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Coronavirus updates: WHO tells governments to 'test, test, test', as EU proposes 30-day travel ban – live news Coronavirus updates: WHO tells countries to 'test, test, test', as EU proposes 30-day travel ban – live news
(32 minutes later)
US measures ramped up; Spain takes over private healthcare providers; UK cases jump by more than 170 overnight. Follow the latest news Director-general of World Health Organization says ‘We cannot fight a fire blindfolded’; US measures ramped up; Germany closes shops. Follow the latest news
Boris Johnson is about to give the first daily briefing on the UK’s response to Covid-19. For full details follow Politics live with Andrew Sparrow.
On this blog we will continue to focus on the global response to the pandemic. We will cover any major announcements made by Johnson during the briefing, plus a summary once its over.
As the number of cases of Covid-19 cases rose to 114 in India, the government ordered a shutdown across the capital Delhi from Tuesday.
All gyms, spas and social, political, cultural and religious gatherings of more than 50 people will be suspended until at least 31 March. Weddings, however, are exempt.
Delhi so far has reported seven cases of Covid-19, with one casualty. Schools in Delhi Maharashtra, Tripura, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Jammu and Kashmir also all remain closed. A nationwide closure of all museums and major monuments has also been ordered.
The restrictions on cross border movement have been ramped up and the country’s borders with Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Myanmar were all closed over the weekend.
The crackdown on foreigners travelling in India continues. A blanket ban on all travellers from the UK, EU, and Turkey will be enforced from 18 March and today the state of Odisha has ordered all foreigners to register their arrival into state and quarantine themselves for 14 days. The borders of the state of Kerala, where the first cases were reported, remain completely closed.
Hotels and private residences in Mumbai and Delhi are now being converted into private quarantine facilities to cater for the increasing numbers arriving back into India.
For a country with a population of 1.3bn , and where people often live in densely populated areas with poor sanitation, the current rate of Covid-19 infections remains very low and so far there have only been two recorded deaths.
However, there are currently only 52 testing sites across the whole of India and less than 7000 tests have been carried out so far.
• The head of the World Health Organizaion, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has implored governments to test more suspected cases, warning that they cannot fight the pandemic blindfolded.In a strongly-worded attack on governments which have neglected or held back testing, he said: “We have not seen an urgent enough escalation in testing, isolation and contact tracing, which is the backbone of the response.”
• France has warned of a “fast-deteriorating” situation and Spain has requisitioned its private healthcare sector as European governments imposed closures and lockdowns rarely seen outside wartime to curb the spread of the coronavirus outbreak.Jérôme Salomon, France’s top health official, said on Monday the epidemic in the country was “very worrying”, with the number of cases doubling every three days. “There is a real worry the speed of the outbreak could saturate hospitals,” he said.
• Mounting concerns over a possible global recession have sent financial markets around the world plunging, despite a coordinated effort by central banks to protect growth and jobs, amid the widespread disruption caused by the coronavirus outbreak.The escalation of the worst turmoil since the 2008 financial crisis, came as world leaders prepared to hold a G7 video summit on Monday devoted to strengthening the financial markets during the coronavirus pandemic and improving coordination on finding a vaccine.
• Major airlines including British Airways, Ryanair, easyJet and Virgin Atlantic announced a dramatic scaling back of their operations on Monday, with cuts of up to 80% of their services.The moves came as an aviation consultancy warned that the international airline industry will collapse within months, with the loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs, unless states worldwide inject billions of dollars of emergency funding to see it through the coronavirus “catastrophe”.
• Britain’s prime minister, Boris Johnson, was preparing to appear at the first of a series of daily news conferences where he was expected to outline the next steps in the UK’s plan to fight the outbreakAhead of the briefing, UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps rejected criticism the government is being too slow to introduce measures limiting the spread of coronavirus, saying ministers are rigorously following scientific advice rather than “doing things that just sound good”Britain’s armed forces are meanwhile preparing to send thousands of military medics to assist in NHS hospitals in the coming weeks as part of Operation Broadshare – the Ministry of Defence’s response to the coronavirus outbreak.
