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Coronavirus news: death toll in Italy rises by 16% in 24 hours – live updates Coronavirus news: death toll in Italy rises by 16% in 24 hours – live updates
(30 minutes later)
UK measures to last at least ‘several months’; Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe freed temporarily; Saudi Arabia to stage virtual G20 summit. Follow the latest updatesUK measures to last at least ‘several months’; Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe freed temporarily; Saudi Arabia to stage virtual G20 summit. Follow the latest updates
Curzon cinemas will be closed on March 19 onwards. Bafta has postponed its annual television and TV craft awards. The former were were due to go ahead on May 17, while the craft awards, which celebrate technical achievement in television, were due to take place on April 26.
CEO Philip Knatchbull said in a statement: “At Curzon, the health and safety of our staff and customers is paramount, and we have therefore made the difficult decision to close all our cinemas from the end of play tomorrow until further notice. On the day that Royal Mail workers have voted hugely in favour of strikes in a long-running dispute over job security and the company’s future direction, they have also offered to serve as an additional coronavirus emergency service in the UK.
“Curzon head office will also be closed during this time with all staff now fully equipped to work from home. A statement reads:
“During this incredibly challenging period, we would ask our customers to continue to support us through the Curzon Home Cinema platform. We are working with a number of third-party distributors to provide an outlet for their new and current film releases, and we are also launching a number of exciting initiatives to keep film fans entertained during the lockdown. Public crowds of more than 10 people will be banned in Denmark starting Wednesday at 10am local time in a move to curb the spread of coronavirus, the country’s prime minister said.
“We intend to keep our current distribution slate on their published release dates and look to increase audiences through Curzon Home Cinema.” All restaurants, bars, cafes, night clubs as well as gyms, tanning centers and tattoo parlors will be required to shut down for two weeks until March 30, Mette Frederiksen said told a press conference.
Jordan’s King Abdullah has approved a law that gives the government sweeping powers to enforce a state of emergency to help it combat the spread of coronavirus, state media said.
The royal decree gives the prime minister, Omar Razzaz, extraordinary powers under a defence law enacted in times of war and disasters to enforce curfews, closing businesses and placing restrictions on freedom of movement of people.
The cabinet announced the closure of all government agencies except hospitals from Wednesday and ordered private firms to also close their offices and send employees home.
All shops in malls would be shut apart from those selling food and medicine. Gatherings of more than 10 people will be banned.
The public security department said it would use force if necessary against anyone resisting these government decisions.
Edinburgh city council has announced the closure of galleries and museums, along with the cancellation of events at its venues, in response to the coronavirus outbreak.
A spokeswoman for the council confirmed that events at the Usher Hall, Assembly Rooms, Church Hill Theatre and Ross Bandstand to be held before the end of April will not go ahead.
The Olivier Awards, which were due to take place on April 5, have been cancelled.
A statement from the Society Of London Theatre said: “Following the government’s new advice on social distancing yesterday, and the subsequent closing of many theatres and public venues, we no longer feel that it is feasible to host the ceremony that we had planned to deliver.
“As the Royal Albert Hall has announced closure until further notice, we have taken the difficult decision that the event will not be going ahead.
“The Society of London Theatre would like to thank all nominees, shows, producers, theatres, sponsors, suppliers and creatives for their ongoing support.
“We are working through plans on how to properly honour and announce this year’s winners, and will release further information soon.
“All tickets will be refunded, and the Royal Albert Hall will be in touch with ticketholders, who are asked to be patient during this process.”
Uber Technologies Inc and Lyft Inc began suspending shared rides on their ride-hailing platforms in the United States and Canada to limit the spread of the coronavirus.
Uber also said it has suspended its shared rides services in London and Paris.
Regular rides and the company’s food delivery platform, Uber Eats, remain available, but Uber said it was in contact with local authorities to adjust operations as needed.
Oman has closed all tourist sites, sports clubs, mosques, all shops in malls except food stores and pharmacies, traditional and local souqs, and has banned gatherings in public places over coronavirus fears, state tv reports.
Tesco is expected to announce all its 24-hour stores will from tonight reduce their hours to open between 6am and 10pm, PA understands.
