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Coronavirus updates: French citizens ordered to stay in their homes, as Canada closes borders to foreigners – live news Coronavirus updates: French citizens ordered to stay in their homes, as Canada closes borders to foreigners – live news
(32 minutes later)
WHO urges governments to ‘test, test, test’; US measures ramped up; Germany closes shops. Follow the latest newsWHO urges governments to ‘test, test, test’; US measures ramped up; Germany closes shops. Follow the latest news
There are claims this evening that the UK prime minister’s decision to stop just short of ordering businesses such as pubs, restaurants and theatres to close down altogether will make it harder for them to claim back losses on their insurance.
The shadow digital, culture and media secretary, Tracy Brabin, has said:
France will mobilise 100,000 police to carry out checks on people’s movements, the country’s interior minister, Christophe Castaner, has said.
In the past couple of hours, the French president Emmanuel Macron announced stricter controls after a weekend during which he said many French people had carried on largely as normal and, in so doing, put the people around them at risk.
The Brazilian foreign trade secretary Marcos Troyjo, who was part of the delegation that met with the US president Donald Trump nine days ago, has tested positive for the coronavirus, his office has said.
Troyjo, who is Brazil’s deputy economy minister, was also in Washington last week. He is showing no symptoms and is working from his home in strict isolation, a statement said.
The leader of Plaid Cymru, Adam Price, has gone into isolation:The leader of Plaid Cymru, Adam Price, has gone into isolation:
Tunisia will suspend international flights and close its land border, its prime minister Elyes Fakhfakh has said. He added in a speech that all gatherings and markets will be banned and work hours for state employees will be reduced.Tunisia will suspend international flights and close its land border, its prime minister Elyes Fakhfakh has said. He added in a speech that all gatherings and markets will be banned and work hours for state employees will be reduced.
The Grand National has been cancelled due to the pandemic, its organisers have said.The Grand National has been cancelled due to the pandemic, its organisers have said.
There had been speculation the race would be run behind closed doors.There had been speculation the race would be run behind closed doors.
The United Arab Emirates has urged its citizens abroad to return home due to travel difficulties amid the spread of coronavirus and suspensions of flights from some countries, the state news agency WAM has said, citing the ministry of foreign affairs and international cooperation. UAE has recorded 98 cases of the virus.The United Arab Emirates has urged its citizens abroad to return home due to travel difficulties amid the spread of coronavirus and suspensions of flights from some countries, the state news agency WAM has said, citing the ministry of foreign affairs and international cooperation. UAE has recorded 98 cases of the virus.
Boris Johnson has been accused of shutting down the hospitality industry without any support when he advised people to stay indoors on Monday. UKHospitality, which represents pubs, coffee shops, nightclubs and other leisure venues said the effect would be “catastrophic for businesses and jobs”.Boris Johnson has been accused of shutting down the hospitality industry without any support when he advised people to stay indoors on Monday. UKHospitality, which represents pubs, coffee shops, nightclubs and other leisure venues said the effect would be “catastrophic for businesses and jobs”.
The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) has recommended Muslim communities across the UK “suspend all congregational activities” following the government’s latest advice. It said the decision had not been taken lightly due to the importance of Friday prayers. Harun Khan, its secretary general, has said:The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) has recommended Muslim communities across the UK “suspend all congregational activities” following the government’s latest advice. It said the decision had not been taken lightly due to the importance of Friday prayers. Harun Khan, its secretary general, has said:
The Royal Shakespeare Company’s three theatres will close, in line with government advice. The Royal Shakespeare Theatre, the Swan Theatre and the Studio Theatre at The Other Place will all shut for an “undetermined period of time”, the company has said.The Royal Shakespeare Company’s three theatres will close, in line with government advice. The Royal Shakespeare Theatre, the Swan Theatre and the Studio Theatre at The Other Place will all shut for an “undetermined period of time”, the company has said.
In the UK, opposition parties are beginning to put pressure on Downing Street over its response to the pandemic. The outgoing Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, is due to meet Boris Johnson on Monday evening (GMT) and has said he will make five key demands:In the UK, opposition parties are beginning to put pressure on Downing Street over its response to the pandemic. The outgoing Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, is due to meet Boris Johnson on Monday evening (GMT) and has said he will make five key demands:
In the Commons, the Liberal Democrat health spokeswoman, Munira Wilson, has called for all social care workers to be tested for coronavirus, alongside NHS staff.In the Commons, the Liberal Democrat health spokeswoman, Munira Wilson, has called for all social care workers to be tested for coronavirus, alongside NHS staff.
Montenegro has temporarily halted flights of its national air carrier, Montenegro Airlines, and all international railway and bus lines.Montenegro has temporarily halted flights of its national air carrier, Montenegro Airlines, and all international railway and bus lines.
