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| Coronavirus live news: UK goes into lockdown as WHO warns global spread of virus is accelerating | Coronavirus live news: UK goes into lockdown as WHO warns global 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 considered | Zimbabwe records first death from coronavirus; Germany sees first sign exponential infection growth levelling off; Japan Olympics chief says postponement being considered |
| Trump: A bad economy causes deaths too, because of suicide | |
| Trump has repeatedly suggested that a damaged American economy could create “more death” than potential deaths from the coronavirus. | |
| “People get tremendous anxiety and depression and you have suicide over things like this, when you have a terrible economy, you have death, definitely would be in far greater numbers than we’re talking about with regard to the virus,” Trump said. “We have a double obligation. We have a great country, there’s no country like it in the world, and there’s no economy like it in the world.” | |
| Hi, Helen Sullivan here. | |
| Still with this Trump presser for now. | |
| Asked about his comments regarding not blaming Asian-Americans, Trump says: “It seems there could have been a bit of nasty language towards the Asian Americans in our country.” | |
| Trump: ‘We’ll see what happens’ | |
| Major theme of this press conference: Trump wants to get the American economy going again as soon as possible, and is not open to the idea of restrictive public health measures going on for months. | |
| Asked what he would do if, a week from now, public health experts asked him to extend public health restrictions, Trump said, “We’ll see what happens.” | |
| Later, Trump said that very soon “we’re going to be opening up our country.” | |
| Asked by a reporter if that meant “weeks or months,” Trump s aid, “I’m not looking at months, I can tell you right now.” | |
| White House highlights NYC area as ‘troubling’ coronavirus hot spot | |
| Dr Deborah Birx, the response coordinator for Trump’s coronavirus task force, is addressing tonight’s White House coronavirus press briefing and issues strong warnings about New York, New Jersey and Long Island, saying they are areas of special concern. | |
| She says coronavirus has an attack rate close to 1 in 1,000 in this area and that 28% of submitted specimens are positive in this area, compared to about 8% in the rest of the country. | |
| “This is the group that absolutely needs to social distance, clearly the virus had been circulating for a number of weeks in order to have this level of penetrance of the general community,” she says. | |
| ‘This will be a great victory’ against a ‘horrible, invisible enemy’, says Trump | |
| Trump is finishing up his televised press conference now and has some words of comfort to offer to the nation. | |
| “I know this is a challenging time for all Americans, we are enduring a great national trial and we will meet the moment,” says Trump. | |
| Trump says that Covid-19 is a “horrible, invisible enemy. We’re at war, in a true sense we’re at war.” | |
| Finishing up, Trump says: “I’m very proud to be your president, you’re very special people.” | |
| Donald Trump, who is addressing the country from the White House now, has said that the US economy will “skyrocket” when this crisis has passed. He also says that the timeline for things to return to normal is much shorter than some are saying. | Donald Trump, who is addressing the country from the White House now, has said that the US economy will “skyrocket” when this crisis has passed. He also says that the timeline for things to return to normal is much shorter than some are saying. |
| Life will return to normal, the president said, and it will happen a lot faster than the three to four months some have projected. | Life will return to normal, the president said, and it will happen a lot faster than the three to four months some have projected. |
| Trump has also said that hospital ships will be deployed around the country and “alternate care sites” will be built, including additional 1,000-bed hospital sites. | Trump has also said that hospital ships will be deployed around the country and “alternate care sites” will be built, including additional 1,000-bed hospital sites. |
| Trump is now listing the medical and protective equipment that has been delivered to states experiencing the largest numbers of the cases, including ventilators, surgical masks and surgical gowns. | Trump is now listing the medical and protective equipment that has been delivered to states experiencing the largest numbers of the cases, including ventilators, surgical masks and surgical gowns. |
| Trump says “whatever the states need they should be getting, we’re sort of a back-up for the states”. | Trump says “whatever the states need they should be getting, we’re sort of a back-up for the states”. |
| The president is praising the private sector for its help in increasing production of PPE. | The president is praising the private sector for its help in increasing production of PPE. |
| Hi, this is Kate Lyons taking over the blog, which began its life 24 hours ago in Australia and has travelled around the world to arrive back in Sydney again. | Hi, this is Kate Lyons taking over the blog, which began its life 24 hours ago in Australia and has travelled around the world to arrive back in Sydney again. |
