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Coronavirus news: trials longer than three days to be put on hold in UK – live updates Coronavirus news: trials longer than three days to be put on hold in UK – 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
The family of a British father who died after being diagnosed with coronavirus have said they were “truly heartbroken”. Posting on Facebook, relatives of Craig Ruston said he had died at 6.20am on Monday after his chest infection was diagnosed as Covid-19.
They said he had been diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) in June 2018 and was “not ready to go”. The post on his Me and my MND page on Tuesday, signed by his wife Sally and his “amazing girls”, read:
His family said he was taken ill last Tuesday and spent six days in isolation.
Relatives said Ruston was a “wonderfully kind and caring” person who welcomed everyone. They said he was still doing “everything in his power” to raise awareness and fight against MND.
In addition, Australia’s chief medical officer, Prof Brendan Murphy, says 454 cases have been identified and the number is rising every day. A two to four week shutdown would be ineffective, he adds. Prof Murphy says community transmission is at a low level at the moment.In addition, Australia’s chief medical officer, Prof Brendan Murphy, says 454 cases have been identified and the number is rising every day. A two to four week shutdown would be ineffective, he adds. Prof Murphy says community transmission is at a low level at the moment.
Australians have been told they face at least six months of restrictions to their daily lives as the country’s prime minister, Scott Morrison, set out a host of measures designed to combat the spread of the virus.Australians have been told they face at least six months of restrictions to their daily lives as the country’s prime minister, Scott Morrison, set out a host of measures designed to combat the spread of the virus.
Morrison has advised Australians not to gather in groups of more than 100, declared a human biosecurity emergency and told Australians they should not to travel internationally, adding that the anti-virus measures are likely to be in place for at least six months.Morrison has advised Australians not to gather in groups of more than 100, declared a human biosecurity emergency and told Australians they should not to travel internationally, adding that the anti-virus measures are likely to be in place for at least six months.
He also asked Australians to stop hoarding household items, saying it was not helpful, and said he was considering further economic measures.He also asked Australians to stop hoarding household items, saying it was not helpful, and said he was considering further economic measures.
However, he advised Australians that they government considers domestic travel to be low-risk and said schools should remain open.However, he advised Australians that they government considers domestic travel to be low-risk and said schools should remain open.
Gambia’s health ministry has reported its first case of coronavirus; a 20-year-old woman who had recently returned from the UK.Gambia’s health ministry has reported its first case of coronavirus; a 20-year-old woman who had recently returned from the UK.
Turkey has confirmed its first death related to the coronavirus and the country more than doubled its confirmed cases to 98, from 47 a day earlier.Turkey has confirmed its first death related to the coronavirus and the country more than doubled its confirmed cases to 98, from 47 a day earlier.
The health minister, Fahrettin Koca, has told a press conference that an 89-year old died after contracting the virus from someone who had contact with China, the epicentre of the global outbreak. Turkey diagnosed 51 more cases on Tuesday, he added.The health minister, Fahrettin Koca, has told a press conference that an 89-year old died after contracting the virus from someone who had contact with China, the epicentre of the global outbreak. Turkey diagnosed 51 more cases on Tuesday, he added.
Tunisia is imposing a curfew from 6pm to 6am from Wednesday, its president has said. The country declared 24 cases, closed mosques, cafes and markets, closed its land borders and suspended international flights.Tunisia is imposing a curfew from 6pm to 6am from Wednesday, its president has said. The country declared 24 cases, closed mosques, cafes and markets, closed its land borders and suspended international flights.
Elsewhere in the region, Morocco’s King Mohammed VI has ordered the army to use field hospitals to help health services fight the coronavirus outbreak.Elsewhere in the region, Morocco’s King Mohammed VI has ordered the army to use field hospitals to help health services fight the coronavirus outbreak.
The country has confirmed 44 cases and two deaths. Most cases were found in Moroccans resident in Spain, Italy and France who had returned home for visits. Morocco has suspended all international flights, closed mosques, schools, entertainment and sports venues and non-essential shops as a precautionary measure against the pandemic.The country has confirmed 44 cases and two deaths. Most cases were found in Moroccans resident in Spain, Italy and France who had returned home for visits. Morocco has suspended all international flights, closed mosques, schools, entertainment and sports venues and non-essential shops as a precautionary measure against the pandemic.
The Costa Rican government has announced the number of confirmed cases has risen to 50, the day after a state of emergency was declared in the Central American country. Those affected range from 10 to 87 years-old.The Costa Rican government has announced the number of confirmed cases has risen to 50, the day after a state of emergency was declared in the Central American country. Those affected range from 10 to 87 years-old.
On Monday, the Costa Rican president said it would be “hard to say” whether the outbreak in the region could be controlled and warned that predictive models for the spread of virus were “not that precise”.On Monday, the Costa Rican president said it would be “hard to say” whether the outbreak in the region could be controlled and warned that predictive models for the spread of virus were “not that precise”.
Criminal trials in England and Wales are to be put on hold, the Lord Chief Justice Lord Burnett has said, adding that no new trial should start in any crown court unless it is expected to last for three days or fewer. Criminal trials in England and Wales are to be put on hold, the lord chief justice Lord Burnett has said, adding that no new trial should start in any crown court unless it is expected to last for three days or fewer.
As a result, cases longer than three days that were due to start before the end of April will be postponed. Burnett has said:As a result, cases longer than three days that were due to start before the end of April will be postponed. Burnett has said:
Back to Ireland, where Varadkar has urged people to only access news from trusted sources, expressing concern about the impact of false information.Back to Ireland, where Varadkar has urged people to only access news from trusted sources, expressing concern about the impact of false information.
He closed his address with a message of solidarity to those countries currently worst hit by Covid-19.He closed his address with a message of solidarity to those countries currently worst hit by Covid-19.
One country already feeling serious economic effects is Bulgaria, where the prime minister Boyko Borissov has said the nation has already entered into a fiscal deficit.One country already feeling serious economic effects is Bulgaria, where the prime minister Boyko Borissov has said the nation has already entered into a fiscal deficit.
Reuters reports that the Balkan country raised the salaries of medics involved in treating infected patients by 1,000 levs (£466.56) per month and extended 500m levs to support affected companies to service loans.Reuters reports that the Balkan country raised the salaries of medics involved in treating infected patients by 1,000 levs (£466.56) per month and extended 500m levs to support affected companies to service loans.
On Tuesday alone, confirmed cases in the European Union country jumped by 30% to 81, and the country sealed off the ski resort of Bansko.On Tuesday alone, confirmed cases in the European Union country jumped by 30% to 81, and the country sealed off the ski resort of Bansko.
Borissov said his main aim was to protect the small and open economy and carefully manage the state’s finances, discarding what he called populist calls for tax breaks and a freeze on payments of electricity and water bills.Borissov said his main aim was to protect the small and open economy and carefully manage the state’s finances, discarding what he called populist calls for tax breaks and a freeze on payments of electricity and water bills.
Varadkar added that the economic impact is likely to be enormous.
The Irish government has already signed off a €3bn (£2.69bn) package for health, social welfare and support for businesses.
Older people and those with a long-term illness will be asked to stay at home for several weeks at some point during the pandemic, Varadkar added.
And he expressed pride in the work being done by Ireland’s healthcare workers.
Ireland expects to see 15,000 or more cases of coronavirus in the Republic by the end of the month and yet more in the following weeks, the taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said.
Making a rare live broadcast on Ireland’s state broadcaster RTÉ, Varadkar said it had been a St Patrick’s day “like no other, a day that none of us will ever forget”. He warned the nation:
Varadkar said there was a global and national emergency caused by a pandemic the like of which had never been seen before.
The taoiseach said more restrictions of social interactions would be introduced. He said the best strategies to deal with the virus focus on testing, contact tracing and social distancing.
More than 650 Britons stuck on a cruise ship that has seen numerous virus cases will be flown back to the UK on Wednesday evening (GMT).
Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, which operates the Braemar liner, said three flights chartered from British Airways would fly to Heathrow from Jose Marti airport, in Havana, in Cuba. The first will take off from Havana at 6pm local time (10pm GMT), landing in London at 6.30am GMT. The final flight will land at 10.30am GMT.
The company said there would be a separate flight for anyone who has received a positive diagnosis for coronavirus, or has displayed any flu-like symptoms, plus their companions. The firm said:
Guests on the British Airways flights will not be required to self-isolate.
A two-week ban on flights from 28 countries, including the UK and Greece, has been announced by Cyprus.
The measure will come into effect from 1am GMT on 21 March, an official statement said. It does not affect cargo flights.
The island has already enacted stringent entry requirements, effective from 16 March, barring anyone into the island, including Cypriots, without a medical certificate that they are clear of coronavirus. Those who do arrive are placed in compulsory quarantine in a government-supervised facility for two weeks.
The east Mediterranean island has reported 49 cases.
Mass street protests have been banned in Algeria, where demonstrators demanding political reforms have been out on the streets for more than a year.
The country’s president Abdelmadjid Tebboune, told the nation in a televised address:
According to Reuters, it was not immediately clear if all protesters would agree to suspend their movement. One, school teacher Mohamed Hachimi, said the demonstrations would not stop.
Algeria has confirmed 60 cases of the coronavirus including five deaths, mostly in the town of Blida, south of the capital, and has restricted much foreign travel and closed mosques.
Montenegro is confirming its first cases; in two female patients who arrived in the country 12 days ago from the United States and Spain. The prime minister, Duško Marković, said both patients have been hospitalised.
Montenegro had already sealed its borders, stopped public transportation, closed down schools, cafes and restaurants to stop spreading the infection. Only supermarkets and pharmacies remain open.
Mosques in Saudi Arabia will no longer receive worshippers for the customary five daily prayers or the weekly Friday congregation, the country has said. The move is aimed at limiting the spread of the virus that has infected 171 people.
Neighbouring Oman also closed mosques, restaurants, coffee shops, tourist sites and traditional markets and malls, except groceries and pharmacies. It barred foreigners from entering and nationals from leaving, state TV said.
New Zealanders travelling overseas are being urged to return home as soon as possible by their government.
An alert on the safe travel website follows similar advice issued by the Australian government overnight.
Many Kiwis overseas will face an arduous journey home, with few long-haul flights still connecting to the South Pacific nation as demand dramatically decreased following the introduction of self-isolation rules for all new arrivals.
New Zealand’s national carrier, Air New Zealand has also said it will slash its overseas flights by 85% in the coming months.
Guatemala is suspending incoming flights carrying immigrants and asylum seekers sent by the United States.
The measure covers two flights of Guatemalan deportees scheduled for Tuesday, as well as indefinitely suspending flights carrying people from other Central American nations who were being sent to Guatemala under an asylum cooperation agreement with the United States that is part of Washingtons broader crackdown on immigration at the US-Mexico border.
Concerns have been expressed that the deportation of migrants from the US and Mexico could accelerate the spread of coronavirus in Central America: