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| Coronavirus latest updates: Trump extends travel ban to UK and Ireland | Coronavirus latest updates: Trump extends travel ban to UK and Ireland |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Ivanka Trump working from home as a precaution; US House passes virus aid package; China records 11 new cases; WHO says Europe is at centre of pandemic | Ivanka Trump working from home as a precaution; US House passes virus aid package; China records 11 new cases; WHO says Europe is at centre of pandemic |
| Morocco has suspended flights to and from 21 countries including Egypt, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Greece, Norway and Turkey, according to Reuters. | |
| Dubai said on Saturday it was temporarily suspending operations at four major theme parks and tourist attractions until the end of March amid coronavirus concerns. | |
| The emirate’s government media office said in a statement that Motiongate Dubai, Legoland Dubai, Legoland Waterpark Dubai and Bollywood Parks Dubai would be closed to ensure the health and safety of guests and employees. | |
| My colleague Kim Willsher has the latest from France: | |
| France has announced the closure of all places “non essential” to public life including restaurants, cafes, cinemas and discos from midnight Saturday. | |
| “We must absolutely limit movement, meetings and contacts,” French prime minister Edouard Philippe said on Saturday evening. Food shops, tobacconists, banks and public transport will remain open, he said. | |
| Philippe said the measure was being imposed after another meeting with the country’s scientific committee. | |
| The announcement came as Jérome Salomon, director of the French health authority, confirmed the WHO’s assessment, that Europe is “the epicentre of the epidemic”. | |
| “In France, we are confronted with the start of a national epidemic with a rapid and intense spread in numerous zones,” Salomon said. | |
| The first round of the municipal elections will still go ahead on Sunday. | |
| The UK’s Foreign Office has said it is working to support Britons affected by the US’s extended travel ban, which comes into effect from midnight on Monday (EST). | |
| “This is a decision for the US. We are working to provide as much information and support to affected British nationals as possible,” a spokesman said. “We continue to coordinate closely with the US and other international partners on the global response to coronavirus.” | |
| The Embassy of Ireland in the USA tweeted to confirm the travel from the US to Ireland will continue: | |
| Irish airline Aer Lingus said: “We’re assessing the impact of new US government restrictions announced today on travel from Ireland and the UK to the United States. | |
| “We will communicate directly with affected guests as soon as possible. | |
| “All travel before 31 May can be changed to a later date and/or destination. No change fees apply. A fare difference may apply.” | |
| Lithuania will shut its borders to foreigners from Monday to try stop the spread of coronavirus, the government has said in a statement. | Lithuania will shut its borders to foreigners from Monday to try stop the spread of coronavirus, the government has said in a statement. |
| France to close most shops, cafes, restaurants and cinemas – Philippe | France to close most shops, cafes, restaurants and cinemas – Philippe |
| France will shut down cafes, shops, restaurants and cinemas to stem the spread of the coronavirus outbreak, prime minister Édouard Philippe has announced. | France will shut down cafes, shops, restaurants and cinemas to stem the spread of the coronavirus outbreak, prime minister Édouard Philippe has announced. |
| Philippe said public transport will be kept open but asked citizens to limit their use, Reuters news agency reported. | Philippe said public transport will be kept open but asked citizens to limit their use, Reuters news agency reported. |
| The closures will come into effect at midnight on Saturday. | The closures will come into effect at midnight on Saturday. |
| He told a news conference that exceptions on the shop ban would include food stores, pharmacies and gas stations. | He told a news conference that exceptions on the shop ban would include food stores, pharmacies and gas stations. |
| Spain’s government failed to agree on Saturday on a new package of economic and social measures to mitigate the impact of the fight against the coronavirus, a source close to the negotiations told Reuters. | Spain’s government failed to agree on Saturday on a new package of economic and social measures to mitigate the impact of the fight against the coronavirus, a source close to the negotiations told Reuters. |
| With schools shut across Spain and a first package of economic steps announced on Thursday, the government was expected to go further on Saturday. | With schools shut across Spain and a first package of economic steps announced on Thursday, the government was expected to go further on Saturday. |
| The source said ministers disagreed in a seven hour cabinet meeting on Saturday on what the new measures should be. The source added that the government would aim to agree on them on Tuesday. | The source said ministers disagreed in a seven hour cabinet meeting on Saturday on what the new measures should be. The source added that the government would aim to agree on them on Tuesday. |
| Prime minister Pedro Sanchez is due to announce emergency measures including the shutting down of most shops in a news conference scheduled for 8pm local time. | Prime minister Pedro Sanchez is due to announce emergency measures including the shutting down of most shops in a news conference scheduled for 8pm local time. |
| France has reported a total of 4,499 confirmed coronavirus cases – up from 3,661 on Friday, according to official figures. | France has reported a total of 4,499 confirmed coronavirus cases – up from 3,661 on Friday, according to official figures. |
| Slovenia has recorded its first coronavirus-related death, according to national broadcaster TV Slovenia. | Slovenia has recorded its first coronavirus-related death, according to national broadcaster TV Slovenia. |
| A second patient has died of the Covid-19 virus in Ireland, the country’s chief medical officer Tony Holohan told journalists on Saturday. | A second patient has died of the Covid-19 virus in Ireland, the country’s chief medical officer Tony Holohan told journalists on Saturday. |
| The total number of confirmed cases in the country has increased to 129 from 90. | The total number of confirmed cases in the country has increased to 129 from 90. |
| Two people in the Seychelles have tested positive for coronavirus, the country’s health commissioner has confirmed. | Two people in the Seychelles have tested positive for coronavirus, the country’s health commissioner has confirmed. |
