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Coronavirus live news: Spain reports record single-day death toll; World Bank warns of 'unprecedented global shock' Coronavirus live news: Spain reports record single-day death toll; World Bank warns of 'unprecedented global shock'
(32 minutes later)
Global cases pass 750,000; Vietnam enters lockdown; Russia records biggest daily rise in cases for seventh day runningGlobal cases pass 750,000; Vietnam enters lockdown; Russia records biggest daily rise in cases for seventh day running
Ireland has issued guidelines on safe sex during the coronavirus pandemic, writes Rory Carroll in Dublin.
Only be sexually active with someone you live with and who does not have the virus or symptoms of the virus, and avoid kissing anyone outside your household or who has symptoms, say the Health Service Executive guidelines.
“Taking a break from physical and face-to-face interactions is worth considering, especially if you meet your sex partners online or make a living by having sex. Consider using video dates, sexting or chat rooms. Make sure to disinfect keyboards and touch screens that you share with others.”
Masturbation will not spread coronavirus, it adds. “Especially if you wash your hands (and any sex toys) with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before and after.”
The Office of National Statistics (ONS) in the UK has published the first of its new weekly bulletins that will include all instances where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate and will include non-hospital deaths.
A total of 210 deaths in England and Wales that occurred up to and including 20 March (and which were registered up to 25 March) had Covid-19 mentioned on the death certificate, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics.
This compares with 170 coronavirus-related deaths reported by NHS England and Public Health Wales up to and including 20 March.
A quick note on the difference between the figures published by the ONS and those that have been published thus far by NHS England and Public Health Wales:
The ONS death figures are based on the number of deaths registered in England and Wales where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate as “deaths involving Covid-19”. The number includes all deaths, not just those in hospitals, although there is usually a delay of at least five days between a death occurring and registration.
The figures published by NHS England and Public Health Wales are for deaths only among hospital patients who have tested positive for Covid-19, but include deaths that have not yet been registered.
Separate figures from the ONS show that for the 108 deaths registered up to 20 March where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate, 45 (or 42%) were people aged 85 and over while 34 (31%) were people aged 75-84.
A total of 21 deaths (19%) were people aged 65-74, seven (6%) were people aged 45-64 and one death was aged 15-44 years.
Follow all the latest coronavirus news from the UK in our dedicated liveblog:
Iran has reported 141 new death and 3,111 new cases of coronavirus, writes my colleague Akhtar Mohammad Makoii.Iran has reported 141 new death and 3,111 new cases of coronavirus, writes my colleague Akhtar Mohammad Makoii.
The health ministry of Iran has announced 141 new Coronavirus death in last 24 taking the total number of Coronavirus deaths to 2,8983,111 new cases reported positive in the same period pushing the total number of infections to 44,60614,656 patients have recovered so far. The health ministry spokesman said 3,703 patients are in critical condition.Some good context from the last few days from journalist Abas Aslani, Senior research fellow at the Center for Middle East Strategic Studies: The health ministry of Iran has announced 141 new Coronavirus death in last 24 taking the total number of Coronavirus deaths to 2,898.3,111 new cases reported positive in the same period pushing the total number of infections to 44,606.14,656 patients have recovered so far. The health ministry spokesman said 3,703 patients are in critical condition.Some good context from the last few days from journalist Abas Aslani, senior research fellow at the Center for Middle East Strategic Studies:
The discount supermarket Aldi is easing many of the temporary restrictions put in place to limit the number of items shoppers can purchase in the UK, amid better product availability and signs that normal shopping patterns are returning, writes Rebecca Smithers.The discount supermarket Aldi is easing many of the temporary restrictions put in place to limit the number of items shoppers can purchase in the UK, amid better product availability and signs that normal shopping patterns are returning, writes Rebecca Smithers.
In the UK, business leaders and lawyers have called on the Ministry of Justice to grant early release to prisoners convicted of non-violent offences and those who are medically vulnerable and at risk of catching Covid-19 in jail, writes my colleague Owen Bowcott.In the UK, business leaders and lawyers have called on the Ministry of Justice to grant early release to prisoners convicted of non-violent offences and those who are medically vulnerable and at risk of catching Covid-19 in jail, writes my colleague Owen Bowcott.
Spain has recorded a record new single-day coronavirus death toll after 849 people died from the virus between Monday and Tuesday, reports my colleague Sam Jones in Madrid.Spain has recorded a record new single-day coronavirus death toll after 849 people died from the virus between Monday and Tuesday, reports my colleague Sam Jones in Madrid.
Public Health Wales has urged the country’s 440,000 smokers to quit now to reduce the risks from Covid-19 and said it has seen a sharp rise in the number of people asking for help to stop, reports Steve Morris.Public Health Wales has urged the country’s 440,000 smokers to quit now to reduce the risks from Covid-19 and said it has seen a sharp rise in the number of people asking for help to stop, reports Steve Morris.
The number of coronavirus cases in Russia jumped to 2,337 on Tuesday, an increase of 500, as the country recorded its biggest daily rise for the seventh day in a row, Reuters reports.The number of coronavirus cases in Russia jumped to 2,337 on Tuesday, an increase of 500, as the country recorded its biggest daily rise for the seventh day in a row, Reuters reports.
In Russia, 18 people who contracted the coronavirus have died, while 121 people have recovered.In Russia, 18 people who contracted the coronavirus have died, while 121 people have recovered.
Dubai enforced the UAE’s first full lockdown on a district housing the emirate’s famous gold and spice markets on Tuesday, to disinfect the normally bustling tourist and trade area as part of efforts to stem the spread of the coronavirus, Reuters reportsDubai enforced the UAE’s first full lockdown on a district housing the emirate’s famous gold and spice markets on Tuesday, to disinfect the normally bustling tourist and trade area as part of efforts to stem the spread of the coronavirus, Reuters reports
Indonesia confirmed 114 new coronavirus infections on Tuesday, bringing the total to 1,528, a health ministry official said.Indonesia confirmed 114 new coronavirus infections on Tuesday, bringing the total to 1,528, a health ministry official said.
A further 14 people had died, taking the total to 136, the official, Achmad Yurianto, reported.A further 14 people had died, taking the total to 136, the official, Achmad Yurianto, reported.
Italy has extended its lockdown until Easter, but there is a glimmer of hope as the country reports a declining infection rate.
The BBC reports:
Encouraging news from Ireland, where the daily growth rate in confirmed cases of coronavirus has halved and the country appears to have avoided an unmitigated epidemic, writes my colleague Rory Carroll in Dublin.
My colleague Pablo Gutiérrez has produced this fantastic data-driven piece:
For all UK coronavirus news, please do read our UK liveblog.
We will continue to cover all global coronavirus related news here
We will continue to cover all global coronavirus related news here.
The number of coronavirus cases in the Czech Republic has exceeded 3,000, Reuters reports.
The central European country has had the highest number of cases among the European Union’s eastern wing, but far fewer than in western neighbours such as Germany and Austria.
The growth rate of new cases has shown signs of slowing, the Czech government said on Monday. The health ministry reported that the number of new cases rose by 184 on Monday to 3,001, a 6.5% increase, which is the second-lowest daily rise since the first infections were reported on 1 March By early Tuesday morning the number of cases stood at 3,002.
The government hopes to begin easing restrictions on daily life after the Easter holiday in April if the situation is under control.
Encouraging news from Ireland: the daily growth rate in confirmed cases of coronavirus has halved and the country appears to have avoided an unmitigated epidemic.
Restrictions on social and commercial life and other measures have had an “enormous” impact, Philip Nolan, the chair of the Irish Epidemiological Modelling Group, told a media briefing.
“The measures that the state has imposed and that the public have really complied with very, very strongly are having an enormous effect on the number of actual cases that we’re seeing today.”
However, Nolan warned against complacency and said Covid-19’s growth rate would have to fall to “close to zero” for it to be suppressed.
The chief medical officer, Tony Holohan, agreed Ireland was seeing “encouraging signs” in the effort to flatten the curve but said the number of cases and admissions to intensive care units continued to rise, putting hospitals at risk of being swamped. Officials are especially concerned about clusters in nursing homes and hospitals.
Ireland on Monday confirmed 295 new cases, the second highest daily number, bringing the total to 2,910. It recorded eight deaths, bringing the death toll to 54. Northern Ireland has 533 confirmed cases and 22 deaths.
Indonesia is set to release about 30,000 prisoners early as the country seeks to avoid a possible surge in coronavirus infections in its overcrowded prisons.
A document issued by the law and human rights ministry, whcih was viewed by Reuters, notes that adult prisoners would be eligible for parole if they had served two-thirds of their sentences, while children would be eligible if they served half of their jail term.
Official data shows there are 270,386 prisoners across Indonesia, more than twice the official capacity of its jails. A war on drugs has led to a surge in the number of imprisoned people who are particularly vulnerable to the spread of diseases as many prisons lack proper sanitation.
Indonesia is the world’s fourth most populous nation and president Joko Widodo on Tuesday declared a national public health emergency in a bid to contain the coronavirus outbreak. So far, the government has reported 1,414 infections and 122 deaths from the virus, but some officials and experts believe a lack of testing has masked the scale of the outbreak.
More on the use of face masks:
Czech citizens have mobilised in a national effort to make and distribute home-made masks after the government decreed face-wear mandatory for everyone in an effort to combat the coronavirus pandemic, writes Robert Tait in Prague.
The city of Jena in eastern Germany has decided to make people wear face masks when shopping or travelling by public transport, stepping up efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus and becoming the first city in the country to take the step, Reuters reports.
Depressing sexist news out of Malaysia.
The Malaysian government has urged women to dress up at home and avoid nagging their husbands in coronavirus lockdown advice.
Reuters reports: