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Coronavirus live news: global death toll passes 15,000 as WHO warns spread of virus is accelerating Coronavirus live news: global death toll passes 15,000 as WHO warns spread of virus is accelerating
(32 minutes later)
Zimbabwe records first death from coronavirus; Germany sees first sign exponential infection growth levelling off; Japan Olympics chief says postponement being consideredZimbabwe records first death from coronavirus; Germany sees first sign exponential infection growth levelling off; Japan Olympics chief says postponement being considered
The latest coronavirus figures in France were announced by health minister Olivier Véran on Monday evening, Kim Willsher, the Guardian’s correspondent in Paris, reports.
France now has 19,856 confirmed cases of coronavirus, 3,176 more than the previous day, and the death toll from the virus has reached 860, a jump of 186 in 24 hours.
There are 8,675 people in hospital with the virus, of whom 2,080 are in intensive care.
Véran also announced the death of two doctors; a GP and a gynaecologist.
Véran said 5,000 tests are carried out in France every day. Germany carries out double this number and France is looking to introduce new tests that are “quicker and more rapid”. There are hopes to have these new tests available in the next couple of weeks.
He said the French committee for public health had met to look at possible treatments including the anti-malarial hydro-chloroquine. He said the authority had agreed this treatment could not be recommended except in extremely serious cases in hospital conditions, with the agreement of all the clinicians and doctors.
All prescriptions of chloroquine were to be banned and people are urged not to self medicate because of the absence of “proven data” showing the benefits.
Véran concluded:
Angela Giuffrida, the Guardian’s correspondent in Rome, has some more on the latest Covid-19 death toll and infection statistics from Italy, Europe’s worst affected country
Italy’s coronavirus death toll and infection rate slowed for a second day on Monday. Deaths rose by 601 to 6,077, 50 less than on Sunday. New infections rose by 3,780, 177 less than on Sunday. Italy’s civil protection authority said 408 more people had recovered from the virus since Sunday, bringing the total number of people recovered to 7,432.
The total number of cases in Italy to date, comprising deaths and those recovered, is at 63,927.
“Today the downward trend is confirmed,” said Giulio Gallera, the welfare councillor for Lombardy, the region worst hit.
The European Union will send 20 million euros in humanitarian aid to Iran, which is subject to U.S. sanctions, to help alleviate the coronavirus, Patrick Wintour, the Guardian’s diplomatic editor, reports.
In a video news conference on Monday the EU’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, also said the bloc support Tehran’s request for IMF financial help.
Iran is set to see an increase in the numbers recorded as infected with coronavirus due to increase in the numbers being tested, Iran’s Ministry of Health warned on Monday as the latest figures showed over 20,00 had been infected and killed.
There are also predictions that Tehran would be hit be a specially large increase due to the big numbers that left the capital for the Iranian new year and due to return soon. The ministry said it was willing to introduce new measures to enforce social distancing saying pleading and pleading was not enough.
The widely criticised official figures show the numbers killed each 24 hours by the virus remained steady at 127 with 1,411 new Coronavirus victims. The total number of patients was 23,049 and total deaths 1,812. The number of listed recoveries was 8,376. The average age of infected patients 59 years and age of those died 64 years.
The official death rate has now been stable broadly for a week, raising suspicions that the figures have been manipulated.
Germany is to take in six coronavirus patients from Italy for treatment. The patients from Lombardy, the Italian region worst-affected by the virus, will be transported to Saxony in the next few hours, according to a report in La Repubblica.
The rest of Europe is watching the UK’s coronavirus plan with disbelief, writes Giles Tremlett, a journalist and author based in Madrid, for the Guardian’s comment pages.The rest of Europe is watching the UK’s coronavirus plan with disbelief, writes Giles Tremlett, a journalist and author based in Madrid, for the Guardian’s comment pages.
Damien Gayle taking back over live blogging duties now, with news that authorities in Madrid, the Spanish capital, have commandeered the city’s ice rink to create an improvised morgue for Covid-19 victims.Damien Gayle taking back over live blogging duties now, with news that authorities in Madrid, the Spanish capital, have commandeered the city’s ice rink to create an improvised morgue for Covid-19 victims.