Finland’s government has proposed emergency legislation to close all its schools and universities from Wednesday.
Announcing the plan, Prime Minister Sanna Marin, said: “You can be [in public], take care of your business, walk through the train station. But everything unnecessary should be stopped, also by private businesses. There would be no point in closing schools if students just gathered at other places.”
There were 272 confirmed coronavirus cases and no linked deaths in Finland as of Monday according to health authority.
The Scottish Tourism Alliance (STA) has called on additional measures from the Scottish government to support the industry as the number of cases jumped to 171.
Scrapping of business rates for all travel and tourism businesses for 2020 and deferring all corporation tax, VAT, PAYE and other tax payments for 12 months is just a few of the measures the STA is calling on the Scottish government to immediately implement in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.
The alliance has been engaged in several discussions with the government and called for widespread support “since these are unprecedented times, the rule book needs to be thrown out of the window”.
The Scottish government advice that gatherings of 500 or more be cancelled has come into force today. Though the advice, which was issued to reduce the impact of the outbreak on front line services, only applies to certain events, many organisations have taken it upon themselves to cancel large gatherings.
Edinburgh International Festival announced it would be postponing the launch of the 2020 programme. Organisers said they are still planning to deliver a festival this August.
“We are working as quickly as we can to provide certainty to everyone. Our focus remains on presenting the festival and getting artists back on our stages and audiences back into concert halls and theatres as soon as it is safe to do so,” Francesca Hegyi, executive director of Edinburgh International Festival said.
The Glasgow School of Art became the latest educational institution to cease all lectures and tutorials at its Glasgow and Highlands and Islands campuses from 6pm today.
Vauxhall’s major UK manufacturing facilities are to close until 27 March as part of a Europe-wide shutdown by owner PSA Group due to coronavirus.
Carmakers including Fiat Chrysler, Peugeot, Volkswagen and its premium unit Audi are reducing production at their European plants as they grapple with the Coronavirus.
Like factories in the UK they do not have clarity on social-distancing rules in the workplace.
Audi said workers have downed tools over concerns about exposure to the virus while Fiat Chrysler said it was halting production for two weeks to help protect staff and adjust to decline in demand.
French carmaker PSA, which owns the Peugeot, Opel and Vauxhall brands, also said it was closing its European factories until March 27.
Ford said it was closing its plant in Valencia, Spain, for the rest of this week following a flurry of infections, and would reassess after talks with trade unions.
“We have had three positive cases of COVID-19 on the Valencia site in a 24-hour period, two of which involved more isolated workers who did not enter the assembly operations,” a spokeswoman said on Monday.
Ford employees who had close contact with the affected workers are now in self-isolation.
“We will take all other appropriate steps to ensure that risk from this situation is minimised,” Ford said.
Last week, some Spanish plants of the Renault-Nissan alliance and Volkswagen’s Spanish division Seat announced temporary stoppages that could last for days or weeks.
On Monday, Volkswagen’s Autoeuropa car assembly plant near Lisbon, Portugal, said it had reduced its daily output by 16% because of a shortage of workers after Portugal ordered all schools closed amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Volkswagen also said on Sunday it was preparing to suspend operations at its plant in Bratislava after Slovakia declared a state of emergency in response to the virus.
Tedros also expressed alarm about the the spread of the disease to developing countries. He said:
And he urged people around the world to stop hoarding. Tedros said:
Tedros also warned against treating Covid-19 patients at home. He said:
The head of the World Health Organizaion, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has implored governments to test more suspected cases, warning that they cannot fight the pandemic blindfolded.The head of the World Health Organizaion, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has implored governments to test more suspected cases, warning that they cannot fight the pandemic blindfolded.
