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Coronavirus live news: Italy deaths up by 475, biggest jump anywhere in a single day Coronavirus live news: outbreak like a nuclear explosion, says archbishop of Canterbury
(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
The pandemic is like a nuclear explosion – bringing a huge initial impact and a fallout that will last for years and shape the nation’s future in unforeseeable ways, the Archbishop of Canterbury has warned. The Costa Rican health ministry has announced the country’s first death from Covid-19.
An 87 year-old-man who was in intensive care in Alajuela, Costa Rica’s second largest city, died at 4:15pm (CST) on Wednesday.
The country’s president, Carlos Alvarado, expressed solidarity with the man’s family and urged Costa Ricans to react to the government’s social distancing advice.
The death comes as the Central American country announced its largest day-to-day rise in cases: up 19 to 69 on Wednesday.
Mauritius has confirmed its first three cases of coronavirus, the island nation’s government has said.
The UK’s Ministry of Defence is to double the size of the military’s civil contingency unit to create a 20,000-strong Covid support force, my colleagues Haroon Siddique and Robert Booth write.
The country’s defence secretary, Ben Wallace, announced that an additional 10,000 troops are to be added to the 10,000 routinely held at higher readiness in case of a civil emergency – and reservists could also be called up.
We reported earlier that the United Arab Emirates was suspending issuing all types of work permits. Now the state news agency, WAM, reports it is suspend entry of valid residence visa holders who are still abroad.
The measure is reportedly due to come into effect at noon on Thursday (GST) and will be in place for two weeks.
Angela Hartnett’s Michelin-starred Murano restaurant in Mayfair, in central London, is the latest ‘fine-dining’ casualty of the coronavirus outbreak.
Chef and owner Hartnett has announced its closure in an email to customers:
The upmarket department store Harrods has announced reduced opening hours and closed all its restaurants to protect its customers and its 5,000 staff. Restaurants that are staying open – with few customers – are offering takeaway services.
Jace Tyrrell, the chief executive of New West End Company that represents 600-plus retailers and businesses across London’s West End, said:
The pandemic is like a nuclear explosion – bringing a huge initial impact and a fallout that will last for years and shape the nation’s future in unforeseeable ways, the archbishop of Canterbury has warned.
Speaking at Westminster, Justin Welby welcomed the “war budget commitment” made by the government to shore up the struggling economy.Speaking at Westminster, Justin Welby welcomed the “war budget commitment” made by the government to shore up the struggling economy.
But the top Anglican cleric stressed the need for the “enormous and unprecedented” financial support to benefit the entire country and not just the big cities.But the top Anglican cleric stressed the need for the “enormous and unprecedented” financial support to benefit the entire country and not just the big cities.
Employees of Air Canada, the country’s largest airline, have said the company is not doing enough to inform customers and staff of their exposure to passengers infected with Covid-19.Employees of Air Canada, the country’s largest airline, have said the company is not doing enough to inform customers and staff of their exposure to passengers infected with Covid-19.
And, as more flight attendants test positive for the coronavirus, there are growing fears in the company ranks that the risk to flight attendants is higher than previously acknowledged.And, as more flight attendants test positive for the coronavirus, there are growing fears in the company ranks that the risk to flight attendants is higher than previously acknowledged.
Why are UK schools closing now and what does it mean for parents? My colleague Sally Weale has the answers to those and other questions:Why are UK schools closing now and what does it mean for parents? My colleague Sally Weale has the answers to those and other questions:
Air Canada is gradually suspending the majority of its international and US trans-border flights by 31 March in response to the pandemic, Reuters reports.Air Canada is gradually suspending the majority of its international and US trans-border flights by 31 March in response to the pandemic, Reuters reports.
The company says it intends to continue serving all provinces and territories of Canada, but will reduce its domestic network to 40 airports from 62 in April.The company says it intends to continue serving all provinces and territories of Canada, but will reduce its domestic network to 40 airports from 62 in April.
Most UK freelancers working in the creative industries are afraid they will not be able to pay their bills because of the work they have lost due to coronavirus, a study suggests.Most UK freelancers working in the creative industries are afraid they will not be able to pay their bills because of the work they have lost due to coronavirus, a study suggests.
A survey of 5,600 people by the broadcasting union Bectu found almost half had already lost money because of the outbreak.A survey of 5,600 people by the broadcasting union Bectu found almost half had already lost money because of the outbreak.
Almost 500 said they had lost more than £5,000 each, while estimates for future loss of earnings were difficult because of the uncertainty about the length of potential disruption. More than 100 of those surveyed feared they were facing losing more than £40,000.Almost 500 said they had lost more than £5,000 each, while estimates for future loss of earnings were difficult because of the uncertainty about the length of potential disruption. More than 100 of those surveyed feared they were facing losing more than £40,000.
The union’s head, Philippa Childs, said:The union’s head, Philippa Childs, said:
Having announced that UK schools will remain open to supervise children of “key workers,” questions remain over who will qualify.Having announced that UK schools will remain open to supervise children of “key workers,” questions remain over who will qualify.
Some obvious candidates have been mentioned by the government, principally NHS workers, but the potential list is very long. Paul Tarn, the chief executive of the Delta Academies Trust that runs 50 schools, says the government needs to make clear who will be included:Some obvious candidates have been mentioned by the government, principally NHS workers, but the potential list is very long. Paul Tarn, the chief executive of the Delta Academies Trust that runs 50 schools, says the government needs to make clear who will be included:
Dave Prentis, Unison’s general secretary, has similar concerns:Dave Prentis, Unison’s general secretary, has similar concerns:
In Ireland, the chief medical officer, Dr Tony Holohan, has praised the “extraordinary” observance of social distancing steps.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.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.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.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.
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 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.
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.
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:
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.