From today, the 1,800m rink at the Ice Palace, in Madrid’s Hortaleza district, is to be turned into an improvised cold storage facility for the dead, after the closure of the city’s municipal funeral home.Making the announcement on Monday, Madrid’s city council said:From today, the 1,800m rink at the Ice Palace, in Madrid’s Hortaleza district, is to be turned into an improvised cold storage facility for the dead, after the closure of the city’s municipal funeral home.Making the announcement on Monday, Madrid’s city council said:
According to a report in El Mundo, a “technical surface of synthetic material about two-three centimetres thick” will be installed on the ice rink, so that bodies will not be resting directly on the ice.According to a report in El Mundo, a “technical surface of synthetic material about two-three centimetres thick” will be installed on the ice rink, so that bodies will not be resting directly on the ice.
Up to 1 million Britons on holiday or on business trips abroad have been asked to return to the UK immediately by the Foreign Office, as they may not be able to get commercial flights within days.Up to 1 million Britons on holiday or on business trips abroad have been asked to return to the UK immediately by the Foreign Office, as they may not be able to get commercial flights within days.
In updated advice, the FCO said British citizens abroad who are resident in the UK should make urgent plans to cut short holidays and other trips and come back home straight away.In updated advice, the FCO said British citizens abroad who are resident in the UK should make urgent plans to cut short holidays and other trips and come back home straight away.
Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary, said: “We are strongly urging UK travellers overseas to return home now where and while there are still commercial routes to do so. Around the world, more airlines are suspending flights and more airports are closing, some without any notice.Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary, said: “We are strongly urging UK travellers overseas to return home now where and while there are still commercial routes to do so. Around the world, more airlines are suspending flights and more airports are closing, some without any notice.
“Where commercial routes don’t exist, our staff are working round the clock to give advice and support to UK nationals. If you are on holiday abroad the time to come home is now while you still can.”“Where commercial routes don’t exist, our staff are working round the clock to give advice and support to UK nationals. If you are on holiday abroad the time to come home is now while you still can.”
An update on the situation with the 2020 Olympics, due to be held in Tokyo later this year.An update on the situation with the 2020 Olympics, due to be held in Tokyo later this year.
Mike Ryan, head of the World Health Organization’s emergencies programme, said the WHO was feeding into deliberations by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Japanese government and the Tokyo 2020 Committee.Mike Ryan, head of the World Health Organization’s emergencies programme, said the WHO was feeding into deliberations by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Japanese government and the Tokyo 2020 Committee.
Australia and Canada have already said they are withdrawing from the 2020 Games, while the Swiss Olympic Committee today said the games should be postponed.Australia and Canada have already said they are withdrawing from the 2020 Games, while the Swiss Olympic Committee today said the games should be postponed.
Organisers are facing increasing pressure to postpone them first time in their 124-year modern history.Organisers are facing increasing pressure to postpone them first time in their 124-year modern history.
“I believe a decision will be made very soon,” Ryan said.“I believe a decision will be made very soon,” Ryan said.
He said any decision to postpone the Games would be made by Japan and the IOC, adding:He said any decision to postpone the Games would be made by Japan and the IOC, adding:
British Olympic Association chairman Hugh Robertson warned it was unlikely the country could send a team to Tokyo should the 2020 Games go ahead as scheduled.British Olympic Association chairman Hugh Robertson warned it was unlikely the country could send a team to Tokyo should the 2020 Games go ahead as scheduled.
“I think it is very simple. If the virus continues as predicted by the (UK) government, I don’t think there is any way we can send a team,” Robertson, a former British sports minister, told Sky Sports News.“I think it is very simple. If the virus continues as predicted by the (UK) government, I don’t think there is any way we can send a team,” Robertson, a former British sports minister, told Sky Sports News.
Earlier, a spokesman for Boris Johnson, the British Prime Minister, urged the IOC to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.Earlier, a spokesman for Boris Johnson, the British Prime Minister, urged the IOC to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.
