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Coronavirus live news: EU leaders plan Europe-wide crisis management centre as India locks down Coronavirus live news: death toll in Spain overtakes China, and India locks down
(31 minutes later)
UN urges G20 to adopt ‘wartime plan’; Prince Charles tests positive for coronavirus; Senate and White House reach stimulus dealUN urges G20 to adopt ‘wartime plan’; Prince Charles tests positive for coronavirus; Senate and White House reach stimulus deal
The head of the Netherlands’ public health institute has told the Dutch parliament that measures to control the spread of coronavirus appear to be working, Dutch News reports.
Jaap van Dissel said the country was seeing a “positive trend”, 10 days after authorities introduced a ban on mass gatherings and closed restaurants, bars, schools and cannabis-selling coffee shops.
Van Dissel said initial estimates showed the infection rate per carrier was on or below one, rather than the expected two or three, meaning that a graph of the number of infections should rise in a straight line, rather than a curve.
The number of new confirmed cases in the Netherlands grew by 17% on Tuesday from a day earlier to 5,560, according to official data.
Those figures likely reflect infections from early March, before the government banned public gatherings and closed schools, according to a report by the Reuters news agency.
Spain now has the world’s second-highest tally of coronavirus deaths, after 738 more were reported on Wednesday, the country’s deadliest toll in one day, Associated Press reports.
With 3,434 coronavirus patients dead, Spain surpassed China’s death toll of 3,285. Italy still has the most deaths of any nation in the world with 6,820.
Infections in Spain also rose 20% from a day earlier to 47,610.
Prince Charles has tested positive for coronavirus and is displaying mild symptoms “but otherwise remains in good health”, Clarence House has said.Prince Charles has tested positive for coronavirus and is displaying mild symptoms “but otherwise remains in good health”, Clarence House has said.
Charles, the next in line to the throne, is 71 years old, making him a member of those at risk groups who have been encouraged by the government to completely self-isolate for 12 weeks.Charles, the next in line to the throne, is 71 years old, making him a member of those at risk groups who have been encouraged by the government to completely self-isolate for 12 weeks.
A Clarence House spokesman said the Duchess of Cornwall had also been tested but does not have the virus.A Clarence House spokesman said the Duchess of Cornwall had also been tested but does not have the virus.
A crack down on travel and an imposition of social distancing measures are to be introduced in Iran in the next 24 hours, Patrick Wintour, the Guardian’s diplomatic editor, reports.A crack down on travel and an imposition of social distancing measures are to be introduced in Iran in the next 24 hours, Patrick Wintour, the Guardian’s diplomatic editor, reports.
The country’s President Hassan Rouhani made the announcement at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday following recommendations from the health ministry about the course of the pandemic.The country’s President Hassan Rouhani made the announcement at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday following recommendations from the health ministry about the course of the pandemic.
Initial details of the new laws, and their enforcement, were vague, but is likely to include a ban on inter-city travel, including journeys out of Tehran.Initial details of the new laws, and their enforcement, were vague, but is likely to include a ban on inter-city travel, including journeys out of Tehran.
A requirement for people to cut short their new year holidays and greater controls on cars as holiday makers return to their homes in cities such as Tehran is also likely, the president said, in what amounts to a major change of policy.A requirement for people to cut short their new year holidays and greater controls on cars as holiday makers return to their homes in cities such as Tehran is also likely, the president said, in what amounts to a major change of policy.
The closure of parks, the abandonment of Iran’s nature day and tighter social distancing laws are also to be introduced. Nature day, or Sizdah Bedhar, is celebrated on the 13th of the first month of the Persian new year, marking the end of the Nowruz celebrations before a return to work. It normally sees Iranian families spending the day out of doors having meals in the fields, parks and gardens, preferably by a river or stream.The closure of parks, the abandonment of Iran’s nature day and tighter social distancing laws are also to be introduced. Nature day, or Sizdah Bedhar, is celebrated on the 13th of the first month of the Persian new year, marking the end of the Nowruz celebrations before a return to work. It normally sees Iranian families spending the day out of doors having meals in the fields, parks and gardens, preferably by a river or stream.
