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Coronavirus news: Thousands more beds and 20,000 extra staff to aid fight in UK – live updates Coronavirus news: Thousands more beds and 20,000 extra staff to aid fight in UK – live updates
(32 minutes later)
Italy deaths pass 4,000; More US states, including New York, tell people to stay home; Dow Jones falls 900 points. Follow the latestItaly deaths pass 4,000; More US states, including New York, tell people to stay home; Dow Jones falls 900 points. Follow the latest
More than 500 travellers from UK and Ireland are currently stranded in Peru as the window for repatriation closes. Brazil’s far-right president is facing fierce criticism for what is widely seen as his chaotic and cavalier response to the coronavirus crisis.
But governors of some of Brazil’s most important states are taking drastic action amid warnings that the country’s health service could collapse because of coronavirus in the coming weeks.
The governor of São Paulo state, João Doria, has just announced that it will begin a 15-day quarantine from this Tuesday.
“This will mean the order to close all non-essential commerce and services,” João Doria told reporters according to the Folha de São Paulo newspaper.
São Paulo is Brazil’s most economically important and populous state - home to more than 44 million of the country’s 209 million citizens. Its capital is the megacity of São Paulo which someone in the region of 20 million residents.
An Irish naval vessel is being transformed into a Covid-19 testing centre.
The LE Samuel Beckett is berthed at Sir John Rogerson’s Quay on the Liffey River in Dublin city centre.
Hundreds of cases of the virus have been recorded in Ireland.
Army engineers provided power and lighting for the vessel, while others erected tents along the quayside close to the central bank.
It is part of a major effort by the defence forces to support the health service’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Canada’s death toll from the coronavirus outbreak has risen to 13 from 12 the previous day, with confirmed cases rising to 1,099, a government official said on Saturday.
The government has tested around 83,000 people for Covid-19, the disease caused by the virus, the official said.
In the past 24 hours the coronavirus death toll in Lombardy, Italy’s worst-affected region, has risen by more than by 546 to 3,095, according to official figures.
Good afternoon, it’s Aaron Walawalkar here taking over on the live blog from my colleague Aamna Mohdin.
I’ll be bringing you all the latest coronavirus developments. If there’s anything I miss, please message me on Twitter @AaronWala. I’ll try to read everything but may not be able to respond to all messages given the overwhelming interest.
There is deep concern among hospitality industry workers on zero-hours contracts who are unable to work now that bars have been closed, a representative of bar workers in the capital has said.
Drew Mallins, founder of the London Bartenders’ Association, says measures announced yesterday to ensure 80% of employees’ wages will be paid by the government were welcome but there is still a lack of clarity for those on zero-hours contracts, which is causing anxiety.
The Facebook group for the LBA, which has more than 30,000 members, has been awash with worried bar workers over the last two weeks, Mallins said. The association is calling for the government to provide clarity for those not covered by the measures.
Mallins has also been working with the Drinks Trust, the UK charity for the drinks industry, which is working to provide mental health resources for workers.
“We think it’s highly likely there will be people in the industry whose mental health problems will be exacerbated by the crisis,” he said. “They have also got a HR expert on board and they will be answering questions from the membership.”
On a positive note, he said some bars are finding ways to continue operating in London by providing food and drink to take away.
“Lots of bartenders are really creative so they are doing things like bottled cocktails for delivery. There has been a rush to get listed on delivery apps and websites,” he said.
More than 500 travellers from the UK and Ireland are stranded in Peru as the window for repatriation closes.
In a live TV interview on Friday night on Canal N, the main Peruvian national TV channel, defence minister Walter Martos stated that Peru’s borders would close completely and they will “close all airports” from Saturday night 21 March.In a live TV interview on Friday night on Canal N, the main Peruvian national TV channel, defence minister Walter Martos stated that Peru’s borders would close completely and they will “close all airports” from Saturday night 21 March.
When asked if there will continue to be flights available throughout the state of emergency, Martos’ response caused alarm. He said: When asked if there will continue to be flights available throughout the state of emergency, Martos’s response caused alarm. He said:
There are fears this will leave more than 500 UK and Irish nationals stranded throughout Peru in a desperate situation.There are fears this will leave more than 500 UK and Irish nationals stranded throughout Peru in a desperate situation.
“The government squandered their window of opportunity with inaction”, says Anwen Greenaway from Oxford. “The government squandered their window of opportunity with inaction,” says Anwen Greenaway from Oxford.
In a letter to the British Embassy in Peru, Fred Fransis, a stranded traveller in Peru, said: “It seems that a big opportunity has been missed. A week has passed with no solution regarding repatriation while other countries have succeeded. The situation has developed into a crisis. Reports here are that all borders will be strictly closed tomorrow Sunday and no more repatriation flights afterwards. There is only one day left for action on your part!” In a letter to the British embassy in Peru, Fred Fransis, a stranded traveller in Peru, said: “It seems that a big opportunity has been missed. A week has passed with no solution regarding repatriation while other countries have succeeded. The situation has developed into a crisis. Reports here are that all borders will be strictly closed tomorrow, Sunday, and no more repatriation flights afterwards. There is only one day left for action on your part!”
John Lewis will be closing all of its 50 shops temporarily from Monday, the first time in the 155-year history of the business that it will not open its shop doors for customers. John Lewis will be closing all 50 of its shops temporarily from Monday, the first time in the 155-year history of the business that it will not open its shop doors for customers.
The company confirmed it will be closing the shops as a result of the impact of the coronavirus.The company confirmed it will be closing the shops as a result of the impact of the coronavirus.
The online site will continue to operate as normal, alongside Waitrose physical and online shops. The online site will continue to operate as normal, alongside Waitrose’s physical and online shops.
Chairman Sharon White said:Chairman Sharon White said:
The NHS has struck a deal with private hospitals to provide thousands more beds, ventilators and extra healthcare staff from next week to aid in the fight against coronavirus.The NHS has struck a deal with private hospitals to provide thousands more beds, ventilators and extra healthcare staff from next week to aid in the fight against coronavirus.
The extra resources, which include nearly 20,000 staff, will also help the NHS deliver other urgent operations and cancer treatments.The extra resources, which include nearly 20,000 staff, will also help the NHS deliver other urgent operations and cancer treatments.
The deal with independent hospitals is thought to be the first of its kind and will include the provision of 8,000 hospital beds across England, nearly 1,200 more ventilators, more than 10,000 nurses, over 700 doctors and over 8,000 other clinical staff.The deal with independent hospitals is thought to be the first of its kind and will include the provision of 8,000 hospital beds across England, nearly 1,200 more ventilators, more than 10,000 nurses, over 700 doctors and over 8,000 other clinical staff.
Matt Hancock, the health secretary, said:Matt Hancock, the health secretary, said:
Sir Simon Stevens, the NHS’s chief executive, hailed the deal with the private sector, saying:Sir Simon Stevens, the NHS’s chief executive, hailed the deal with the private sector, saying:
David Hare, the chief executive of the Independent Healthcare Providers Network, said:David Hare, the chief executive of the Independent Healthcare Providers Network, said:
A Bosnian man became the first to die of the coronavirus in the Balkan country, Reuters reports.A Bosnian man became the first to die of the coronavirus in the Balkan country, Reuters reports.
The death was confirmed by the manager of a hospital in the north-western town of Bihac.The death was confirmed by the manager of a hospital in the north-western town of Bihac.
Bosnia has declared a nationwide state of emergency over the coronavirus outbreak. The country has so far reported 90 cases.Bosnia has declared a nationwide state of emergency over the coronavirus outbreak. The country has so far reported 90 cases.
A number of peers including Floella Benjamin, Melvyn Bragg, Joan Bakewell, John Birt, Rowan Williams and Lola Young have written a letter calling on the chancellor to put in place emergency funds to support the self-employed during the coronavirus pandemic.
The letter notes:
Tesco has today announced that it will be giving a 10% bonus to its workers in stores, distribution centres and customer engagement centres across the country.
The bonus will be backdated to Monday 9 March for all permanent colleagues, who will receive the increased hourly pay rate till 1 May, when the company will review the situation.
Jason Tarry, Tesco’s UK and ROI chief executive, said:
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Africa rose above 1,000 on Saturday, AP reports, as two heads of state appeared to defy their own travel restrictions.
As of Saturday, 40 of Africa’s 54 countries were impacted by the outbreak after Angola confirmed its first cases. Congo reported its first death, while Burkina Faso reported two new ones.
Several government ministers in Burkina Faso have tested positive, including the minister of foreign affairs. The West African nation has one of the highest confirmed cases on the continent with 64. On Friday, the president, Roch Marc Christian Kabore, announced the country’s two international airports would close for two weeks with the exception for military and cargo.
Though Angola also closed its air, land and sea borders this week, Namibian media showed the president, João Lourenço, at the inauguration of Namibian president, Hage Geingob. Also in attendance was Mokgweetsi Masisi, the president of neighbouring Botswana, which this week suspended international travel by all government employees.
A hearing has been ordered by the high court after Detention Action launched a landmark legal challenge following the government’s written response to the claim. The challenge is thought to be the first Covid-19-related case listed in England and Wales.
The death toll from patients who tested positive for the coronavirus in Scotland has increased to seven.
A total of 373 people have now tested positive for Covid-19, new figures from the Scottish government show. The number of cases has increased by 51 in the last 24 hours.
The Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS area has the largest number of confirmed cases, with 110 people in the area diagnosed as having it. There are 49 cases in Lanarkshire, 44 in Lothian and 34 in Tayside.
At the end of the briefing, Eustice reiterated that supermarkets were best placed to judge what stock item limits should be put in place.
“There’s no shortage of food. As I said, food manufacturing has geared up to meet an increase in demand and it is up by 50%.”
Asked about possible military involvement in the supply chain, Eustice said:“We are obviously giving increasing thought within government over how we will protect those who may be self-isolating because they are vulnerable and I know more will be said about this in due course.”
Eustice said supermarkets had experienced a surge in demand similar to the Christmas period.
“And food manufacturers have responded by increasing their production by up to about 50%,” he explained, “so there’s no risk of food running out. The challenge we have is getting food to the shelves and keeping it there.”
Asked about possible government intervention restricting food purchases, Eustice said: “The reality is that most of the supermarkets are already, of their own accord, putting limits on certain items so I don’t think it is necessary or appropriate for the government to dictate this.”
Helen Dickinson, the chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, said at the daily Downing Street briefing that there was plenty of food in the supply chain. The issue is around people and lorries.
She added there was £1bn more food in people’s houses than there was three weeks ago. “So we should make sure we eat some of it.”