“Athletes are facing significant uncertainty in the current environment... We want the International Olympic Committee to make a definitive decision soon, to bring clarity to all of those involved,” the spokesman said.“Athletes are facing significant uncertainty in the current environment... We want the International Olympic Committee to make a definitive decision soon, to bring clarity to all of those involved,” the spokesman said.
Italy has registered a smaller day-to-day increase in new coronavirus cases for the second straight day.Italy has registered a smaller day-to-day increase in new coronavirus cases for the second straight day.
The death toll from an outbreak of coronavirus in Italy has grown by 602 to 6,078, the head of the Civil Protection Agency said, an 11% increase but the smallest rise in numerical terms since Thursday, suggesting a clear downward trend.The death toll from an outbreak of coronavirus in Italy has grown by 602 to 6,078, the head of the Civil Protection Agency said, an 11% increase but the smallest rise in numerical terms since Thursday, suggesting a clear downward trend.
On Sunday, 651 people died. That followed 793 on Saturday and 627 on Friday.On Sunday, 651 people died. That followed 793 on Saturday and 627 on Friday.
France and China are seeking emergency G20 talks over coronavirus.France and China are seeking emergency G20 talks over coronavirus.
The two countries have agreed on the need for emergency talks by leaders of the G20 major economies to coordinate an international response to the coronavirus crisis, the French presidency has said.The two countries have agreed on the need for emergency talks by leaders of the G20 major economies to coordinate an international response to the coronavirus crisis, the French presidency has said.
French President Emmanuel Macron spoke by phone with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping today, after Saudi Arabia, which currently presides over the G20, last week called for a “virtual” summit.French President Emmanuel Macron spoke by phone with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping today, after Saudi Arabia, which currently presides over the G20, last week called for a “virtual” summit.
“The two leaders agreed a summit would be helpful in particular on the health front... and on the economic front” the Elysee Palace said in a statement, citing “coordinated fiscal and monetary measures.”“The two leaders agreed a summit would be helpful in particular on the health front... and on the economic front” the Elysee Palace said in a statement, citing “coordinated fiscal and monetary measures.”
Saudi Arabia has called for an extraordinary videoconference of G20 leaders as the economic fallout from the coronavirus lockdowns spreading worldwide hammered financial markets, putting many countries on course for a recession.Saudi Arabia has called for an extraordinary videoconference of G20 leaders as the economic fallout from the coronavirus lockdowns spreading worldwide hammered financial markets, putting many countries on course for a recession.
The spread of the coronavirus is accelerating, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said, with more than 300,000 cases now recorded and infections reported from nearly every country worldwide.The spread of the coronavirus is accelerating, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said, with more than 300,000 cases now recorded and infections reported from nearly every country worldwide.
It took 67 days from the first reported case to reach the first 100,000 cases of Covid-19, but it took only 11 days for the second 100,000 cases, and just four days for the third 100,000 cases, WHO director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said.It took 67 days from the first reported case to reach the first 100,000 cases of Covid-19, but it took only 11 days for the second 100,000 cases, and just four days for the third 100,000 cases, WHO director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said.
Speaking in an online briefing to journalists he said:Speaking in an online briefing to journalists he said:
He called for global political commitment to change the trajectory of the pandemic, urging countries to take both defensive and attacking measures.He called for global political commitment to change the trajectory of the pandemic, urging countries to take both defensive and attacking measures.
A number of French fashion houses have announced they will be producing coronavirus masksA number of French fashion houses have announced they will be producing coronavirus masks
Design houses Yves Saint Laurent and Balenciaga will shift their attentions from high fashion to producing surgical face masks to aid the global coronavirus assault, their parent company Kering said.Design houses Yves Saint Laurent and Balenciaga will shift their attentions from high fashion to producing surgical face masks to aid the global coronavirus assault, their parent company Kering said.
In a statement posted on its website, Kering said:In a statement posted on its website, Kering said:
Kering also said it would purchase three million masks from China and import them for the French health services.Kering also said it would purchase three million masks from China and import them for the French health services.
