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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
(32 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
Amid concerns that many pubs and restaurants will struggle to survive the near-lockdown conditions being encouraged by the government, ministers have said planning rules will be relaxed to allow them to serve takeaway meals.
The communities secretary, Robert Jenrick, has said:
Currently, planning permission is required for businesses to carry out a change of use to a hot food takeaway. The government is now confirming such regulations will be relaxed.
The head of the European Union executive has said a German company might have a vaccine against coronavirus by the autumn.
The European commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, released €80m (£71.7m) of EU funds to the German pharmaceutical company CureVac on Monday, after discussing with executives their vaccine plans. She said:
German media reported that Donald Trump had tried to buy the company over the weekend, although the firm has distanced itself from those claims.
Von der Leyen said: “It is a European company. We wanted to keep it in Europe, it wanted to stay in Europe.” She said rules on approval of medical products would speed up “as we are in a severe crisis we all see that we are able to speed up many of the processes that are slow normally and take a lot of time”.
She was speaking in Brussels, after European leaders approved a 30-day ban on non-EU citizens travelling into the union, following crisis talks via conference call.
Von der Leyen said there was “a unanimous and united approach” on the travel restrictions, which include exemptions for British nationals, residents, healthcare workers and researchers, and people delivering goods across the EU internal markets.
She said it was up to EU member states to implement the plan “as soon as possible”.
Von der Leyen said her information was that the British government did not plan to join the EU in implementing the travel ban, while noting the British government was advising against foreign travel.
She hinted the EU would soon have to go further with plans to deal with the economic fallout of the virus.
The European council president, Charles Michel, said EU27 leaders would hold another conference call next week. Long planned face-to-face talks at an EU summit in Brussels at the end of the month have been cancelled.
All staffed sites, including Stonehenge and others, are being closed down from Wednesday 18 March to Friday 1 May, English Heritage says.
Belgium will go into lockdown for nearly three weeks, the state broadcaster RTBF reports.
From noon on Wednesday CET, all people living in Belgium will be expected to stay at home, unless it is an emergency, or they need to visit a supermarket or medical professional.
The plan has not been confirmed officially, but is expected to be announced by the prime minister, Sophie Wilmès, later on Tuesday.
The measures are to last until 5 April and were approved by Belgium’s national security council, which is comprised of Wilmès, vice prime ministers, other senior politicians and security services.
Police will be given powers to ensure that people respect the policy.
Belgium has recorded 1,085 cases of coronavirus and five people have died, according to the latest available data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.
Listen to the Guardian’s Science Weekly podcast, on which Hannah Devlin speaks to Prof Paul Hunter about fatality rates. Why are different figures are being quoted across the media; how are the rates are calculated; and is the fatality rate the only useful number to look at?
McDonnell said:
He also called on the chancellor to “consider abolishing completely the lower earnings limit with regards to statutory sick pay”.
On utility bills, he said:
McDonnell listed sectors that are facing particular uncertainty; such as the fishing and agriculture industries. And he said the government should requisition private hospital beds, rather than pay for them during a time of national emergency.
The shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, has said the chancellor has not done enough to protect those people who are being laid off today. He asks Sunak to address a series of issues. Among them:
Provide statutory sick pay for everyone, including those who do not currently qualify, from day one. And increase the rate of pay to the living wage.
Ensure a right to work from home.
Put in place measures to protect people who rent their homes, prevent evictions and introduce holidays
Force through freezes to utility payments.
Covert the advance currently offered as a loan to universal credit claimants into a grant instead.
Guarantee that people have jobs to return to once the crisis is over.
Make it clear to insurance firms that, since closures are occurring are on the instruction of the government, even those whose policies do not cover pandemics will be able to get payouts.
The UK chancellor, Rishi Sunak, has received a significant ticking off in the House of Commons this evening. The Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle has told him:The UK chancellor, Rishi Sunak, has received a significant ticking off in the House of Commons this evening. The Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle has told him:
Responding, Rishi Sunak said:Responding, Rishi Sunak said:
The British prime minister, Boris Johnson, has discussed the pandemic with the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, the French president, Emmanuel Macron, and the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, this evening. A Downing Street spokeswoman has said:The British prime minister, Boris Johnson, has discussed the pandemic with the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, the French president, Emmanuel Macron, and the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, this evening. A Downing Street spokeswoman has said:
The UK death toll rose to 67 after a further 14 people in England lost their lives after being diagnosed with coronavirus. The patients were aged between 45 and 93 and had underlying health conditions.The UK death toll rose to 67 after a further 14 people in England lost their lives after being diagnosed with coronavirus. The patients were aged between 45 and 93 and had underlying health conditions.
The UK government announced that £330bn in business loans would be made available to support firms struggling to cope with the repercussions of the outbreak.The UK government announced that £330bn in business loans would be made available to support firms struggling to cope with the repercussions of the outbreak.
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, the British-Iranian aid worker, was among more than 80,000 prisoners to be temporarily released in Iran due to the coronavirus outbreak. She is required to wear an ankle tag and her movements are restricted to within 300 metres of her parents’ home.Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, the British-Iranian aid worker, was among more than 80,000 prisoners to be temporarily released in Iran due to the coronavirus outbreak. She is required to wear an ankle tag and her movements are restricted to within 300 metres of her parents’ home.
The death toll in Italy has risen by 16% in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number to 2,503. The number of confirmed cases also rose to 31,506.The death toll in Italy has risen by 16% in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number to 2,503. The number of confirmed cases also rose to 31,506.
A string of cultural events, from the Olivier Awards to the Edinburgh Science Festival have been either postponed or cancelled. Cultural buildings including the Natural History Museum, the British Museum and the Royal Academy have closed their doors temporarily.A string of cultural events, from the Olivier Awards to the Edinburgh Science Festival have been either postponed or cancelled. Cultural buildings including the Natural History Museum, the British Museum and the Royal Academy have closed their doors temporarily.
Numerous major events including the French Open have been postponed.Numerous major events including the French Open have been postponed.
Scottish parliament has closed all access to its public galleries until further notice amidst the coronavirus outbreak, which has killed two in the country.The public have instead been told to watch proceedings on the government’s webcasting service.Access to the media gallery in the chamber will remain open for accredited media, but journalists are being encouraged to work from their offices or home.Ken Macintosh, senior Labour MSP and presiding officer of Holyrood parliament, said: “All our decisions are consistent with public health advice and are designed to minimise the impact of Covid-19, to help keep our staff and members of the public safe and with a view to safely and sustainably delivering essential parliamentary business.”Scottish parliament has closed all access to its public galleries until further notice amidst the coronavirus outbreak, which has killed two in the country.The public have instead been told to watch proceedings on the government’s webcasting service.Access to the media gallery in the chamber will remain open for accredited media, but journalists are being encouraged to work from their offices or home.Ken Macintosh, senior Labour MSP and presiding officer of Holyrood parliament, said: “All our decisions are consistent with public health advice and are designed to minimise the impact of Covid-19, to help keep our staff and members of the public safe and with a view to safely and sustainably delivering essential parliamentary business.”
French health authorities reported 27 new deaths from coronavirus on Tuesday, taking the total to 175 or an increase of around 18%, as France entered its first day of lockdown to try and contain the outbreak.French health authorities reported 27 new deaths from coronavirus on Tuesday, taking the total to 175 or an increase of around 18%, as France entered its first day of lockdown to try and contain the outbreak.
During a press conference without any physical presence of journalists, health agency director Jérôme Salomon added the number of cases had risen to 7,730, up from 6,633 on Monday, which is a rise of 16.5% in 24 hours.During a press conference without any physical presence of journalists, health agency director Jérôme Salomon added the number of cases had risen to 7,730, up from 6,633 on Monday, which is a rise of 16.5% in 24 hours.
Salomon said 699 people were in a serious condition, needing life support.Salomon said 699 people were in a serious condition, needing life support.
In view of the latest UK government advice on the coronavirus pandemic, the Masons have suspended all lodge and chapter meetings within England and Wales for a period of four months, with immediate effect, says an official communication from the Grand Master, HRH the Duke of Kent.
With the UK’s economy heading towards critical condition, more radical action needs to be taken if it is to ever recover, writes Tom Kibasi. Read the full opinion piece here:
Edinburgh Science Festival will be cancelled in response to the coronavirus outbreak.The festival, scheduled for 4-19 April, is the first in the yearly cycle of Edinburgh festivals to be cancelled and could be a harbinger of what will follow if the pandemic worsens.The festival’s key venue partners, the National Museum of Scotland, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and City Art Centre managed by Museums and Galleries Edinburgh, have all announced their closures today until further notice.
Festival and creative director Amanda Tyndall said:
The festival had a programme of over 270 events.
In a moment Billboard has called “a massive dance track with a touch of ominousness well-suited for moment”, DJ Snake has turned Cardi B’s viral rant into a song.
He recorded the process in a video which shows him tapping a fork on a glass to make percussion sounds and incorporating the sound of him pumping some antibacterial gel into his hands too.
Enjoy.
Readings of Shakespeare plays will be streamed online by a group seeking to entertain those who “do not like Netflix” after all major British theatres closed their doors.Lucy Aarden, a professional actor who has been cast in the lead role of Julia for the hastily organised production of The Two Gentleman of Verona said three different companies cancelled her upcoming work this morning and she was delighted to be cast in the unpaid role.
The streamed performance on Thursday, she said, would continue weekly with the playwrights’ works in chronological order, and allow actors and theatre makers to stay connected with each other.
“My dog has also been cast,” she said. “Hopefully when it’s his bit he’ll bark. I’m going to get his cues shortly.”
She said the reading, directed by Rob Myles and introduced by renowned Shakespeare expert Ben Crystal, would also include amateur actors, and that she was already rehearsing for her role alone at home after being cast earlier today.
“150 now unemployed actors got in touch from different time zones across the globe to take part,” she said. “It’s a really nice platform for actors. No one is going to theatres for the foreseeable. And not everyone likes Netflix.”
In what seems apt during times of crisis, she will say:
But say, Lucetta, now we are alone,Wouldst thou then counsel me to fall in love?
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.
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.
A statement reads:
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.
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.