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Coronavirus live news: rise in Italy, US and France deaths takes global confirmed toll past 40,000 Coronavirus live news: rise in Italy, US and France deaths takes global confirmed toll past 40,000
(32 minutes later)
Worldwide confirmed cases pass 800,000 as Spain and Russia report also record single-day death tolls and Mexico wakes to state of emergencyWorldwide confirmed cases pass 800,000 as Spain and Russia report also record single-day death tolls and Mexico wakes to state of emergency
The former Marseille president Pape Diouf has died, the French league (LFP) has announced. The club had earlier revealed he had been suffering from Covid-19. Diouf was being treated in a hospital in Senegal after contracting the virus.
Diouf became the first black president of a first-tier European club when he took the position of the position at Marseille in 2005.
People in the Italian city of Naples have been filling bread baskets with hot and cold food, and lowering them from their balconies for homeless people and those struggling during the nationwide lockdown.
The initiative started in one street, but has been copied by other residents in the city. Lucarriello, who filled a basket, said it was important to look after each other while people waited for state intervention:
In the UK, the Chemical Industries Association has responded to the government’s claims that a shortage of chemical reagent is behind the lack of Covid-19 tests, saying reagents are being produced and delivered to the NHS.In the UK, the Chemical Industries Association has responded to the government’s claims that a shortage of chemical reagent is behind the lack of Covid-19 tests, saying reagents are being produced and delivered to the NHS.
The world faces its most challenging crisis since the second world war, the UN’s secretary general, António Guterres, has warned, saying the pandemic threatens every country and is likely to bring a recession without parallel in the world’s recent past.The world faces its most challenging crisis since the second world war, the UN’s secretary general, António Guterres, has warned, saying the pandemic threatens every country and is likely to bring a recession without parallel in the world’s recent past.
There is also a risk that the combination of the disease and its economic impact will contribute to greater instability, unrest, and conflict, he said at the launch of a report on the socioeconomic impacts of Covid-19.There is also a risk that the combination of the disease and its economic impact will contribute to greater instability, unrest, and conflict, he said at the launch of a report on the socioeconomic impacts of Covid-19.
In Wales, a field hospital is being set up at the Vale Resort near Cardiff, providing 290 beds for the Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board.In Wales, a field hospital is being set up at the Vale Resort near Cardiff, providing 290 beds for the Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board.
The facility is being set up with the support of local authorities, the military and contractors. Two further field hospital sites are being worked on in the area and will be confirmed at a later date.The facility is being set up with the support of local authorities, the military and contractors. Two further field hospital sites are being worked on in the area and will be confirmed at a later date.
Britain’s biggest banks have agreed to scrap payouts to shareholders and are expected not to pay out any bonuses to senior staff, after a request from the Bank of England.Britain’s biggest banks have agreed to scrap payouts to shareholders and are expected not to pay out any bonuses to senior staff, after a request from the Bank of England.
The Prudential Regulation Authority, which is part of the Bank, said Standard Chartered, NatWest, Santander, the Royal Bank of Scotland, Nationwide, Lloyds, HSBC and Barclays have all agreed to drop their dividends and share buybacks until the end of the year, and cancel outstanding dividends from 2019.The Prudential Regulation Authority, which is part of the Bank, said Standard Chartered, NatWest, Santander, the Royal Bank of Scotland, Nationwide, Lloyds, HSBC and Barclays have all agreed to drop their dividends and share buybacks until the end of the year, and cancel outstanding dividends from 2019.
It comes as the UK prepares for a potential recession. The PRA said that the decision is a “sensible precautionary step given the unique role that banks need to play in supporting the wider economy through a period of economic disruption”.It comes as the UK prepares for a potential recession. The PRA said that the decision is a “sensible precautionary step given the unique role that banks need to play in supporting the wider economy through a period of economic disruption”.