Another Kering company, Gucci, has committed to donating 1.1 million masks and 55,000 protective medical gowns to aid Italy’s fight against the coronavirus, the statement said.Another Kering company, Gucci, has committed to donating 1.1 million masks and 55,000 protective medical gowns to aid Italy’s fight against the coronavirus, the statement said.
Kering’s French rival, LVMH, has for its part launched into the production of sanitising hand gel for hospitals at three perfume and cosmetics factories in France.Kering’s French rival, LVMH, has for its part launched into the production of sanitising hand gel for hospitals at three perfume and cosmetics factories in France.
This is Jessica Murray, I’ll be running the live blog while Damien takes a break.This is Jessica Murray, I’ll be running the live blog while Damien takes a break.
Panama has confirmed the death of a 13-year-old girl from Covid-19 - one of the youngest reported victims so far, Nina Lakhani reports.
Globally, the evidence shows that the virus is much more dangerous in people with preexisting medical conditions and the elderly, with around 20% of infected over 80s dying from complications.
But the Panama case illustrates what medical experts have been trying to drum home in recent days: young adults and children are not immune to the virus or serious complications. There’s been growing frustration across the world at sites of busy play parks and beaches full of youngsters.
The younger the child, the greater the chance of suffering critical or serious symptoms from the virus, according to one large study from China.
Panama also confirmed the death of a 92-year-old man, bringing the death toll to five. Both victims died in hospital. It’s still unclear whether the 13-year-old victim suffered from preexisting health problems. As of Sunday, 313 cases were confirmed in Panama, which borders Colombia to the south and Nicaragua to the north, of which 42 were hospitalised.
Today’s deaths bring the death toll in Central America to eight, but the number of confirmed cases are rapidly rising.
Greek health authorities say coronavirus cases have risen by 71 overnight bringing the total to 695, Helena Smith reports from Athens. Of that number 114 are hospitalised and 35 in intensive care.
Earlier Monday, the first day of a nationwide lockdown, the Hellenic National Public Health Organisation announced that coronavirus cases had been confirmed in 28 regions of the country. While the vast majority are in Athens, 16 have also been recorded in Thessaloniki, the northern capital, and 43 in the region of Ileia, in the western Peloponnese.
There have been no cases in the Cyclades, which include some of the country’s most popular islands, or on Chios or Samos, the eastern Aegean isles on the frontline of the refugee crisis.
Today, however, state TV said a second case of coronavirus had been confirmed on Lesbos, reporting a 60-year-old Greek man, recently returned from Thailand, had contracted the virus. A woman who was hospitalised on the island earlier this month also after testing positive has been allowed to return home after her condition improved.
Seventeen people (14 men, three women) have died as a result of Covid-19 in Greece with authorities announcing the highest daily jump in cases (94) on Sunday.
The record leap in infections prompted prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ centre-right government to further restrict movement on Monday in what, with few exceptions, has amounted to a comprehensive lockdown for all citizens in Greece. Those living in the country now have to register with authorities, or send prior notice via SMS to a government hotline, if they venture outdoors – or risk being slapped with a fine of 150 euros that will go into a fund to support the health system
Lawyers for Julian Assange, the jailed Wikileaks founder, are to make a fresh application that he be bailed, on the basis that he is vulnerable to the coronavirus outbreak in the UK prison where he is held.
Assange is currently being held at the high security Belmarsh prison in south London while proceedings are underway to clear his extradition to the United States, where he is wanted on espionage charges related to Wikileaks’ publishing of American military and diplomatic secrets.
Assange’s lawyers will make the application on Wednesday, when he is next expected to appear at Belmarsh magistrates court, which is attached to the prison. It comes after Andrea Albutt, president of the Prison Governors Association, has warned that “there will be deaths” in UK prisons.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the Don’t Extradite Assange campaign said:
South Africa’s coronavirus cases jumped to 402 on Monday, up 128 from the day before, continuing worrying rise in numbers in the continent’s most developed economy, reports Jason Burke in Johannesburg.
There are now 43 countries in Africa hit by Covid-19, 1,600 cases and 54 deaths according to the most recent figures.