| Donald Trump confirmed that he had taken the test for coronavirus at a White House briefing today – although the result was not yet available. | Donald Trump confirmed that he had taken the test for coronavirus at a White House briefing today – although the result was not yet available. |
| The news came just before vice-president Mike Pence clarified the existing US travel ban would be extended to the UK and Ireland to tackle the coronavirus outbreak. | The news came just before vice-president Mike Pence clarified the existing US travel ban would be extended to the UK and Ireland to tackle the coronavirus outbreak. |
| Read the full report from my colleagues in the US here. | Read the full report from my colleagues in the US here. |
| Norway will temporarily shut all its airports from Monday in a move to curb the spread of coronavirus the country’s prime minister, Erna Solberg, said on Saturday. | Norway will temporarily shut all its airports from Monday in a move to curb the spread of coronavirus the country’s prime minister, Erna Solberg, said on Saturday. |
| The government is ready to do all that is needed to secure Norway’s economy, hit by business shutdowns due to the outbreak, and would seek to import medical equipment from China, Solberg told a news conference. | The government is ready to do all that is needed to secure Norway’s economy, hit by business shutdowns due to the outbreak, and would seek to import medical equipment from China, Solberg told a news conference. |
| The coronavirus death toll in Spain reached 190 on Saturday, up from 120 the day before. | The coronavirus death toll in Spain reached 190 on Saturday, up from 120 the day before. |
| Kind-hearted people in the UK have been shrugging off the sense of apocalypse by offering to lend a helping hand to those in need, notifying them by dropping leaflets through their letterboxes. | Kind-hearted people in the UK have been shrugging off the sense of apocalypse by offering to lend a helping hand to those in need, notifying them by dropping leaflets through their letterboxes. |
| My colleague Simon Murphy reports: | My colleague Simon Murphy reports: |
| Here’s the latest on the situation in Colombia and Venezula from my Bogota-based colleague Joe Parkin Daniels : | Here’s the latest on the situation in Colombia and Venezula from my Bogota-based colleague Joe Parkin Daniels : |
| Colombia overnight closed its border with Venezuela in order to stem the spread of Covid-19 in the South American nation, a move that is likely to have lasting ramifications given the scale of Venezuela’s migration crisis. | Colombia overnight closed its border with Venezuela in order to stem the spread of Covid-19 in the South American nation, a move that is likely to have lasting ramifications given the scale of Venezuela’s migration crisis. |
| About 4.5 million people have fled Venezuela which, despite boasting the planet’s largest proven oil reserves, remains mired in years-long economic and social turmoil. Hyperinflation is rampant, with shortages in basic foodstuffs and medical supplies already a daily reality. Around 1.4 million of those that have left have arrived to Colombia, which shares a 1,378-mile border with Venezuela. | About 4.5 million people have fled Venezuela which, despite boasting the planet’s largest proven oil reserves, remains mired in years-long economic and social turmoil. Hyperinflation is rampant, with shortages in basic foodstuffs and medical supplies already a daily reality. Around 1.4 million of those that have left have arrived to Colombia, which shares a 1,378-mile border with Venezuela. |
| Authorities estimate as many as 40,000 people cross the border every day, the majority of which buy supplies - medicines and food staples - and return home. | Authorities estimate as many as 40,000 people cross the border every day, the majority of which buy supplies - medicines and food staples - and return home. |
| The move to shut the border came overnight, after Venezuela confirmed its first two cases of Covid-19 on Friday morning. | The move to shut the border came overnight, after Venezuela confirmed its first two cases of Covid-19 on Friday morning. |
| The two countries broke diplomatic relations when Colombia ceased to recognise its embattled leader, Nicolás Maduro, as the country’s legitimate president in early 2019, as part of an ongoing US-led coalition to oust him from office. Analysts say that will hamper coordination to contain a virus that does not respect borders. | The two countries broke diplomatic relations when Colombia ceased to recognise its embattled leader, Nicolás Maduro, as the country’s legitimate president in early 2019, as part of an ongoing US-led coalition to oust him from office. Analysts say that will hamper coordination to contain a virus that does not respect borders. |
| Others worry that the closure will force desperate Venezuelans to cross informally, putting them at risk of armed groups operating along the border. | Others worry that the closure will force desperate Venezuelans to cross informally, putting them at risk of armed groups operating along the border. |
| “Colombia’s overnight decision to ‘close’ its porous border with Venezuela won’t stop the flow of people,” tweeted Geoff Ramsey, a Venezuela expert at the Washington Office on Latin America. “But it will force them to rely more on informal crossings where they’ll be more vulnerable to exploitation and abuse.” | “Colombia’s overnight decision to ‘close’ its porous border with Venezuela won’t stop the flow of people,” tweeted Geoff Ramsey, a Venezuela expert at the Washington Office on Latin America. “But it will force them to rely more on informal crossings where they’ll be more vulnerable to exploitation and abuse.” |
| Colombia currently has 22 confirmed cases of Covid-19, but its government appears to view Venezuela - with fewer cases - as a possible centre of an outbreak in Latin America. Iván Duque Márquez, Colombia’s president, described the closure in a statement as “a measure of protection ahead of the situation unfolding in [Venezuela].” | Colombia currently has 22 confirmed cases of Covid-19, but its government appears to view Venezuela - with fewer cases - as a possible centre of an outbreak in Latin America. Iván Duque Márquez, Colombia’s president, described the closure in a statement as “a measure of protection ahead of the situation unfolding in [Venezuela].” |
| Márquez also announced overnight a ban on travellers who have been in Europe or Asia in the last 14 days, with the exceptions of Colombian citizens and residents. | Márquez also announced overnight a ban on travellers who have been in Europe or Asia in the last 14 days, with the exceptions of Colombian citizens and residents. |
| All measures are expected to last until 30 May. | All measures are expected to last until 30 May. |