| Donald Trump is addressing the country at a televised press conference from the White House at the moment. | Donald Trump is addressing the country at a televised press conference from the White House at the moment. |
| After an awkward delay of several minutes, the US president has just taken the stage to begin the coronavirus press briefing today. | After an awkward delay of several minutes, the US president has just taken the stage to begin the coronavirus press briefing today. |
| Trump then reiterates almost word for word the message he tweeted out a few minutes ago: “It’s very important that we protect our Asian American community in the US and all around the world. They’re amazing people and the spreading of the virus is not their fault in any way, shape or form.” | Trump then reiterates almost word for word the message he tweeted out a few minutes ago: “It’s very important that we protect our Asian American community in the US and all around the world. They’re amazing people and the spreading of the virus is not their fault in any way, shape or form.” |
| That new message, after the Trump administration spent a week embracing the racist tactic of calling coronavirus the “Chinese virus” and then responding with outrage and denial when it was labeled as racist, comes in the wake of growing evidence of the toll of racist attacks, harassment and blame targeting Asian Americans across the country. | That new message, after the Trump administration spent a week embracing the racist tactic of calling coronavirus the “Chinese virus” and then responding with outrage and denial when it was labeled as racist, comes in the wake of growing evidence of the toll of racist attacks, harassment and blame targeting Asian Americans across the country. |
| Trump opened his press conference with the promise that “the hardship will end. It will end soon.” | Trump opened his press conference with the promise that “the hardship will end. It will end soon.” |
| “Our country was not built to be shut down,” Trump said. “This is not a country that was built for this. It was not built to be shut down.” | “Our country was not built to be shut down,” Trump said. “This is not a country that was built for this. It was not built to be shut down.” |
| Cuba is the latest to close its schools, reports CNN’s Havana bureau chief: | Cuba is the latest to close its schools, reports CNN’s Havana bureau chief: |
| The AFP news agency calculates that around 1.7 billion people across the world are now living under some form of lockdown due to coronavirus: | The AFP news agency calculates that around 1.7 billion people across the world are now living under some form of lockdown due to coronavirus: |
| Asylum seekers and refugees in immigration detention centres across Australia say it is impossible for them to self-isolate and protect themselves from the virus. | Asylum seekers and refugees in immigration detention centres across Australia say it is impossible for them to self-isolate and protect themselves from the virus. |
| “We are sitting ducks for Covid-19 and extremely exposed to becoming severely ill, with the possibility of death,” detainees from across immigration detention centres have written in a letter to prime minister Scott Morrison, pleading to be released into the community on health grounds. | “We are sitting ducks for Covid-19 and extremely exposed to becoming severely ill, with the possibility of death,” detainees from across immigration detention centres have written in a letter to prime minister Scott Morrison, pleading to be released into the community on health grounds. |
| Asylum seekers and refugees said they were “anxious and scared” of a Covid-19 outbreak inside detention, saying they were being held “in a potential death trap in which we have no option or means to protect ourselves”. | Asylum seekers and refugees said they were “anxious and scared” of a Covid-19 outbreak inside detention, saying they were being held “in a potential death trap in which we have no option or means to protect ourselves”. |
| The Australian government’s own advisory says “people in detention facilities” are considered most at risk of serious infection of Covid-19. Visits to immigration detention centres – including by family members – have been cancelled. | The Australian government’s own advisory says “people in detention facilities” are considered most at risk of serious infection of Covid-19. Visits to immigration detention centres – including by family members – have been cancelled. |
| The White House coronavirus briefing is due to start any minute now. You can follow it in detail on our dedicated US live blog (I’ll have key lines here too): | The White House coronavirus briefing is due to start any minute now. You can follow it in detail on our dedicated US live blog (I’ll have key lines here too): |
| Leyland Cecco reports from Toronto: | Leyland Cecco reports from Toronto: |
| Canada’s two most populous provinces – Ontario and Quebec – have announced plans to effectively shut down their economies in a bid to dramatically slow the spread of the coronavirus. | Canada’s two most populous provinces – Ontario and Quebec – have announced plans to effectively shut down their economies in a bid to dramatically slow the spread of the coronavirus. |
