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Coronavirus live news: Italy deaths up by 475, biggest jump anywhere in a single day Coronavirus live news: Italy deaths up by 475, biggest jump anywhere in a single day
(32 minutes later)
Spain closes hotels; Portugal declares state of emergency; worldwide cases pass 200,000. Follow the latest updatesSpain closes hotels; Portugal declares state of emergency; worldwide cases pass 200,000. Follow the latest updates
In Ireland, the chief medical officer, Dr Tony Holohan, has praised the “extraordinary” observance of social distancing steps.
The senior medic said it was too early to tell what impact it was having on the number of cases diagnosed, but he said a clearer picture should emerge in the coming weeks.
He acknowledged that potential public fatigue with the measures could become a challenge if they continue for an extended period.
Dr Holohan particularly urged young people to think of their older relatives and the impact the virus could have on them when observing the restrictions on their daily lives. He said the projection of 15,000 diagnoses in Ireland by the end of the month was in an “unmitigated” situation.
Slovenia plans to introduce quarantine from Friday to slow down the spread of the virus, its interior minister Ales Hojs has told national television.
He said people will still be able to go to work, pharmacies or food shops but all socialising in open spaces will be prohibited. The country has so far confirmed 286 coronavirus cases, of which one person died while six are in intensive care.
The medical humanitarian organisation Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is preparing to set up activities in and around Paris to help detect and manage Covid-19 cases among the most vulnerable populations, it has said.
The organisation is more commonly associated with responding to medical emergencies in war zones. Its deputy operations director, Pierre Mendiharat, said:
Bloomberg is reporting that Tesla, which has thus far resisted an order from the local authorities to close down its US assembly plant in the interest of public health, is now preparing to reduce staffing by about 75%.
Egypt has reported 14 new coronavirus cases, its health ministry has said, bringing the total number of confirmed cases up to 210. The country has so far reported six coronavirus-related deaths.
Ireland’s Health Protection Surveillance Centre has reported 74 new confirmed cases of Covid-19. The cases, which are made up of 29 females and 45 males, bring the total number of coronavirus cases in Ireland to 366.
Another senior Brazilian political figure has tested positive.Another senior Brazilian political figure has tested positive.
Davi Alcolumbre, the head of the country’s Senate, is without severe symptoms, but feels a little sick and is in quarantine at home, his office has said, adding that an initial test was negative, but a second one was positive.Davi Alcolumbre, the head of the country’s Senate, is without severe symptoms, but feels a little sick and is in quarantine at home, his office has said, adding that an initial test was negative, but a second one was positive.
The United Arab Emirates is suspending issuing all types of work permits, starting on Thursday and until further notice, the state news agency (WAM) reports. The decision excludes internal transportation permits and employment permits for Expo 2020, WAM adds.The United Arab Emirates is suspending issuing all types of work permits, starting on Thursday and until further notice, the state news agency (WAM) reports. The decision excludes internal transportation permits and employment permits for Expo 2020, WAM adds.
The British ambassador to Spain has corrected an earlier statement, saying now that the Spanish government has not given formal orders for hotels and short-stay accommodation in the country to shut their doors.The British ambassador to Spain has corrected an earlier statement, saying now that the Spanish government has not given formal orders for hotels and short-stay accommodation in the country to shut their doors.
Nearly 600 people have died in Spain in recent weeks and cases of coronavirus have surged to 13,716, leaving the country battling an epidemic that ranks among the worst in Europe.Nearly 600 people have died in Spain in recent weeks and cases of coronavirus have surged to 13,716, leaving the country battling an epidemic that ranks among the worst in Europe.
In an earlier video, Elliott said the Spanish government had ordered the closure of hotels over the next seven days.In an earlier video, Elliott said the Spanish government had ordered the closure of hotels over the next seven days.
A Spanish government source said that, while the closure of hotels was included in the emergency measures imposed on Saturday, there is no firm date by which they must shut their doors. Hotels are not accepting any new reservations but continue to attend to guests who are already on the premises, the source added.A Spanish government source said that, while the closure of hotels was included in the emergency measures imposed on Saturday, there is no firm date by which they must shut their doors. Hotels are not accepting any new reservations but continue to attend to guests who are already on the premises, the source added.
The UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office said it expected hotels, short-stay campsites and caravan parks in Spain to close “in the coming days.” The measures are not expected to apply to long-term accommodation, it added.The UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office said it expected hotels, short-stay campsites and caravan parks in Spain to close “in the coming days.” The measures are not expected to apply to long-term accommodation, it added.