Rouhani said the harsh measures were needed to save people’s lives, and the new bill “may advise people to cut their holidays short and get back to their homes”. The government has been widely criticised within Iran for not taking more stringent measures earlier, but Rouhani repeatedly claiming the crisis was under control pointed to statistics on declining numbers of rail journeys and cancelled hotel bookings to claim the guidance was largely being followed.Rouhani said the harsh measures were needed to save people’s lives, and the new bill “may advise people to cut their holidays short and get back to their homes”. The government has been widely criticised within Iran for not taking more stringent measures earlier, but Rouhani repeatedly claiming the crisis was under control pointed to statistics on declining numbers of rail journeys and cancelled hotel bookings to claim the guidance was largely being followed.
The President also said only a third of government employees should be in work, with a large proportion of those permitted to work being health workers. He said more than 1.2m of the 2.5m government employees would continue to be kept away from work.The President also said only a third of government employees should be in work, with a large proportion of those permitted to work being health workers. He said more than 1.2m of the 2.5m government employees would continue to be kept away from work.
Claiming the coronavirus pandemic was about to enter a second phase in Iran, he praised those Iranians that had abided by advice and not travelled to holiday resorts during Iran’s new year break, but there is clearly a concern that the pandemic will spread again when millions return from their holidays. The ability of Iran to track those with the infection is limited, and promises by the army to clear the streets have been made before, only for little to happen.Claiming the coronavirus pandemic was about to enter a second phase in Iran, he praised those Iranians that had abided by advice and not travelled to holiday resorts during Iran’s new year break, but there is clearly a concern that the pandemic will spread again when millions return from their holidays. The ability of Iran to track those with the infection is limited, and promises by the army to clear the streets have been made before, only for little to happen.
Rouhani also claimed the issue of US economic sanctions on Iran was set to be raised at the UN Security Council. The head of the Central Bank of Iran claimed Iran had made progress in being allowed to repatriate its assets in overseas banks to purchase medicines following fresh guidance to banks.Rouhani also claimed the issue of US economic sanctions on Iran was set to be raised at the UN Security Council. The head of the Central Bank of Iran claimed Iran had made progress in being allowed to repatriate its assets in overseas banks to purchase medicines following fresh guidance to banks.
The US has claimed it has allowed Iran to purchase medicines, but banks have been wary of financing the deals.The US has claimed it has allowed Iran to purchase medicines, but banks have been wary of financing the deals.
Rouhani has already announced that prisoners released on furlough will now not be required to return to jail at the beginning of April, as originally planned, but instead the end of the April, an implicit admission that the pandemic is going to take longer to control than originally hoped.Rouhani has already announced that prisoners released on furlough will now not be required to return to jail at the beginning of April, as originally planned, but instead the end of the April, an implicit admission that the pandemic is going to take longer to control than originally hoped.
There is widespread distrust within Iran of official daily government figures on the numbers killed or infected by the disease.There is widespread distrust within Iran of official daily government figures on the numbers killed or infected by the disease.
China’s tough lockdown and social distancing measures in Wuhan and other provinces appear to have successfully ended coronavirus infections and may chart a route back to normal life, according to a report from the University of London’s Imperial College, Sarah Boseley, the Guardian’s health editor, reports.China’s tough lockdown and social distancing measures in Wuhan and other provinces appear to have successfully ended coronavirus infections and may chart a route back to normal life, according to a report from the University of London’s Imperial College, Sarah Boseley, the Guardian’s health editor, reports.
The report, from Prof Neil Ferguson and his team who have been the main modellers of the epidemic for the UK and other governments, suggests it is possible to lift the social distancing restrictions, as China has begun to do, without a resurgence of the epidemic.The report, from Prof Neil Ferguson and his team who have been the main modellers of the epidemic for the UK and other governments, suggests it is possible to lift the social distancing restrictions, as China has begun to do, without a resurgence of the epidemic.
