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Coronavirus live news: India locks down population of 1.3bn as Hubei eases restrictions Coronavirus live news: India locks down population of 1.3bn as Hubei eases restrictions
(32 minutes later)
UN urges G20 to adopt ‘wartime plan’; WHO warns US risks could become the centre of the pandemic; EU urged to evacuate refugees from Greek camps.UN urges G20 to adopt ‘wartime plan’; WHO warns US risks could become the centre of the pandemic; EU urged to evacuate refugees from Greek camps.
In Argentina, new cases of coronavirus had their greatest daily leap so far Tuesday, with 86 new reported cases and two new deaths, bringing the total tally to 387 cases and six deaths so far. Argentina’s number is expected to grow at an accelerating pace in the days ahead, according to government projections, which estimate a minimum of 250,000 cases in the coming months.
The capital city of Buenos Aires and the Greater Buenos Aires area, which have a combined population of nearly 13 million people, continue to be the hardest hit, with 60 of the new cases Tuesday. With testing capabilities limited, the real number is believed to be much higher.Authorities are worried about the importation of more coronavirus cases, despite all incoming flights being suspended, with the repatriation of tens of thousands of Argentinians still stranded in Europe, the US and especially from South American neighbours Chile and Brazil, where the lockdown has not been as stringent.Authorities are hoping to stay ahead of the curve of the virus by reacting earlier than Spain or Italy did. “It’s a race against time,” said Buenos Aires governor Axel Kiciloff, whose province has been the hardest hit so far. “It’s a war and the first thing in a war is to save lives,” said Santa Fe governor Omar Perotti.The country’s lockdown, originally set to end next Monday, looks certain to be extended until at least April 13 now.
“My hand will not shake,” President Alberto Fernández said, should he need to sign an extension.
Nike executives said Tuesday that shoppers in key Asian markets are beginning to return to stores as the company reported a rare drop in Chinese quarterly revenues cushioned by stronger e-commerce sales.“Traffic is back,” Nike Chief Executive John Donahoe said of the dynamic in China that is also beginning to play out in Japan and South Korea, two other countries that are also passed the worst of the outbreak.“Consumers are back in the stores,” he told analysts during an earnings conference call. “They are often wearing facemasks, but they’re back in the store.”
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has meanwhile addressed the country regarding the state of emergency declared there today:
Giving a statement to New Zealand’s parliament, Jacinda Ardern, the prime minister, told lawmakers that a state of emergency had been invoked for the country, calling the measures “tools of last resort,” and exhorted New Zealanders to take an impending four week period of total self-isolation “deadly seriously.”
The country will go into lockdown from just before midnight on Wednesday, meaning that everyone except the most essential workers are required to stay at home all the time, unless they are buying groceries or seeking medical help.
“Make no mistake, this will get worse before it gets better,” Ardern said of the spread of the virus through New Zealand. There are 205 confirmed or probably cases in New Zealand; no one has died and none of the five people in hospital are in intensive care or on ventilators.
“We have an early opportunity to stay home, break the chain of transmission, and save lives,” she said. The stringent lockdown was happening “ahead of any potential overrun of our hospitals, ahead of any deaths on New Zealand soil.”
Despite the restrictive measures, there would be an increase in cases “for a week or more,” Ardern said, as those already infected before the lockdown began to show symptoms.
“You may not be at work, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have a job,” Ardern said. “Your job is to save lives, you can do that by staying home and breaking the chain.”
“Act like you have Covid-19. Every move that you make is a risk to someone else,” she said. “That’s how we must all think from now on.”
Adding that the government could have waited to plan “every intricate detail” of the national shutdown, she said that “every hour we wait is one more person, two ore people, three more people exposed to Covid-19, this is why we did not wait.”
On the question of mixed messages, Scott Morrison says, confusingly:
With Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison now is mining executive Neville Power who, gratingly, Morrison keeps calling “Nev” (although this does seem to be a common nickname used by Power).
Power, the former head of Fortescue Metals, is to lead the country’s Coronavirus Commission.
The mockery from Australians on Twitter – as the country looks for clarity and leadership amid a set of confusing rules and instructions – emerged swiftly.
Australian prime minister Scott Morrison is speaking to media now and has announced that all elective surgery (outside urgent electives) will be postponed from tonight.Australian prime minister Scott Morrison is speaking to media now and has announced that all elective surgery (outside urgent electives) will be postponed from tonight.
Morrison says the national cabinet has taken on board the medical experts recommendations to stop all non-urgent surgeries, to free up hospitals, staff, and resources, for what is coming:Morrison says the national cabinet has taken on board the medical experts recommendations to stop all non-urgent surgeries, to free up hospitals, staff, and resources, for what is coming:
New Zealand is now in a State of National Emergency as it heads into a national lockdown tonight for at least four weeks.New Zealand is now in a State of National Emergency as it heads into a national lockdown tonight for at least four weeks.