In a strongly-worded attack on governments which have neglected or held back testing, he said: “We have not seen an urgent enough escalation in testing, isolation and contact tracing, which is the backbone of the response.”In a strongly-worded attack on governments which have neglected or held back testing, he said: “We have not seen an urgent enough escalation in testing, isolation and contact tracing, which is the backbone of the response.”
Tedros added:Tedros added:
The regional leader of Spain’s Catalonia, Quim Torra, has tested positive for coronavirus.The regional leader of Spain’s Catalonia, Quim Torra, has tested positive for coronavirus.
Torra said he began noticing symptoms on Sunday, soon after the region’s deputy leader, Pere Aragonès, said he had tested positive.Torra said he began noticing symptoms on Sunday, soon after the region’s deputy leader, Pere Aragonès, said he had tested positive.
In recent days, Torra has emerged as one of the fiercest critics of Spain’s emergency measures, joining the Basque country in claiming that the centralisation of powers could undermine the autonomy of Spain’s regions. The separatist was the only regional leader who refused to sign a joint document with the central government promising united action as the nation battles an epidemic that ranks among the worst in Europe.In recent days, Torra has emerged as one of the fiercest critics of Spain’s emergency measures, joining the Basque country in claiming that the centralisation of powers could undermine the autonomy of Spain’s regions. The separatist was the only regional leader who refused to sign a joint document with the central government promising united action as the nation battles an epidemic that ranks among the worst in Europe.
Spain has confirmed 9,191 cases and 309 deaths, making it the second hardest-hit country in Europe after Italy.Spain has confirmed 9,191 cases and 309 deaths, making it the second hardest-hit country in Europe after Italy.
Last week Torra called for Madrid to suspend all travel to Catalonia by closing airports and train stations in the region. On Monday he reiterated his call for stronger measures to stem the spread of Covid-19. “We can’t let another minute go by,” said Torra. Catalonia has confirmed around 900 cases and 33 deaths.Last week Torra called for Madrid to suspend all travel to Catalonia by closing airports and train stations in the region. On Monday he reiterated his call for stronger measures to stem the spread of Covid-19. “We can’t let another minute go by,” said Torra. Catalonia has confirmed around 900 cases and 33 deaths.
Several high-profile Spanish politicians have tested positive in recent days, including Isabel Díaz Ayuso, the leader of the Madrid region, as well as two ministers in the Spanish government, Irene Montero and Carolina Darias. Begoña Gómez, the wife of Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez, tested positive earlier this week.Several high-profile Spanish politicians have tested positive in recent days, including Isabel Díaz Ayuso, the leader of the Madrid region, as well as two ministers in the Spanish government, Irene Montero and Carolina Darias. Begoña Gómez, the wife of Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez, tested positive earlier this week.
On Monday, Malaga-based football club Atletico Portada Alta confirmed the death of Francisco Garcia, a 21-year-old junior team coach. Garcia had reportedly been suffering a form of leukaemia, leaving him vulnerable to coronavirus.On Monday, Malaga-based football club Atletico Portada Alta confirmed the death of Francisco Garcia, a 21-year-old junior team coach. Garcia had reportedly been suffering a form of leukaemia, leaving him vulnerable to coronavirus.
Two major online supermarket websites in the UK went into meltdown today and imposed “virtual queues” for their shoppers as retailers battled to cope with the ongoing surge of online grocery orders due to fears about the impact of coronavirus.Two major online supermarket websites in the UK went into meltdown today and imposed “virtual queues” for their shoppers as retailers battled to cope with the ongoing surge of online grocery orders due to fears about the impact of coronavirus.
As panic buying continues to sweep the UK, Waitrose shoppers were left unable to complete their planned grocery orders due to “technical issues” while Ocado customers were also told they had to wait in a “virtual queue” of at least fifteen minutes.As panic buying continues to sweep the UK, Waitrose shoppers were left unable to complete their planned grocery orders due to “technical issues” while Ocado customers were also told they had to wait in a “virtual queue” of at least fifteen minutes.
