing a press conference.
The ship with 609 people on board has been isolated in Recife since Thursday morning after this passenger showed symptoms similar to those of the new coronavirus. An Irish woman who was also in the cruise ship is also being tested. The remaining passengers and crew members are still being kept in isolation in their cabins. The vessel, with the Bahamas flag, came from the Brazilian port city of Salvador. The Pernambuco state health secretariat did not immediately confirm the report. Brazil’s health ministry confirmed on Saturday 121 coronavirus cases in the country, 23 more than on Friday. In an attempt to contain the spread of the new coronavirus, the Brazilian states of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, the two most hit by the virus, ordered schools to shut down.
South Korea reported 76 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, bringing the country’s total to 8,162 with 75 deaths, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. The latest numbers are in line with a downward trend in new cases, down from the 107 recorded on Saturday.
Mexico has registered a rise in the number of confirmed coronavirus cases to 41 – from 26 a day earlier, the Mexican health ministry said on Saturday. The country has not confirmed any deaths from the fast-spreading virus.
The country’s 33 million students will head into earlier and longer Easter vacations at the end of next week after Education Minister Esteban Moctezuma on Saturday announced measures to help avoid the spread of the coronavirus.
Earlier this week, governments of El Salvador, Panama and Peru all ordered short-term suspension of classes. Governments around the world, but mostly in Europe and Asia where there have been more cases, have announced similar measures.
There’s a fairly heartbreaking video out of Italy, showing the striking increase in obituaries in daily Italian newspaper L’Eco di Bergamo. Bergamo is a city northeast of Milan.
The video compares the obituary pages on 9 February 2020 and 13 March 2020:
One of the world’s most respected economists, Mohamed El-Erian, has doubled down on his warnings about the scale of the economic shock resulting from the coronavirus crisis.The chief economic adviser to the insurance company Allianz has written for Bloomberg about what he calls the “huge paradigm shift for economies, institutions, and social norms and practices” now affecting the whole world.
El-Erian, who voiced his concerns to the Guardian three days ago, goes on to say that the impact will be greater than anything experienced by most people in advanced countries – presumably meaning all those under the age of 75 who can’t remember the second world war or the 1930s depression.Here is an excerpt from his piece:
Australia’s new national cabinet is set to meet Sunday. The country’s cases of coronavirus now stand at over 250 and the government is facing questions about the possible closure of schools and tighter border controls, Reuters reports. The government has already advised against non-essential gatherings of more than 500 people from Monday, though this does not include schools, airports or public transport.
The national cabinet which includes federal, state and territory leaders, dubbed a “war cabinet” by the media, will hold its first meeting via teleconference on Sunday to discuss the response to the spread of the virus. The meeting is expected to canvas whether schools should be closed and whether border controls should be further tightened to contain Covid-19. “We are rightly, keeping all options on the table, whether it’s in relation to travel or whether it’s in relation to schools. The schools question will be very much guided by the medical advice,” Health Minister Greg Hunt told ABC television.
“One of the things that they have talked about, is not moving too early on something like that.” Visitors who have been in high-risk nations are already banned from entering Australia, while New Zealand on Saturday said it would require incoming travellers, including its own citizens, to self-isolate for two weeks.
In Australia, Nine news is reporting that a group of Australian surfers are stuck on their boat in an Indonesian port after they were prevented from disembarking due to measures in place to limit the spread of coronavirus.The men told Nine they were down to their last supplies of food and water and they had contacted the Australian government seeking assistance.Guardian Australia has asked the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for comment and to confirm if they are assisting.