The former Yugoslav republic has tested dozens of people but has so far not reported a single case of coronavirus infection. More than 390 people remain in quarantine. The government has said:The former Yugoslav republic has tested dozens of people but has so far not reported a single case of coronavirus infection. More than 390 people remain in quarantine. The government has said:
Last week, Montenegro’s health authorities banned public gatherings, closed schools and restaurants, and some border crossings with Serbia, Bosnia, Croatia Kosovo and Albania. The country, which earns most of its revenue from tourism, also last week closed its ports and marinas for all incoming cruiser ships and yachts.Last week, Montenegro’s health authorities banned public gatherings, closed schools and restaurants, and some border crossings with Serbia, Bosnia, Croatia Kosovo and Albania. The country, which earns most of its revenue from tourism, also last week closed its ports and marinas for all incoming cruiser ships and yachts.
The US president, Donald Trump, has stopped short of calling upon states to follow the lead of many other countries across the world – including the UK and France – and cancel elections, saying he does not think it is a “very good thing” and would be “unnecessary”.
One state just announced to have taken a different approach is Serbia, which has said its election commission has postponed general elections that were due to take place on 26 April. The Serbian president, Aleksandar Vučić, declared the state of emergency on Sunday.
In the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has said an employee has tested positive. The individual, who is now in good condition, has not been present in the CDC workplace since 6 March, and was asymptomatic at that time, the agency said.
It has not disclosed any more details about the individual, citing privacy concerns.
Egypt has reported two more deaths because of coronavirus, bringing the official total of related deaths to four, its health ministry has said. The individuals were a 72-year-old German who died in Luxor and a 50-year-old Egyptian in Dakahlia governorate, it added.
On Sunday, research published by the Guardian suggested Egypt was likely grappling with a higher rate of coronavirus infections than official figures:
Costa Rica has declared a state of emergency in response to the coronavirus outbreak and has become the latest Latin American country to close its borders to non-resident foreign nationals. From 11:59pm (CST – 5pm GMT) on Wednesday, non-citizens and non-residents will not be able to enter the country.
On Monday, the Costa Rican government said 41 cases COVID-19 have been recorded in the country, rising from 35 on Sunday.
In Greece, authorities are also ramping up measures after the health ministry said confirmed cases of coronavirus had risen to 352, an increase of 21 over the past 24 hours. Of that number 65 patients are hospitalised with nine in intensive care, professor Sotiris Tsiodras, an expert in infectious diseases told reporters.
With Greek officials unimpressed by the way Britain in particular has handled the crisis, it was announced that anyone flying in from abroad must now undergo two weeks of obligatory quarantine – or risk being penalised. Unveiling the measure at the health ministry’s daily briefing, the deputy civil protection minister, Nikos Hardalias, singled out the UK where people have not been subjected to the sort of measures applied elsewhere in Europe.
Greece, which has seen four people die from the disease, has applied some of the most stringent safety guards to date partly because of fears that after years of savage budget cuts the country’s fragile health system would collapse if overwhelmed.
After sealing borders with Albania and North Macedonia on Sunday and suspending flights to Italy and Spain, the centre-right government also announced the closure of all shops, bar supermarkets, pharmacies, banks, petrol stations, pet shops, food delivery outlets and appliance stores.
On the same day it said public beaches and ski resorts were also off-limits after Greeks converged on the coast en masse after being previously told that cafes, bars, tavernas, restaurants, casinos, brothels and barbers were also banned. Those violating the policies do so at their own peril: among those arrested in recent days was a hairdresser caught giving a customer highlights.
In Washington, Trump is discussing potential future measures.
He’s told reporters he’s looking at expanding sick pay requirements to companies with more than 500 employees and that the US government is taking over buildings to expand medical care capacity.
And Trump adds that the US may be heading into a recession.
France’s Public Health Authority has reported 21 new deaths from coronavirus taking the total to 148, an increase of around 16%. It says on its website that the number of cases had risen to 6,633, up from 5,423 on Sunday, which is a rise of more than 20% in 24 hours.
The French president, Emmanuel Macron, has put the country into almost total lockdown, introducing new rules stopping people from leaving home unless strictly necessary and banning them from meeting others and spreading the coronavirus.
In his second national address in less than a week, Macron reprimanded those who had not followed official advice and warned that those who broke the new rules would be punished. In his 20-minute live broadcast, Macron repeated several times: “We are at war.”
Beginning on Tuesday, people will only be allowed to leave home for strictly necessary reasons including to go shopping – while keeping a distance of one metre from anyone else – to get medical help and for work if it could not be done from home. Individual sporting activity will be allowed, but no collective sports.
Macron said the reinforced measures will be imposed for at least 15 days.
He also postponed the second round of the municipal elections next Sunday and postponed pension reforms that saw months of protests, demonstrations and strikes after they were unveiled in December until the outbreak of the coronavirus. He told the nation:
An extraordinary G20 summit will be convened to discuss the pandemic, according to a statement from the office of the Spanish prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, which says the decision was made during a call with the Saudi crown prince.
The Trump administration’s measures are particularly focused on older people, whom it urged to stay home and keep away from other people.