The country, which now has more than 200 confirmed and probable cases of Covid-19, will move to a level four alert -- the highest possible -- at just before midnight on Wednesday, requiring almost everyone, except essential workers, to stay home at all times, unless they are buying groceries or seeking medical services. No one has died of the virus in New Zealand. Sarah Stuart-Black, the Director of Civil Defence Emergency Management, told reporters on Wednesday that the declaration of a state of national emergency, which will last at least seven days, allowed the authorities to requisition essential goods such as fuel and food, close roads, and stop people from doing anything they are not supposed to do -- which is most activities.The country, which now has more than 200 confirmed and probable cases of Covid-19, will move to a level four alert -- the highest possible -- at just before midnight on Wednesday, requiring almost everyone, except essential workers, to stay home at all times, unless they are buying groceries or seeking medical services. No one has died of the virus in New Zealand. Sarah Stuart-Black, the Director of Civil Defence Emergency Management, told reporters on Wednesday that the declaration of a state of national emergency, which will last at least seven days, allowed the authorities to requisition essential goods such as fuel and food, close roads, and stop people from doing anything they are not supposed to do -- which is most activities.
“We don’t want thousands of people to die, so if we’re asking for people to stay home… this is for the good of everyone,” Stuart-Black said. “There will be no tolerance for people who do not comply.”“We don’t want thousands of people to die, so if we’re asking for people to stay home… this is for the good of everyone,” Stuart-Black said. “There will be no tolerance for people who do not comply.”
The police would work out compliance matters, she said; she did not deny that the military could be used to enforce the demand that people stay home.The police would work out compliance matters, she said; she did not deny that the military could be used to enforce the demand that people stay home.
Stuart-Black said if New Zealanders left their houses, it should only be to buy groceries, “not just going out for a bit of a mooch.”Stuart-Black said if New Zealanders left their houses, it should only be to buy groceries, “not just going out for a bit of a mooch.”
We’ll have more on the news from New Zealand shortly. Moving to markets news now:We’ll have more on the news from New Zealand shortly. Moving to markets news now:
The global economy is going to take a “massive hit” as lockdown measures are rolled out across much of the world, according to the rating agency S&P. Economists are revising their forecasts for world GDP on a near-daily basis, S&P adds, and identifies key concerns.The US economy is set to decline by at least 12% in the second quarter– double the figure S&P pencilled in last week. It also expects a Q1 contraction now as well.The global economy is going to take a “massive hit” as lockdown measures are rolled out across much of the world, according to the rating agency S&P. Economists are revising their forecasts for world GDP on a near-daily basis, S&P adds, and identifies key concerns.The US economy is set to decline by at least 12% in the second quarter– double the figure S&P pencilled in last week. It also expects a Q1 contraction now as well.
A similar decline in European GDP in the first half of the year but with a larger decline in the first quarter than the second because the shock started earlier there.A similar decline in European GDP in the first half of the year but with a larger decline in the first quarter than the second because the shock started earlier there.
In contrast, China’s economy seems to be stabilising based on anecdotal evidence such as traffic patterns and shipping data. S&P estimates China’s GDP contracted 13% (annualized) in the first quarter but should begin to grow again in the second quarter.In contrast, China’s economy seems to be stabilising based on anecdotal evidence such as traffic patterns and shipping data. S&P estimates China’s GDP contracted 13% (annualized) in the first quarter but should begin to grow again in the second quarter.
Emerging markets such as Brazil, India, and Mexico are expected to suffer a similar shock to US and Europe, with possible double-digit percent GDP declines in the second quarter.Emerging markets such as Brazil, India, and Mexico are expected to suffer a similar shock to US and Europe, with possible double-digit percent GDP declines in the second quarter.
The S&P comments come after a huge rally on US stock markets on Tuesday thanks to the promise of trillions of dollars in stimulus for the economy. Shares in Asia Pacific have taken up the baton on Wednesday. The Nikkei is up 5% in Tokyo while the ASX200 is up almost 4% in Sydney.The S&P comments come after a huge rally on US stock markets on Tuesday thanks to the promise of trillions of dollars in stimulus for the economy. Shares in Asia Pacific have taken up the baton on Wednesday. The Nikkei is up 5% in Tokyo while the ASX200 is up almost 4% in Sydney.
The state of emergency just declared in New Zealand is effective immediately.The state of emergency just declared in New Zealand is effective immediately.
A state of emergency was declared in parliament at midday, with Level 4 restrictions – which the government had announced warned would to come into effect – to begin on Wednesday night at 11.59pm.A state of emergency was declared in parliament at midday, with Level 4 restrictions – which the government had announced warned would to come into effect – to begin on Wednesday night at 11.59pm.
The New Zealand Health Ministry announced that there were 50 new confirmed and probable coronavirus cases in the country.The New Zealand Health Ministry announced that there were 50 new confirmed and probable coronavirus cases in the country.
“There are 50 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 in New Zealand as at 9.30 am this morning,” it said in a statement.“There are 50 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 in New Zealand as at 9.30 am this morning,” it said in a statement.