Cyril Ramaphosa, the South African president, is expected to speak on Monday evening to the nation about the threat from the disease and is widely expected him to announce new restrictive measures to try to slow its spread.
More than half of South Africa’s total cases are in the populous and relatively prosperous Gauteng province, which include Johannesburg, the country’s largest city with 5.7 million people, and the capital, Pretoria, with 2.4 million, according to the figures released by the government health ministry.
South Africa has overtaken Egypt to become the African country with the highest number of cases of Covid-19, though many believe Cairo is understating its totals. South Africa has yet not registered a death from the disease and the majority of cases are from travellers from Europe and other countries.
Though the number of cases that are locally transmitted is rising in South Africa, there is little evidence so far of drastic change in social behaviour - though the president has declared a national disaster, shut schools and called for the population to forego any non-essential journeys.
Though some shops and businesses are shut, traffic on roads is only slightly diminished and supermarkets and shopping malls remain crowded.
There have been reports of contingents from the South African army mobilising across the country, pending a possible deployment to enforce a lockdown.
British diplomats in Tunisia have failed to find a flight to repatriate British nationals who are stuck in the country, which is on lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus.
Earlier we reported that the Tunisian president had ordered the army on to the streets of the country to enforce the lockdown in the country, which has so far recorded 89 cases of Covid-19 and two deaths.
The British embassy had been trying to charter an Air Tunis flight to return Britons from the country. But earlier today, the ambassador, Louise de Sousa, tweeted a statement saying that it was proving difficult to find Tunisian air crew willing to fly to Europe.
The statement said:
Greece is suspending all flights to the UK and Turkey from today until 15 April, citing concerns over coronavirus, the Guardian’s Athens correspondent, Helena Smith, reports.
The decision, announced in the government gazette on Sunday, came into force as Aegean Airlines, the country’s largest carrier, broke the news that it, too, was halting all its international routes as of Thursday through to 30 April.
The airline said in a statement:
The carrier said it would continue to operate repatriation and other emergency flights, and limited domestic routes “ to facilitate minimum essential connectivity for the island’s needs.”
We ran a piece earlier today about a controversial proposal in Hungary that would allow the far-right prime minister Viktor Orbán to rule by decree, without a clear cut-off point.
This afternoon the Hungarian parliament has rejected changing house rules to pass the bill immediately, as opposition parties refused to vote with Orbán to give him the four-fifths majority he required, Shaun Walker reports from Budapest.
However, Orbán said he would pass the bill next week, when his ruling party’s two-thirds majority will be enough to see it through. “We will solve this crisis, even without you,” Orbán told opposition parties in parliament on Monday.
While many countries are passing emergency legislation to cope with the threat posed by the coronavirus, critics worry that Orbán, who over a decade in power has been accused of flouting democratic norms and eroding rule of law, would abuse the provisions.
One of the leaders of Yemen’s Houthi rebels has asked the United Nations secretary general for mediation between the warring sides in his country to contain spread of coronavirus, Akhtar Mohammad Makoii reports.
Mohammad Ali Houthi, the head of “high revolutionary committee” of the Ansar Allah movement asked Antonio Guterres to ask “aggressive forces” to stop their attacks on Yemen. He tweeted:
New York governor Andrew Cuomo says the state now has 20,875 confirmed Covid-19 cases, including 5,707 cases confirmed today.
Of those cases, 13% have needed to be cared for in hospital, around a quarter of whom are in intensive care.
There have now been 157 coronavirus deaths in the state.
In a press conference on Monday morning, Cuomo said he will sign an emergency order instructing all hospitals to increase their bed capacity by 50%, and also request that hospitals try to expand their bed capacity by 100%.
He says the state currently has a 53,000 bed capacity, which needs to be doubled according to recent projections to 110,000.
Follow our US coronavirus live blog for more details.
German leader Angela Merkel’s initial test for coronavirus has come back negative, a government spokesman said on Monday, Reuters reports
The German chancellor is to undergo further tests. She has been self-isolating since a doctor who had administered her a vaccine for pneumococcal infection tested positive for Covid-19.