After ongoing technical glitches over the weekend, which led to many Ocado deliveries this morning delayed and then cancelled at short notice, the online grocer also said that it will not be processing “new customers bookings” until further notice. It has also suspended its online shopping app which failed last Friday.After ongoing technical glitches over the weekend, which led to many Ocado deliveries this morning delayed and then cancelled at short notice, the online grocer also said that it will not be processing “new customers bookings” until further notice. It has also suspended its online shopping app which failed last Friday.
Existing Ocado customers logging into their accounts have been greeted with a message saying:Existing Ocado customers logging into their accounts have been greeted with a message saying:
In a further update to its website it also explains that due to “unusual demand, we have made the call to temporarily prioritise deliveries for existing registered customers. We will not be processing new customer bookings for the time being.”In a further update to its website it also explains that due to “unusual demand, we have made the call to temporarily prioritise deliveries for existing registered customers. We will not be processing new customer bookings for the time being.”
Meanwhile, Waitrose shoppers unable to access their accounts or complete their grocery orders were told: “If you’re experiencing technical issues at this busy time, please bear with us. We’ll fix them as soon as we can.”Meanwhile, Waitrose shoppers unable to access their accounts or complete their grocery orders were told: “If you’re experiencing technical issues at this busy time, please bear with us. We’ll fix them as soon as we can.”
A Waitrose spokesperson said:“We are experiencing some intermittent technical issues due to high volumes, but we’re working to resolve them and are sorry for any inconvenience. We have a queue system in place to manage flow to the website.”A Waitrose spokesperson said:“We are experiencing some intermittent technical issues due to high volumes, but we’re working to resolve them and are sorry for any inconvenience. We have a queue system in place to manage flow to the website.”
The fallout comes as grocery retailers continued to cope with a surge in demand for store cupboard essentials, including toilet roll, dried pasta and tinned tomatoes, as shoppers stock up in preparation for potential self-isolation amid fears of shortages or store closures. Even wet wipes, kitchen roll and biscuits are also selling out.The fallout comes as grocery retailers continued to cope with a surge in demand for store cupboard essentials, including toilet roll, dried pasta and tinned tomatoes, as shoppers stock up in preparation for potential self-isolation amid fears of shortages or store closures. Even wet wipes, kitchen roll and biscuits are also selling out.
Malaysia has imposed sweeping measures to slow the spread of coronavirus, after the number of cases confirmed in the country rose to 553.Malaysia has imposed sweeping measures to slow the spread of coronavirus, after the number of cases confirmed in the country rose to 553.
The country will ban all mass gatherings, including religious, sports and social activities. All citizens will be banned from travelling overseas, and any Malaysians returning to the country will be required to self quarantine for 14 days. No foreign tourists will be allowed entry.The country will ban all mass gatherings, including religious, sports and social activities. All citizens will be banned from travelling overseas, and any Malaysians returning to the country will be required to self quarantine for 14 days. No foreign tourists will be allowed entry.
All schools, kindergartens, universities and colleges will be closed, as will many government and private offices. The measures will be introduced on Wednesday for a two week period.All schools, kindergartens, universities and colleges will be closed, as will many government and private offices. The measures will be introduced on Wednesday for a two week period.
Officials earlier confirmed 125 new cases, part of a sudden wave of infections linked to a gathering at a mosque in Kuala Lumpur, which was attended by 16,000 people.Officials earlier confirmed 125 new cases, part of a sudden wave of infections linked to a gathering at a mosque in Kuala Lumpur, which was attended by 16,000 people.
The Freight Transport Association in the UK has confirmed that there are no hold ups for trucks bringing food in from Spain, France or elsewhere in Europe at the moment.The Freight Transport Association in the UK has confirmed that there are no hold ups for trucks bringing food in from Spain, France or elsewhere in Europe at the moment.