| Orders in both provinces are set to go into effect on Tuesday at midnight. The shut-down – which comes after both Ontario and Quebec ordered all bars and restaurants to close last week – does not apply to essential businesses such as pharmacies and grocery stores. Both provinces have said they will release a list of businesses permitted to remain open on Tuesday morning. | Orders in both provinces are set to go into effect on Tuesday at midnight. The shut-down – which comes after both Ontario and Quebec ordered all bars and restaurants to close last week – does not apply to essential businesses such as pharmacies and grocery stores. Both provinces have said they will release a list of businesses permitted to remain open on Tuesday morning. |
| “This was a very, very tough decision. But it is the right decision … This decision was not made lightly and the gravity of this order does not escape me,” said Ontario premier Doug Ford at a press conference on Monday. “But as I’ve said from day one, we will – and we must – take all steps necessary to slow the spread of Covid-19.” | “This was a very, very tough decision. But it is the right decision … This decision was not made lightly and the gravity of this order does not escape me,” said Ontario premier Doug Ford at a press conference on Monday. “But as I’ve said from day one, we will – and we must – take all steps necessary to slow the spread of Covid-19.” |
| Ontario recorded 78 new cases of the coronavirus on Monday, bringing the province’s total to 503. Canada has recorded nearly 2,000 cases of the virus, and 21 deaths. | Ontario recorded 78 new cases of the coronavirus on Monday, bringing the province’s total to 503. Canada has recorded nearly 2,000 cases of the virus, and 21 deaths. |
| Ford’s announcement follows stern remarks from prime minister Justin Trudeau earlier in the day, where he chastised Canadians for ignoring pleas from public health officials to stay home and avoid gatherings outside. | Ford’s announcement follows stern remarks from prime minister Justin Trudeau earlier in the day, where he chastised Canadians for ignoring pleas from public health officials to stay home and avoid gatherings outside. |
| Quebec, which was the first province in the country to declare a state of emergency last week, is also planning to curtail its economy in dramatic fashion. | Quebec, which was the first province in the country to declare a state of emergency last week, is also planning to curtail its economy in dramatic fashion. |
| “Quebec will hit pause for three weeks,” Quebec premier François Legault said Monday. “The faster we can limit contact between people, the faster we can limit the contagion and get back to normal life. I’m asking all Quebeckers to cooperate.” | “Quebec will hit pause for three weeks,” Quebec premier François Legault said Monday. “The faster we can limit contact between people, the faster we can limit the contagion and get back to normal life. I’m asking all Quebeckers to cooperate.” |
| Heather Stewart and Rowena Mason report on the drastic new measures just announced that will take the UK into lockdown: | Heather Stewart and Rowena Mason report on the drastic new measures just announced that will take the UK into lockdown: |
| Boris Johnson will order police to enforce a strict coronavirus lockdown, with a ban on gatherings of more than two people and strict limits on exercise, as he told the British public: “You must stay at home.” | Boris Johnson will order police to enforce a strict coronavirus lockdown, with a ban on gatherings of more than two people and strict limits on exercise, as he told the British public: “You must stay at home.” |
| The prime minister ratcheted up Britain’s response with an address to the nation on Monday evening, warning that people will only be allowed outside to buy food or medication, exercise alone once a day, or to travel to work if absolutely necessary. | The prime minister ratcheted up Britain’s response with an address to the nation on Monday evening, warning that people will only be allowed outside to buy food or medication, exercise alone once a day, or to travel to work if absolutely necessary. |
| All non-essential shops will close with immediate effect, as will playgrounds and libraries, he said in the address from Downing Street. | All non-essential shops will close with immediate effect, as will playgrounds and libraries, he said in the address from Downing Street. |
| After days of being accused of sending mixed messages about what the public should do, Johnson significantly escalated his language as he urged people to comply with the new, more stringent measures. | After days of being accused of sending mixed messages about what the public should do, Johnson significantly escalated his language as he urged people to comply with the new, more stringent measures. |
| “You should not be meeting friends. If your friends ask you to meet, you should say No. You should not be meeting family members who do not live in your home. You should not be going shopping except for essentials like food and medicine – and you should do this as little as you can,” he said. | “You should not be meeting friends. If your friends ask you to meet, you should say No. You should not be meeting family members who do not live in your home. You should not be going shopping except for essentials like food and medicine – and you should do this as little as you can,” he said. |
| “If you don’t follow the rules the police will have the powers to enforce them, including through fines and dispersing gatherings.” | “If you don’t follow the rules the police will have the powers to enforce them, including through fines and dispersing gatherings.” |