Prof Chris Donnelly of Imperial and Oxford Universities, one of the team, said:Prof Chris Donnelly of Imperial and Oxford Universities, one of the team, said:
Ferguson said their analysis “provides some hope for countries currently in various levels of lockdown that once case numbers are brought to low levels, it might be possible to relax social distancing – provided equal measures to limit the risk of the resurgence of transmission are introduced.”Ferguson said their analysis “provides some hope for countries currently in various levels of lockdown that once case numbers are brought to low levels, it might be possible to relax social distancing – provided equal measures to limit the risk of the resurgence of transmission are introduced.”
But, he stressed, relaxing the lockdown policies would depend on “rapid and ubiquitous testing and rigorous case and contact isolation policies”.But, he stressed, relaxing the lockdown policies would depend on “rapid and ubiquitous testing and rigorous case and contact isolation policies”.
That would mean testing everyone with symptoms and following up and isolating their contacts, in order to stamp out any further flare-ups of infection.That would mean testing everyone with symptoms and following up and isolating their contacts, in order to stamp out any further flare-ups of infection.
Restrictions on movement brought in to curb the spread of the coronavirus are preventing aid from reaching refugees and displaced peoples, the Norwegian Refugee council has said.Restrictions on movement brought in to curb the spread of the coronavirus are preventing aid from reaching refugees and displaced peoples, the Norwegian Refugee council has said.
The organisation said 300,000 refugees in the Middle East are among those who it is not able to reach, as it called on governments to relax border restrictions for the delivery of humanitarian aid.The organisation said 300,000 refugees in the Middle East are among those who it is not able to reach, as it called on governments to relax border restrictions for the delivery of humanitarian aid.
Appealing to world leaders, Jan Egeland, the NRC secretary general, said:Appealing to world leaders, Jan Egeland, the NRC secretary general, said:
Two cases have already been confirmed in densely populated Gaza, where a decade long blockade has devastated the health service, while the first case in Syria was reported on Sunday, the NRC said.Two cases have already been confirmed in densely populated Gaza, where a decade long blockade has devastated the health service, while the first case in Syria was reported on Sunday, the NRC said.
The head of Germany’s leading public health body, said it is still “too early” to say whether physical distancing measures are having an effect in the country, Kate Connolly reports from Berlin.The head of Germany’s leading public health body, said it is still “too early” to say whether physical distancing measures are having an effect in the country, Kate Connolly reports from Berlin.
Lothar Wieler, president of the Robert Koch Institute, said he had hoped that by today it might have been possible to see if the measures had led to a fall in infections.Lothar Wieler, president of the Robert Koch Institute, said he had hoped that by today it might have been possible to see if the measures had led to a fall in infections.
As to why there is a relatively low death rate in Germany (officially 146 deaths, and over 31,500 infections, according to RKI figures), Wieler said it was due to the fact Germany had tested widely from the start, and was able to detect the virus earlier, and many milder cases were discovered.As to why there is a relatively low death rate in Germany (officially 146 deaths, and over 31,500 infections, according to RKI figures), Wieler said it was due to the fact Germany had tested widely from the start, and was able to detect the virus earlier, and many milder cases were discovered.
In addition as yet, fewer older people in Germany have been infected, he said.In addition as yet, fewer older people in Germany have been infected, he said.
Wieler said “we are at the beginning of this epidemic” and the number of deaths would rise. “It is still completely unclear how this epidemic will develop,” he said.Wieler said “we are at the beginning of this epidemic” and the number of deaths would rise. “It is still completely unclear how this epidemic will develop,” he said.
Our UK-focused coronavirus and politics live blog is now online, anchored by Andrew Sparrow and Lucy Campbell.Our UK-focused coronavirus and politics live blog is now online, anchored by Andrew Sparrow and Lucy Campbell.
As well as general UK coronavirus news lines they will be covering evidence from Prof Neil Ferguson, director of the MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis at Imperial College, to the Commons science committee about coronavirus at 10.15am, Prime Ministers’ Questions at 12pm, and the resumption of the debate in the Lords on the draconian coronavirus bill at 3.30pm.As well as general UK coronavirus news lines they will be covering evidence from Prof Neil Ferguson, director of the MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis at Imperial College, to the Commons science committee about coronavirus at 10.15am, Prime Ministers’ Questions at 12pm, and the resumption of the debate in the Lords on the draconian coronavirus bill at 3.30pm.
Ireland has changed the criteria for testing for coronavirus to prioritise people that show two symptoms rather than just one, Rory Carroll reports from Dublin.Ireland has changed the criteria for testing for coronavirus to prioritise people that show two symptoms rather than just one, Rory Carroll reports from Dublin.
The National Public Health Emergency Team announced late on Tuesday that people must show fever and at least one sign of respiratory disease, such as coughing or shortness of breath, before being referred for testing.The National Public Health Emergency Team announced late on Tuesday that people must show fever and at least one sign of respiratory disease, such as coughing or shortness of breath, before being referred for testing.
The change is a response to a backlog of 40,000 cases awaiting testing, and an additional 20,000 people per day seeking testing, which has “cast the net too widely”.The change is a response to a backlog of 40,000 cases awaiting testing, and an additional 20,000 people per day seeking testing, which has “cast the net too widely”.
The chief medical officer, Tony Holohan, said this had led to inappropriate testing and the goal now was to focus on people in hospital, healthcare workers and other priority categories.The chief medical officer, Tony Holohan, said this had led to inappropriate testing and the goal now was to focus on people in hospital, healthcare workers and other priority categories.
Of 17,992 tests carried out so far 6% have tested positive. Authorities hope in coming weeks to increase capacity to 15,000 tests a day. Ireland has recorded 1,329 confirmed cases, and seven deaths. Northern Ireland has recorded 172 cases and five deaths.Of 17,992 tests carried out so far 6% have tested positive. Authorities hope in coming weeks to increase capacity to 15,000 tests a day. Ireland has recorded 1,329 confirmed cases, and seven deaths. Northern Ireland has recorded 172 cases and five deaths.
On Tuesday the taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, announced fresh restrictions – all non-essential shops to close, all sport events cancelled, no outdoor gatherings of more than four people – that came into effect at midnight.On Tuesday the taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, announced fresh restrictions – all non-essential shops to close, all sport events cancelled, no outdoor gatherings of more than four people – that came into effect at midnight.
Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, has warned that more tube services in the UK capital may have to be cut because of staff sickness rates approaching 30%, Rowena Mason, deputy political editor, reports. He said the highly trained staff could not be replaced and repeated calls for the government to forcibly shut construction sites.Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, has warned that more tube services in the UK capital may have to be cut because of staff sickness rates approaching 30%, Rowena Mason, deputy political editor, reports. He said the highly trained staff could not be replaced and repeated calls for the government to forcibly shut construction sites.
The government has been under pressure over the conditions of construction workers packing on to crowded public transport and gathering together on sites and in canteens, failing to heed social distancing rules. But Robert Jenrick, the communities secretary insisted that sites could remain open where social distancing is observed and claimed it was essential for infrastructure works to continue and dangerous cladding to be removed from buildings.The government has been under pressure over the conditions of construction workers packing on to crowded public transport and gathering together on sites and in canteens, failing to heed social distancing rules. But Robert Jenrick, the communities secretary insisted that sites could remain open where social distancing is observed and claimed it was essential for infrastructure works to continue and dangerous cladding to be removed from buildings.
Those sites that cannot operate within the rules should shut immediately, he said in a round of broadcast interviews.Those sites that cannot operate within the rules should shut immediately, he said in a round of broadcast interviews.
He also released revised guidance on exactly which premises can remain open, which specifies that shops can only allow in small numbers of people at a time and must operate outside queuing systems with distancing measures.He also released revised guidance on exactly which premises can remain open, which specifies that shops can only allow in small numbers of people at a time and must operate outside queuing systems with distancing measures.
It clarifies that tradespeople can carry out work in people’s homes as long as they are well, they observe social distancing and are not working for people being shielded unless in an emergency.It clarifies that tradespeople can carry out work in people’s homes as long as they are well, they observe social distancing and are not working for people being shielded unless in an emergency.
European Union leaders are to call for “a true European crisis management centre”, according to a leaked document that seeks to draw lessons from the coronavirus pandemic, Jennifer Rankin reports from Brussels.European Union leaders are to call for “a true European crisis management centre”, according to a leaked document that seeks to draw lessons from the coronavirus pandemic, Jennifer Rankin reports from Brussels.
The EU’s 27 leaders will hold a conference call on Thursday, replacing the spring summit that was due to take place in Brussels, which is usually devoted to the economy. Instead the agenda will be dominated by coronavirus, the impact on people, health systems and the economy.The EU’s 27 leaders will hold a conference call on Thursday, replacing the spring summit that was due to take place in Brussels, which is usually devoted to the economy. Instead the agenda will be dominated by coronavirus, the impact on people, health systems and the economy.
According to a text of the EU conclusions seen by the Guardian, EU leaders are expected to sign off on “a more ambitious and wide-ranging crisis management system within the EU, including, for instance a true European crisis management centre”.According to a text of the EU conclusions seen by the Guardian, EU leaders are expected to sign off on “a more ambitious and wide-ranging crisis management system within the EU, including, for instance a true European crisis management centre”.
The EU already has an Emergency Response Coordination Centre, which operates 24/7 and can organise help, if asked, when any country in the world suffers an earthquake, forest fire, floods or pandemic.The EU already has an Emergency Response Coordination Centre, which operates 24/7 and can organise help, if asked, when any country in the world suffers an earthquake, forest fire, floods or pandemic.
The text also makes a muted plea for the lifting of export bans on medical protective kits, such as masks and goggles. Germany and France have been criticised in recent weeks for imposing export bans on some of these products. The text states that a recent decision requiring all countries to seek approval for export of these goods outside the EU “should lead to the full lifting of any internal bans”, but stops short of member states pledging to do so.The text also makes a muted plea for the lifting of export bans on medical protective kits, such as masks and goggles. Germany and France have been criticised in recent weeks for imposing export bans on some of these products. The text states that a recent decision requiring all countries to seek approval for export of these goods outside the EU “should lead to the full lifting of any internal bans”, but stops short of member states pledging to do so.
EU leaders will also pledge to ensure “smooth border management” for people and goods, amid rising concern that internal border controls are slowing the supply of vital medical goods. As of 24 March at midday CET, 12 countries in the European border-free travel zone had told authorities in Brussels they had introduced border restrictions.EU leaders will also pledge to ensure “smooth border management” for people and goods, amid rising concern that internal border controls are slowing the supply of vital medical goods. As of 24 March at midday CET, 12 countries in the European border-free travel zone had told authorities in Brussels they had introduced border restrictions.
Manufacturers are warning that vital supplies, such as masks and surgical equipment, are not getting through.Manufacturers are warning that vital supplies, such as masks and surgical equipment, are not getting through.
The head of the Swedish Employers’ Association Anna Stellinger told publication Borderlex.The head of the Swedish Employers’ Association Anna Stellinger told publication Borderlex.
The Nepali government has decided to allow Nepalis stranded at the border with India to come home ‘one last time’, provided they abide by a 14-day quarantine after returning to the country, the Himalayan Times reports.
Yubaraj Khatiwada, the spokesperson for the government, said returnees would have to show their identity cards in order to be admitted. Quarantines will be arranged by provincial governments.
Nepal acted fast to close its borders as the pandemic spread earlier this month. According to the tally kept by Johns Hopkins university’s coronavirus resource centre it has had just three patients who have been confirmed to have contracted the virus.
A British man is reportedly among nine people who have died from Covid-19 in Hungary, which so far has confirmed 226 coronavirus infections.
Hungarian authorities say the pandemic has now reached its second stage in the central European country, with infections now spreading in the community, About Hungary reports.
Announcing the increase in risk, chief medical officer Cecília Müller said:
On Tuesday a plane landed in Hungary with almost 70 tons of medical equipment aboard, including more than 3 million face masks and 86 ventilators, officials said.
An international survey has found that 70% of people in the world’s seven wealthiest economies expect their households to lose income as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, Reuters reports.
The poll, by Kantar, included results from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States.
It found that people in Italy, now the centre of the global pandemic, were the most pessimistic about their future economic prospects, with 82% saying it would, or has already, affected their household income.
The country expecting the least financial impact was Germany.
In Britain, where 70% expected to be left worse off, just 28% reported that they had started working from home more often and only a little over half said they were avoiding visits to elderly and vulnerable relatives and friends where possible.
The online survey was conducted last week - before the British government announced it would enforce its advice to stay home.
Japan had highest number of people who said they had started wearing a mask (65%) but the lowest number of people doing all other measures listed in the survey, such as social distancing, washing hands more and avoiding unnecessary social contact.
More than 170,000 people have already signed up overnight to volunteer for the NHS to help tackle the coronavirus, according to Stephen Powis, National Medical Director of NHS England, Simon Murphy reports.
It comes after Matt Hancock yesterday launched a call to arms for an army of a quarter of a million volunteers to come forward to help support the NHS fight back against the coronavirus pandemic.
As the coronavirus death toll rose to 422 on Tuesday, the government called on fit and healthy adults to volunteer to ensure vulnerable people have vital supplies such as food and medicines, drive them to appointments or make regular phone calls to those in isolation.
Announcing that more than 170,000 had signed up within hours of Hancock’s announcement, Powis told BBC Breakfast:
Asked if he expected such a response, he replied:
French government scientific advisers have recommended a total of six weeks’ lockdown, a suggestion president Emmanuel Macron and his ministers are considering but seem reluctant to announce at this moment, Kim Willsher, the Guardian’s Paris correspondent, reports.
France is carrying out 9,000 tests for the virus every day. Jérôme Salomon, director of the country’s health authority, has said this will be increased by an additional 10,000 by the end of this week.
A further 10,000 tests should be available next week. France has asked all private and public hospitals to join the coronavirus battle and has increased the number of intensive care ventilator beds from 5,000 to 8,000.
The military hospital sent to Alsace in eastern France is now up and running and Macron is planning a visit today. The situation in the region, where there is a coronavirus cluster, is described as “critical”. Neighbouring Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Germany have offered to take patients and about 20 seriously ill people are being evacuated onboard a “medically equipped TGV”.
All non-essential operations are being cancelled across the country, but those needing urgent medical attention will be seen. Women will still have access to contraception, pregnancy terminations and pregnancy scans, Salomon said.
French scientists and medical researchers are carrying out tests on various possible cures, including the anti-malarial drug chloroquine, but people are strongly advised not to self-medicate.
As well as the public clapping in support of essential health workers that happens in France at 8pm every evening, all the bells of French churches will ring in unison at 7.30pm today as a sign of solidarity and national unity and to boost morale during the second week of lockdown.
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in France, as reported from the daily update last evening, is 22,300, a rise of 2,444 in a day, 10,176 people are in hospital with the virus, 2,516 of them in intensive care (34% of ICU cases are aged under 60). There have been 1,100 deaths in hospitals, 85% of which are of people over 70 years. The number of deaths rose sharply by 240 in 24 hours. This figure does not include those who have died in retirement homes or outside hospitals.
Rabbis in Israel have made an exemption for the upcoming Passover feast, ruling that families and friends do not have to gather around a single table, Oliver Holmes, the Guardian’s Jerusalem correspondent, reports.
Instead, the traditional dinner can be held via the video conference call program Zoom to prevent the spread of Covid-19, according to the Jerusalem Post newspaper.
The decision was made by several Orthodox Sephardic rabbis, the Jerusalem Post reported, and does not apply to all sects. It was focused on making sure elderly members of the family can, if not in person, still attend the event.
Passover, which commemorates the flight of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery, begins on 8-9 April this year with an elaborate Seder meal. The dinner, often lasting deep into the night, involves ritual wine drinking and symbolic foods.
A charity taking legal action to call for the release of hundreds of people with underlying health disorders held in immigration detention in the UK, PA Media reports.
Detention Action says a “significant proportion” of the approximately 1,500 people detained over their immigration status in the country have serious underlying health conditions that place them at “a significant risk of serious harm or death” during the Covid-19 crisis.
It also argues that “significant numbers of detainees will no longer be detainable because widespread travel restrictions prevent removals from taking place”, rendering their detention unlawful.
The Home Office has released almost 300 people from detention centres in the last few days because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Guardian reported on Saturday.
The case, which will be heard in London on Wednesday, is thought to be the first Covid-19-related case heard in the courts of England and Wales.
Afghanistan has reported 33 new Coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, marking the biggest one-day rise in the war-torn country, Akhtar Mohammad Makoii reports from Herat, the country’s worst-affected city.
One death has also been reported, raising the total number of deaths to two. The latest death is a 45-year-old woman who died of Covid-19 last night in Herat.
The total number of positive cases jumped to 75 from 42 the day before, an Afghan health ministry spokesman said in a press conference in Kabul.
Four members of the international coalition forces in the country have also tested positive for the coronavirus.
Wahidullah Mayar said a partial curfew had been implemented in Herat, Zaranj, and Farah, three cities close to the border with Iran.
Thirty-two of the new positive cases were confirmed in Herat, and concerns are high with around 15,000 Afghans returning from Iran each day. Herat is the worst affected city with 54 of Afghanistan’s Covid-19 patients.
On Tuesday night, the governor of Herat announced a partial curfew to contain the spread of the virus and asked the people to stay at home. With most shops closed, some parts of Herat looked deserted Wednesday morning compared to the previous day. Police rangers patrolling in the city used loudspeakers to order to close their shops.
Officials said the curfew would badly affect more than 100,000 people in Herat who are living in extreme poverty and dependent on working each day. Despite the new rules, early on Wednesday morning the Guardian saw child workers in the empty streets.
In Japan, businesses, sports fans and the people feel “massively let down” by the decision to postpone the Olympics, which has been pushed back to an unspecified date, Justin McCurry, the Guardian’s Tokyo correspondent, reports.
On Tuesday, the Tokyo 2020 countdown clock showed there were just 122 days to go before the Olympics opening ceremony.
By Wednesday morning, the clock, outside the Tokyo station building, simply displayed the current date and time. The switch was so sudden that commuters paused to take photos.
The countdown clock will be reset as soon as organisers and the International Olympic Committee [IOC] decide when a supposedly post-coronavirus world is ready for the second coming of the Tokyo Games.
Hours after Japan’s prime minister, Shinzo Abe, confirmed that the Games would be held “no later than next summer”, some Tokyoites were conflicted about their reaction.
We begin with some news from Africa, just published on the Guardian this morning. Lucy Lamble, of our global development team, reports that government ministers across Africa have called for the suspension of debt interest payments as their countries adapt to cope with the Covid-19 crisis.
The numbers of cases being reported in Africa are still behind Europe and the US but rises are being confirmed in South Africa, Kenya, Egypt, Algeria and Burkina Faso, among others, and there is fear of what economic consequences the pandemic might wreak.
On Monday, the heads of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund expressed support for debt relief to help countries strengthen their health systems in readiness.
During a conference call for G20 ministers, the IMF’s leader, Kristalina Georgieva, pointed to the replenishing of funds used in a debt relief and aid mechanism during the 2014 Ebola epidemic that struck three African countries.
The ministers also requested that principal payments – the actual debt payment, as opposed to interest charges – be waived for fragile states, where people are deeply vulnerable to a pandemic.