It insists that supplies are getting through to supermarkets, particularly of perishable foods that come from the continent including lettuce, tomatoes and winter vegetables.It insists that supplies are getting through to supermarkets, particularly of perishable foods that come from the continent including lettuce, tomatoes and winter vegetables.
However Elizabeth de Jong the FTA’s UK policy advisor are concerned about the sharp reduction in flights warning that 70% of freight is transported on passenger planes including critical pharmaceuticals, scientific equipment, some food and flowers.However Elizabeth de Jong the FTA’s UK policy advisor are concerned about the sharp reduction in flights warning that 70% of freight is transported on passenger planes including critical pharmaceuticals, scientific equipment, some food and flowers.
The European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, said the EU travel ban proposal would not apply to UK citizens.The European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, said the EU travel ban proposal would not apply to UK citizens.
She told a press conference: “The UK citizens are European citizens so of course there are no restrictions for the UK citizens to travel to the continent.”She told a press conference: “The UK citizens are European citizens so of course there are no restrictions for the UK citizens to travel to the continent.”
Von Der Leyen also endorsed tough social distancing measures being imposed in Europe. But she urged neighbouring countries to “harmonize” their measures they are taking to give a clear message to citizens.Von Der Leyen also endorsed tough social distancing measures being imposed in Europe. But she urged neighbouring countries to “harmonize” their measures they are taking to give a clear message to citizens.
She said: “It is important that our healthcare system is able to deal with the amount of patients that are severely ill. And therefore it’s of utmost importance to take all these measures member states are taking right now to slow down social contracts to slow down public life.”She said: “It is important that our healthcare system is able to deal with the amount of patients that are severely ill. And therefore it’s of utmost importance to take all these measures member states are taking right now to slow down social contracts to slow down public life.”
On the proposed travel ban she said:On the proposed travel ban she said:
Those commuting to work across borders will also be exemptThose commuting to work across borders will also be exempt
Guardian reader Clare Finnigan noticed that Paperchase in London appears to be banning cash payments. A sign on the window of a store in Islington’s Upper Street said it is only accepting credit card payments to “protect our customers and colleagues”.Guardian reader Clare Finnigan noticed that Paperchase in London appears to be banning cash payments. A sign on the window of a store in Islington’s Upper Street said it is only accepting credit card payments to “protect our customers and colleagues”.
In the UK, routine inspections for hospitals, GP surgeries and care homes have been suspended so health and care workers can concentrate efforts on battling coronavirus.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) announced it has temporarily paused inspections of health and care organisations where there are no immediate safety concerns.
The move was welcomed by health leaders, some of whom had warned that inspections could divert attention away from clinical care.
Ian Trenholm, chief executive of the CQC, said:
The NHS Confederation said frontline staff will “breathe a sigh of relief” as the NHS faces “the greatest challenge in its history”. The British Medical Association (BMA) said the decision was “common sense”.
A major push to provide provide food supplies and mental health support to older Irish residents – Britain’s oldest ethnic group and the most likely to already feel isolated even before the impact of the coronavirus pandemic - is being launched in London.
The switching of existing services at the London Irish Centre to door to door deliveries and a helpline coincided with the news that a food bank used by vulnerable people in the same part of the city is closing to minimise the risk of coronavirus infection“We had our last lunch club at the centre today for the many older people who come and there was a look of shock on their faces but the response from people wanting to get involved in what we’re going to be doing has been incredible,” said Brian Hanley, Director of Community Services at the centre.
Hanley, whose colleagues work with 2,400 vulnerable people a year to provide benefits advice service, lunch clubs and a befriending service, said that an analysis had shown the Irish in Britain were likely to be older than members of other communities, have long term health conditions and live alone.
“What we’re doing is making plans to redirect all of our resources and services for the community and target it at those most in need over the coming months. We’re talking about a generation who moved to Britain in the 1950s and played a major part in building up London’s infrastructure, the NHS and more but who have high levels of need now.”