The Cheltenham Jazz Festival and the Cheltenham Science Festival have both been cancelled, in response to what senior management called “the worst public health crisis in a generation”.
John McDonnell MP, the shadow chancellor, responding to Rishi Sunak’s coronavirus update, said:
The Science Museum Group has announced its sites will be closed from Tuesday evening until further notice.
This includes its five museums: the Science Museum in London, National Railway Museum in York, Science and Industry Museum in Manchester, National Science and Media Museum in Bradford, and Locomotion in Shildon, County Durham.
Curzon cinemas will be closed on 19 March onwards.
CEO Philip Knatchbull said in a statement:
The Royal Academy will be closed from 6pm.The Royal Academy will be closed from 6pm.
A statement said: “Like our peer organisations, our aim is to ensure the health and wellbeing of our Friends, visitors and staff - as well as the general public - during this unprecedented time. A statement said:
“While our front doors will close, we plan to stay open in other ways.
“The RA has been a voice for art and artists for more than 250 years, and in the coming weeks we’ll draw on this deep well of experience as we continue to share video tours, interviews and exhibition highlights; revisit popular events; encourage you to get your paint and pencils out; and offer creative inspiration for your new ways of working and connecting.”
UK high street coffee chain Pret a Manger has become the latest to announce that from today (Tuesday) it is no longer accepting customers’ own reusable coffee cups (typically made of plastic, glass or bamboo material) because of the risk of contamination for staff and customers. It will hand out cardboard disposable cups instead, although customers are still eligible for the 50p discount per cup.UK high street coffee chain Pret a Manger has become the latest to announce that from today (Tuesday) it is no longer accepting customers’ own reusable coffee cups (typically made of plastic, glass or bamboo material) because of the risk of contamination for staff and customers. It will hand out cardboard disposable cups instead, although customers are still eligible for the 50p discount per cup.
In further measures, it has also removed water cups from its free water stations, and moved all cutlery and napkins to behind its tills, to be handed out by staff members. It is also sanitising all surfaces that are regularly touched by its teams or customers at a minimum of every 30 minutes.In further measures, it has also removed water cups from its free water stations, and moved all cutlery and napkins to behind its tills, to be handed out by staff members. It is also sanitising all surfaces that are regularly touched by its teams or customers at a minimum of every 30 minutes.
In a blogpost published on its website on Tuesday, chief executive Pano Christou seeks to reassure customers, saying: “We are living in unprecedented times, and as the everyday is rapidly changing, I want to reassure you that everyone at Pret is devoted to taking care of you when you shop with us.”In a blogpost published on its website on Tuesday, chief executive Pano Christou seeks to reassure customers, saying: “We are living in unprecedented times, and as the everyday is rapidly changing, I want to reassure you that everyone at Pret is devoted to taking care of you when you shop with us.”
Starbucks has already temporarily banned the use of reusable cups for the safety of both customers and staff.Starbucks has already temporarily banned the use of reusable cups for the safety of both customers and staff.
Bulgaria put its ski resort of Bansko under a two-week lockdown after three people there tested positive for coronavirus on Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Donchev said.
Access to the resort, home to some 10,000 people and located in southwestern Bulgaria, will be curtailed until the end of the month. Some 200 foreign tourists currently in Bansko will be escorted to Sofia Airport if they opt to leave.
Among the confirmed cases is a nine-year-old British boy, who was in Bansko with his family on a skiing holiday. Tests for the rest of the family came back negative.
Bulgaria’s confirmed coronavirus cases jumped to 81 on Tuesday. It has banned all holiday trips to the country in an effort to contain the infection.
Luxury jeweller Tiffany & Co has said it would temporarily close several stores, including its Fifth Avenue flagship store in New York, and reduce working hours at other outlets, in an effort to contain the spread of coronavirus.
Earlier in the day, L Brands Inc, Ralph Lauren and American Eagle Outfitters announced temporary store closure, joining a spate of retailers, including Nike Inc , which have made similar announcements in recent days.
Tiffany, which is being bought by Louis Vuitton owner LVMH , will be reporting quarterly earnings report on Friday.
The foreign ministry of Guatemala has temporarily suspended flights of deported Guatemalans and other nationalities returned from the United States, Reuters reports.
Visits to Scottish prisons will continue to operate as normal amidst the coronavirus outbreak, as prisoners with symptoms are told to self-isolate in their cells.
Humza Yousaf, Scotland’s Justice Minister, confirmed on Twitter on Tuesday that the Scottish Prison Service has a Coronavirus Response Group that has been implementing its national pandemic plan. Governors in charge of prisons have been overseeing local delivery plans as advice is given to every prisoner via letters and in-cell TV messages.
Updated guidance shows that visits to prisons will continue to operate as normal. Those with symptoms who live alone have been advised to stay at home for seven days, while those who live with others have been told to stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days.
A Scottish Prison Service spokeswoman said:
“The safety and wellbeing of those living and working in our establishments is a priority for the Scottish Prison Service (SPS).
“SPS is following the advice of Health Protection Scotland and we have issued guidance to staff and those in our care about steps which should be taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“At this time there are no restrictions on movement in place therefore establishments are continuing to operate visits as normal.
“Anyone within our care who is presenting with symptoms of COVID-19 is required to self-isolate within their cell for seven days.
“Those who are self-isolating still have access to food and medication and we are working on ways to maintain communication with friends and family.”
Another major casualty of the film calendar, Disney has delayed the release of Marvel film Black Widow, as well as The Woman In The Window and the US release of The Personal History Of David Copperfield. New dates have not yet been finalised.
Nespresso is the latest company to announce it has closed all stores in the UK and Ireland in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
There’s more bad news for the UK’s beer drinkers. The Campaign for Real Ale, which runs over 180 local beer festivals across the country, has cancelled all events – including local beer festivals - planned between now and the end of June following the new advice on mass gathering.
All physical events, festivals and meetings, from branch to national levels, have been cancelled for an initial three-month period, with further cancellations to be considered regularly as the situation evolves.
Nik Antona, CAMRA National Chairman said: “While we understand the important social benefits of CAMRA and the huge pleasure in pub going, we feel it would be highly irresponsible to continue to promote gatherings of people in pubs – both of which have been advised against by the Government.
“We will, of course, be looking into what campaigning measure we can take to help support the British beer and pub industry during this unsettling time – and would repeat our calls for the Government to put together a support package to support the pub and brewery trade during this period.”
CAMRA’s flagship festival, the Great British Beer Festival, is currently under review as it is due to take place at Olympia, London from 4-8 August.
In the second daily coronavirus press conference, the UK chancellor Rushi Sunak has announced that he will make £330bn available in lending to keep firms in business.
You can follow all the latest political developments over on Andy Sparrow’s politics live blog.
The total number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in Italy has risen to 31,506, from 27,980 on Monday, Reuters reports.
The death toll also increased by 16% in the last 24 hours, by 345 to 2,503.
Following in the footsteps of Italy, the Spanish government has vowed to suspend mortgage payments for workers and self-employed affected by the coronavirus epidemic.
The government will also prohibit the cutting off of basic utilities such as electricity, water, gas and telecommunications for vulnerable groups during the crisis.
“These are extraordinary times and they require extraordinary measures,” Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, said as he unveiled what he described as the “greatest mobilisation of resources in Spain’s democratic history”.
A surge of recent cases in Spain have made it one of Europe’s hardest hit countries, with 491 deaths and 11,178 confirmed cases. The country has been in a near-total lockdown since Saturday.
Among the latest victims are 19 senior citizens who died after the virus spread throughout their care home in Madrid.
Companies across the country responded to the epidemic with plans to temporarily lay off at least 100,000 people, adding to the anxiety in a country where the unemployment rate already ranks among the highest in the industrialised world.
Under the measures promised by Sánchez, laid-off workers will be guaranteed unemployment benefits, while salaried workers will be able reduce their working hours or take time off to care for dependents.
Companies will be offered state-backed credit guarantees and unlimited liquidity lines, while €30m will be set aside for research on a Covid-19 vaccine.
The measures will cost a total of €200bn, or around 20% of the country’s gross domestic product, said Sánchez. Around €117bn euros will come from public coffers, with the rest from private funds, he added.