“There were 47 confirmed and 3 probable cases in the past 24 hours.”“There were 47 confirmed and 3 probable cases in the past 24 hours.”
New Zealand has declared a national state of emergency, Reuters reports. More on this soon.New Zealand has declared a national state of emergency, Reuters reports. More on this soon.
HI, Helen Sullivan here. I’ll be taking you through the next few hours of coronavirus pandemic news from around the world.HI, Helen Sullivan here. I’ll be taking you through the next few hours of coronavirus pandemic news from around the world.
As Hubei, China lifts some restrictions, Italy’s Prime Minister has promised theirs will end sooner than the end of July, and Trump insists the US doesn’t need a national lockdown.As Hubei, China lifts some restrictions, Italy’s Prime Minister has promised theirs will end sooner than the end of July, and Trump insists the US doesn’t need a national lockdown.
The global number of cases reached 417,582. According to figures from Johns Hopkins University, which has been tracking the pandemic, 18,612 people have died and 107,247 people have recovered.The global number of cases reached 417,582. According to figures from Johns Hopkins University, which has been tracking the pandemic, 18,612 people have died and 107,247 people have recovered.
France confirmed it has seen more than 22,000 cases. The director general of the country’s health service, Jérôme Salomon, said the pandemic was now across France and “rapidly getting worse”.France confirmed it has seen more than 22,000 cases. The director general of the country’s health service, Jérôme Salomon, said the pandemic was now across France and “rapidly getting worse”.
Trump insisted on an easing of restrictions by Easter. Despite much of the rest of the world choosing to accelerate restrictions designed to control the virus’ spread and the World Health Organization warning the US is in grave danger of a rapid escalation in the severity of its situation, Donald Trump has claimed the nation is nearing the end of the fight against then virus.Trump insisted on an easing of restrictions by Easter. Despite much of the rest of the world choosing to accelerate restrictions designed to control the virus’ spread and the World Health Organization warning the US is in grave danger of a rapid escalation in the severity of its situation, Donald Trump has claimed the nation is nearing the end of the fight against then virus.
The Australian market opened up almost 6%. The news followed the extraordinary gains of as much as 11% on US markets.The Australian market opened up almost 6%. The news followed the extraordinary gains of as much as 11% on US markets.
European countries tried to mitigate the economic damage. A series of measures was approved in the Czech Republic, Romania and Norway.European countries tried to mitigate the economic damage. A series of measures was approved in the Czech Republic, Romania and Norway.
There was speculation over the Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro’s diagnosis. Brazilian media reported that two names were scrubbed from a list of patients handed over by the hospital where he was tested, leading some to speculate he and his wife contracted the virus and were treated in secrecy.There was speculation over the Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro’s diagnosis. Brazilian media reported that two names were scrubbed from a list of patients handed over by the hospital where he was tested, leading some to speculate he and his wife contracted the virus and were treated in secrecy.
Poland, India and Egypt all implemented lockdown measures, while South Africans prepare to do the same after the number of confirmed cases increased by more than a third in a day.Poland, India and Egypt all implemented lockdown measures, while South Africans prepare to do the same after the number of confirmed cases increased by more than a third in a day.
The WHO said the US risks becoming the next centre of the coronavirus outbreak as the country is seeing a “very large acceleration” in cases.The WHO said the US risks becoming the next centre of the coronavirus outbreak as the country is seeing a “very large acceleration” in cases.
The Japan Olympics will be delayed for one year. After a conference call between the Japanese prime minister, Shinzo Abe, Tokyo’s governor, Yuriko Koike, and the International Olympic Committee president, Thomas Bach, the29 Olympics will be postponed for 12 months.The Japan Olympics will be delayed for one year. After a conference call between the Japanese prime minister, Shinzo Abe, Tokyo’s governor, Yuriko Koike, and the International Olympic Committee president, Thomas Bach, the29 Olympics will be postponed for 12 months.
The European Union has been urged to evacuate asylum seekers from overcrowded camps on the Greek islands in order to save lives. The first case was confirmed earlier this month when a Greek woman on Lesbos tested positive.The European Union has been urged to evacuate asylum seekers from overcrowded camps on the Greek islands in order to save lives. The first case was confirmed earlier this month when a Greek woman on Lesbos tested positive.
Spanish doctors complain of lack of equipment. The latest figures also revealed that Spanish healthcare workers accounted for more than 13% of the country’s 39,673 cases.Spanish doctors complain of lack of equipment. The latest figures also revealed that Spanish healthcare workers accounted for more than 13% of the country’s 39,673 cases.
Greta Thunberg believes she had Covid-19. The environmental campaigner, Greta Thunberg, says she believes it “extremely likely” she has had Covid-19. In an Instagram post, she wrote that she has been staying inside for the past two weeks.Greta Thunberg believes she had Covid-19. The environmental campaigner, Greta Thunberg, says she believes it “extremely likely” she has had Covid-19. In an Instagram post, she wrote that she has been staying inside for the past two weeks.