The centre, which has cancelled St Patrick’s day events that were due to take place there, requires donations and volunteers. Its coronavirus effort ranges from food deliveries of home-cooked food through to telephone calls and advice from a qualified nurse.
It comes after there was shock today/Monday when Islington Food Bank announced it was closing to the public from march 23. “We understand that we provide a service to vulnerable people who may need us now more than ever, but still feel this is the best way to keep our volunteers and clients safe and minimise the risk of infection,” it said in a statement.
The EU is proposing suspending all non-essential travel for 30 days, the president of the EU commission has announced.
Italy’s top flight football league, Serie A, is considering splitting the current campaign over two seasons.
Northern Ireland has recorded seven new cases of Covid-19 since Sunday taking its total to 52 cases, Stormont health minister Robin Swann said.
The health authorities have expanded their definition of cases of the virus.
Swann said 88 intensive care unit (ICU) beds were available and there were plans to expand that to 126 adult beds.
At least 36 people have now died in the UK after being diagnosed with coronavirus, after Wales confirmed its first death.
The patient, who was in their sixties and had underlying health conditions, died at Wrexham Maelor Hospital.
Across the UK, 1,543 people have now tested positive for Covid-19, up from 1,372 at the same time on Sunday. However, many thousands more are estimated to have been infected.
Over 200 British and American passengers are among 609 people on a cruise ship in isolation in Recife in the north-eastern Brazilian state of Pernambuco, Dom Phillips reports from Brazil.
Two passengers have been removed for coronavirus testing from the Silver Shadow - a Canadian male passenger, aged 78, tested positive and an Irish woman tested negative, local media reported.
Sailing from Buenos Aires to Fort Lauderdale after stopping in Rio de Janeiro and Salvador, the Silver Shadow docked in Recife on March 12 and has been isolated there since the Canadian passenger left the ship, felt sick and was taken to a local private hospital.
According to a ship’s manifest seen by The Guardian, there are 109 British passengers – 62 female and 47 male – among the 318 passengers and eight British nationals among the 291 crew. There are also 103 US passengers.
A spokeswoman for the ship’s owners Silversea, part of the Royal Caribbean group, said:
Olimar Cardoso, Pernambuco director of Brazil’s sanitary vigilance agency, ANVISA, told reporters on Saturday that passengers are only allowed to circulate around the ship in small groups and meals are left outside their cabins. “It is a situation nobody likes to go through,” he said.
A spokesman for the British embassy said it is working closely with Royal Caribbean on “how best to get British nationals home.” The US Consulate in Recife said it is “in contact with Brazilian authorities regarding the well-being and safety of U.S. passengers”.
A Pernambuco government spokesman said it has been meeting with health ministry, embassies and the navy to find a “safe way to return everyone to their countries.”
In Germany the federal government has announced the closure of a range of non-essential retail outlets in its latest bid to curb the spread of coronavirus.
There are hopes supermarket delivery services could ease tensions by getting supplies to those advised to self isolate and also avoid lots of people going to shops for their supplies, Vikram Dodd reports.
But on Monday morning they were buckling under the pressure.
Sainsburys had no delivery slots for the next three weeks, Ocado was closed to new customers and had introduced a “virtual queue” for existing customers and Waitrose was off line altogether.
An estimated 140,000 people have been laid off in Ireland since emergency measures to combat coronavirus were introduced four days ago, according to national broadcaster RTE.
This is a combination of 70,000 restaurant workers, 50,000 pub and bar staff, and around 20,000 crèche and childcare workers. it reported.
This is a huge shock to the economy and triple them monthly unemployment numbers in the 2010 crash and possibly gives a glimpse of the consequences to come if the UK’s follows EU countries and moves to close schools and introduce curfews on restaurants and bars.
The minister for social protection said they had 20,000 applications for benefits on Friday alone.
As the prime minister prepares for the first of what are to be daily briefings on the developing coronavirus situation in the UK, here’s the Guardian columnist Simon Jenkins on why he thinks that they may only make things worse.