Staying in the UK – the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, has written to the prime minister with three demands:Staying in the UK – the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, has written to the prime minister with three demands:
The former Manchester United footballer, Gary Neville, has said the 176 beds in his two hotels will be handed over to medical staff who need to isolate themselves from their families for free from Friday.The former Manchester United footballer, Gary Neville, has said the 176 beds in his two hotels will be handed over to medical staff who need to isolate themselves from their families for free from Friday.
The businesses will be closed to the public, though staff will continue to operate the hotels for the health workers. And Neville promised that no employee would be made redundant or asked to take unpaid leave.The businesses will be closed to the public, though staff will continue to operate the hotels for the health workers. And Neville promised that no employee would be made redundant or asked to take unpaid leave.
US and Canadian leaders have stressed the importance of keeping trade flowing, even as they announce travel restrictions to combat the pandemic
The White House has said Donald Trump and Justin Trudeau held talks on the need for “close cooperation on efforts to combat the virus, including the agreement to reduce movement across the United States-Canada border to essential travel only”.
Oxfam is closing its 600 high street shops from Saturday, it has announced. The charity said the decision was made to “protect the health of its staff, volunteers and customers”, adding its online store would remain open. Its deputy trading director, Anne Webb, said:
A second person – a 61-year-old man – has died in Turkey, the country’s health minister has announced. Fahrettin Koca said the number of confirmed cases has nearly doubled to 191 from 98 a day earlier.
The London Underground’s 24-hour weekend night Tube service is closing with immediate effect.
The move will help restrict non-essential travel to bars and restaurants, as the prime minister contemplates a crackdown. It also comes among increased staff anger at the risk of working on Tube lines at night to serve passengers ignoring public health advice to avoid gatherings.
The service operates on Friday and Saturday nights on the Northern, Central and Victoria lines, as well as parts of the London Overground. The Waterloo and City line will also be suspended from Thursday night in response to declining demand and staff availability.
Another Brazilian minister has tested positive for Covid-19, the country’s president Jair Bolsonaro has announced.
The energy minister, Admiral Bento Albuquerque, is the second government minister to contract the virus. The institutional security minster General Augusto Heleno’s first test was positive, while the press secretary Fabio Wajngarten has also become infected.
On Wednesday, Bolsonaro hosted a press conference on the pandemic flanked by nine ministers and top officials – all wearing masks which they removed when talking.
He attacked the media, called Tuesday’s home-based, pan-bashing protests against him “an expression of democracy” and defended defying medical advice to mingle with demonstrators last Sunday.
As “leader of Brazilian nation, I have to be at the front together with my people,” said Bolsonaro, a former army captain.
But he did little to assuage fears the pandemic could overwhelm Brazil’s health service when he said it “is unable to accept a considerable quantity” of people sick with Covid-19. Brazilian states have reported 393 confirmed cases. The defence minister, General Fernando Azevedo e Silva, said:
The health minister, Luiz Mandetta, warned of “tough days” ahead, explaining that reducing the challenge ahead from the size of Mount Everest to a more scaleable Brazilian mountain demanded the cooperation of the population.
Costa Rica has recorded its largest single day rise in confirmed cases, spiking from 50 on Tuesday to 69 on Wednesday. The ages of known Covid-19 patients range from 8 years old to 87 in the Central American country.
In an emotional message, the country’s health minister Daniel Salas pleaded with Costa Ricans to stay away from public spaces and take the government’s social distancing policies seriously.
The UK’s transport secretary has met with airline representatives to try to work out how to get stranded citizens home amid a host of border closures around the world.
Grant Shapps also said the Department for Transport and the Treasury are working on a plan to support the struggling industry. Tim Alderslade, the chief executive Airlines UK, has said:
People are being reminded to get some exercise despite the UK government’s call for the country to be largely put into lockdown.
The chief medical officer for England, Prof Chris Whitty said it was important that both children and adults still take exercise while in social isolation.
Asked if it was safe for a few people to kick a ball about, ProfWhitty said:
He said the UK was in for the “long haul” in terms of social distancing measures.
The head of a major children’s charity has stressed the importance of school time to keeping children safe after the government announced vulnerable children would be exempt from its schools closure plan.
Anna Edmundson, the head of policy and public affairs at the children’s charity NSPCC, said:
Baltic states have deployed ships, a train and a plane to repatriate hundreds of citizens stuck at the border between Germany and Poland after Warsaw banned foreign nationals over the coronavirus, the Agence France-Presse (AFP) news agency reports.
A ship from Germany docked at the Lithuanian port of Klaipeda Wednesday, hours after a train arrived in the central city of Kaunas, said Aldona Griniene; a spokeswoman for the nation’s transport ministry.
Vilnius also sent a military transport plane to airlift dozens of people from Germany who were unable to cross into Poland earlier this week. More ships are scheduled in the coming days, AFP reports.