Oman’s health ministry has reported its first death – a 72 year-old Omani man – state TV has reported on Twitter. Oman reported that, as of 31 March, 192 cases have been identified.Oman’s health ministry has reported its first death – a 72 year-old Omani man – state TV has reported on Twitter. Oman reported that, as of 31 March, 192 cases have been identified.
The charity Women in Prison has welcomed the UK government’s decision to release pregnant women from prison but has called for further releases to prevent “avoidable” deaths.The charity Women in Prison has welcomed the UK government’s decision to release pregnant women from prison but has called for further releases to prevent “avoidable” deaths.
The Ministry of Justice has already said it will temporarily release pregnant women and inmates in mother and baby units in prison who pass a risk assessment. There are 35 pregnant women and 34 women in mother and baby units and the department expects most to be released. Dr Kate Paradine, chief executive of Women in Prison, has said:The Ministry of Justice has already said it will temporarily release pregnant women and inmates in mother and baby units in prison who pass a risk assessment. There are 35 pregnant women and 34 women in mother and baby units and the department expects most to be released. Dr Kate Paradine, chief executive of Women in Prison, has said:
Over in Greece authorities have announced that an asylum seeker has contracted coronavirus, in what has been the first case of a refugee testing positive for the potentially lethal disease since the outbreak of the virus at the end of February.Over in Greece authorities have announced that an asylum seeker has contracted coronavirus, in what has been the first case of a refugee testing positive for the potentially lethal disease since the outbreak of the virus at the end of February.
Manos Logothetis, a senior official at the migration ministry, told the Guardian that a woman was diagnosed with the virus two days after giving birth in an Athens hospital on 28 March.Manos Logothetis, a senior official at the migration ministry, told the Guardian that a woman was diagnosed with the virus two days after giving birth in an Athens hospital on 28 March.
The woman, accommodated in a migrant camp hosting up to 2,500 people on the Greek mainland, remained in the hospital.The woman, accommodated in a migrant camp hosting up to 2,500 people on the Greek mainland, remained in the hospital.
As the first recorded case among tens of thousands of migrants and refugees living in vastly overcrowded holding facilities in the country, the news has been received with trepidation. More than 42,000 men, women and children are currently held in reception centres on the five Aegean islands – Lesbos, Samos, Chios, Leros and Kos – facing the Turkish coast.As the first recorded case among tens of thousands of migrants and refugees living in vastly overcrowded holding facilities in the country, the news has been received with trepidation. More than 42,000 men, women and children are currently held in reception centres on the five Aegean islands – Lesbos, Samos, Chios, Leros and Kos – facing the Turkish coast.
Appalling conditions in the camps provide what medics fear are exceptionally high-risk environments for Covid-19 to spread. “Authorities are tracing her recent contacts,” the health ministry spokesman and infectious diseases expert, Sotiris Tsiodras, told reporters on Tuesday. A man who lived with the woman had tested negative, he said.Appalling conditions in the camps provide what medics fear are exceptionally high-risk environments for Covid-19 to spread. “Authorities are tracing her recent contacts,” the health ministry spokesman and infectious diseases expert, Sotiris Tsiodras, told reporters on Tuesday. A man who lived with the woman had tested negative, he said.
To date, Greek officials have confirmed 1,314 cases of coronavirus. The Covid-19 death toll currently stands at 49 – much lower than in other European countries.To date, Greek officials have confirmed 1,314 cases of coronavirus. The Covid-19 death toll currently stands at 49 – much lower than in other European countries.
Of the 102 new cases reported overnight, 20 had originated from the staff of a passenger ship, chartered by a US cruise operator, and anchored off Piraeus.Of the 102 new cases reported overnight, 20 had originated from the staff of a passenger ship, chartered by a US cruise operator, and anchored off Piraeus.
Mark Stephenson, a family friend, has said the boy’s mother and six siblings are now awaiting the results of a postmortem.Mark Stephenson, a family friend, has said the boy’s mother and six siblings are now awaiting the results of a postmortem.
Ismail’s family said they were “beyond devastated” by his death, in a statement released to PA Media through Stephenson.Ismail’s family said they were “beyond devastated” by his death, in a statement released to PA Media through Stephenson.
Stephenson, the college director at the Madinah College where Ismail’s sister works, has set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for funeral costs.The page says:Stephenson, the college director at the Madinah College where Ismail’s sister works, has set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for funeral costs.The page says:
According to the Press Association, the victim was 13-year-old Ismail Mohamed Abdulwahab from Brixton, in south London. His family has said he died in hospital in the early hours of Monday and had no apparent underlying health conditions.According to the Press Association, the victim was 13-year-old Ismail Mohamed Abdulwahab from Brixton, in south London. His family has said he died in hospital in the early hours of Monday and had no apparent underlying health conditions.
A 13-year-old boy in London who tested positive has died, Kings College hospital has said. He is believed to be the youngest victim of the outbreak in the UK.
Tunisia will extend a lockdown to contain the outbreak by two more weeks to 19 April, the presidency says.
The country has confirmed 362 cases and nine deaths and has imposed a general lockdown for over a week, preventing people from leaving their homes except to buy necessities or work in certain jobs.
With Donald Trump under increasing scrutiny over his approach to the coronavirus crisis in the US, the president has used his daily press briefings to lash out at the media. With more than 165,000 recorded cases, the US is now the worst-affected country in the world.
Slovakia has registered its first death since the outbreak began, according to data from the National Health Information Centre. As of midnight on Monday, Slovakia had 363 confirmed cases of coronavirus infection.
The central European country has banned international travel to try to stem the epidemic, closed schools and most shops, and made it compulsory to wear a face mask outside the home.
Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Martinique and Barbados have refused to accept the medical evacuation of two critically ill passengers from a stranded coronavirus-stricken cruise ship, according to the vessel’s owner, Erin McCormick and Patrick Greenfield write.
Four people have died, nine people have tested positive for Covid-19 and dozens of people are ill with flu-like symptoms on the Zaandam and the Rotterdam, which are traveling towards Florida two attempt to dock.
William Burke, chief maritime officer for the boats’ owners Carnival Corporation, made the disclosure about critically ill passengers while answering questions about plans to enter Port Everglades, which have so far not been approved.
On Monday, a rescue plane carrying medical supplies was banned from landing on a remote Columbian island in order to resupply the Zaandam, which is carrying dozens of sick passengers and crew.
Burke told commissioners that coming to Fort Lauderdale was a “place of last resort after being turned away by several Latin American countries.
After the first session of the meeting, Broward County Commissioner Barbara Sharief told that Guardian that while there may be opponents to the plan to allow the ships to dock, she thinks the plan proposed by Carnival is ultimately a workable approach.
She said most of the calls she is getting from the public are from those who want the county to rescue the passengers.
A group of 28 spring break tourists who returned to Texas from the Mexican beach resort of Cabo San Lucas have tested positive for coronavirus, the city of Austin has said.
Burundi has confirmed its first cases, the East African nation’s health ministry has said. Both men are Burundian. One, aged 56 years, has recently returned from neighbouring Rwanda and the other, aged 42, has recently returned from Dubai, the government said.
Global deaths pass 40,000. Data collected by Johns Hopkins University researchers show at least 40,636 people have died across the world, while 174,019 people have recovered after becoming infected. At least 823,479 people have been infected.
UK sees largest one-day increase in deaths. A total of 1,789 patients have died in UK hospitals after testing positive as of 5pm on Monday (BST), the country’s Department of Health and Social Care says. That is up 381 from 1,408 on the previous 24 hours and represents a 27% day-on-day increase – by far the biggest so far.
US deaths now exceed those in China. Monday was the deadliest day yet for the US, which has now lost more than 3,400 people. The figures mean the coronavirus death toll has now surpassed that of the 11 September terror attacks and is greater than that of China – 3,309.
Italy death toll rises by 837. A total of 12,428 people are now known to have died in the southern European country; the world’s worst national death toll. Some 77,635 are currently infected with an increase of 2,107 new cases on Tuesday, 459 more than Monday.
Worst FTSE quarter since 1987. The FTSE 100 posts its worst quarter since autumn 1987 as it closes for the night at 5671 points (up 108 points, or 1.95% today). That means it has shed 24.8% of its value in the last three months. That’s its second-worst quarter since being created in 1984.
More than 1,000 have now died in the Netherlands. The number of deaths in the Netherlands resulting from the epidemic rises by 175 to 1,039. The number of confirmed infections has increased by 845 to 12,595, the Netherlands’ National Institute for Health (RIVM) says.
Sierra Leone confirms first case. The president of the west African nation says a 37-year-old man who traveled from France on 16 March and has been in isolation ever since has tested positive.
UK shows early signs of flattening the curve. The NHS needs everyone to play their part in reducing transmission of the virus, the medical director of NHS England Stephen Powis says, as signs emerge that physical distancing measures are beginning to work.
‘Stay healthy!’ US urges Americans left behind in Pakistan. A US government-arranged flight is to leave Islamabad in Pakistan on Wednesday night to repatriate Americans in the country. But not all US nationals will be on it. Their embassy’s advice to them while they await a plan to get them home is: “Stay healthy!”
Ireland: confirmed cases of coronavirus halve. 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.
That’s it from me, Damien Gayle, for today. I leave you in the capable hands of my colleague Kevin Rawlinson.
Pregnant women in prison in England and Wales who are judged to not pose a high risk of harm to the public will be temporarily released within days to protect them and their unborn children from Covid-19, Jamie Grierson, the Guardian’s home affairs correspondent, reports.
Prisoners in mother and baby units meeting the same risk assessment will also be released with their children, the the Ministry of Justice has said.
Prison governors will be able to grant release on temporary licence to pregnant inmates once they pass a risk assessment and suitable accommodation for the women has been identified, the MoJ said.
There were 35 pregnant women in prison and 34 women in mother and baby units as of 6pm on Monday. The department expects most, but not necessarily all, to be released, as some will not pass the risk assessment and some will be on remand and only a court has the power to bail them.
The announcement came as the department confirmed the number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 among prisoners increased 18% in 24 hours to 65 cases across 23 prisons as at 5pm on Monday. There are around 83,000 prisoners in England and Wales across 117 prisons.
The number of prison staff who have tested positive rose from 13 to 14 in the same period, while the number of infected prisoner escort and custody services (Pecs) staff remained at four.
The justice secretary, Robert Buckland, said:
Those released will be subject to licence conditions, including a requirement to stay at home, and wear an electronic tag, where appropriate, the MoJ said. They can be immediately recalled to prison for breaching these conditions or committing further offences, the department added.
On the subject of coronavirus testing rates, it seems I may have been overhasty in granting Iceland the accolade of the most widespread epidemiological surveillance of the spread of the disease.
A reader, Steen Rossau, emailed to point out that actually it is another northern Atlantic island nation that leads the world in the proportion of residents tested for the virus.
The Faroe Islands, a self-governing archipelago that is part of the Kingdom of Denmark (at least, depending on who you talk to), had as of 5pm on Tuesday tested 4,065 inhabitants, which is 8% of the total population.
So far there are 169 people confirmed to have been infected with coronavirus on the Faroes, including two new cases detected in the past 24 hours, and no one has died there from Covid-19, according data provided on the Danish government website.
The worst affected area is Suðurstreymoy, with between 85 and 89 cases, followed by Norðoyggjar, with 43 cases, local news site KVF reports. Although people in the islands have been asked to abide by social distancing advice, police received reports of parties held across the country over the weekend.
“Officers showed up at some of these parties, where they spoke with the young partygoers about the coronavirus and the restrictions on group activities,” KVL reported.