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Coronavirus latest updates: WHO questions UK response, Jet2 flights turn back from Spain Coronavirus latest updates: WHO questions UK response, Jet2 flights turn back from Spain
(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 pandemicIvanka 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
The Welsh Rugby Union has suspended all events until the 30 March.
My colleague Lisa O’Carroll is at the press conference with Irish politicians following their meeting on coronavirus. She is live tweeting the event, and you can follow her @lisaocarroll for breaking updates from there.
All parties have said they accept that schools will close, it is now a matter of when.
The health minister has said that Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland are going to launch joint ‘awareness campaigns’, and added that individuals must take personal responsibility to stop the spread of the virus.
The number of coronavirus cases in the Netherlands has risen by 155 to 959, with two further deaths.
Dubai has cancelled all events planned in March and has banned hotels from hosting weddings, Reuters is reporting.
The Spanish government have drafted a decree to put the country into lockdown, according to reports in the Spanish media.
The reports say that Spaniards will be told to stay home except to buy food or medical supplies, go to hospital, work or in the case of other emergencies.
I’ll update you when we get official confirmation on this.
Germany is urging people returning from Italy, Switzerland and Austria to self-isolate for up to two weeks, in an attempt to slow the spread of coronavirus.Germany is urging people returning from Italy, Switzerland and Austria to self-isolate for up to two weeks, in an attempt to slow the spread of coronavirus.
Especially travellers and skiers returning from Switzerland, Italy and Austria should stay at home as far as possible for up to two weeks, even without symptoms,” Health Minister Jens Spahn tweeted. “Especially travellers and skiers returning from Switzerland, Italy and Austria should stay at home as far as possible for up to two weeks, even without symptoms,” the health minister, Jens Spahn tweeted.
As of Friday, there were 3,062 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Germany, with five deaths, the Robert Koch Institute for infectious diseases said.As of Friday, there were 3,062 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Germany, with five deaths, the Robert Koch Institute for infectious diseases said.
This photograph of a Tesco store, in Colney Hatch, London has been circulating on Twitter. Michelle Davies, who took the photograph, described the scene as looking “like there’s been a riot”.This photograph of a Tesco store, in Colney Hatch, London has been circulating on Twitter. Michelle Davies, who took the photograph, described the scene as looking “like there’s been a riot”.
“The selfishness of some people filling their trolleys with multiple packs and leaving none for others is staggering,” she said.
However, others have suggested that many of the products on the floor could be waiting to be restocked.
Thanks to all those sending information. Just a reminder that if I miss anything, you can drop me a message on Twitter @mollyblackall. I won’t be able to reply to all of the messages, but will endeavour to read them!Thanks to all those sending information. Just a reminder that if I miss anything, you can drop me a message on Twitter @mollyblackall. I won’t be able to reply to all of the messages, but will endeavour to read them!
Authorities in Madrid have told residents to stay at home, as Seville cancel the Holy Week celebrations.Authorities in Madrid have told residents to stay at home, as Seville cancel the Holy Week celebrations.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s government have come under fire for getting off to a slow start with coronavirus. They only began to introduce serious measures this week as numbers of coronavirus rates soared. The opposition has criticised the government for letting events like International Women’s Day marches go ahead a week ago.Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s government have come under fire for getting off to a slow start with coronavirus. They only began to introduce serious measures this week as numbers of coronavirus rates soared. The opposition has criticised the government for letting events like International Women’s Day marches go ahead a week ago.
As well as urging people to stay at home, Madrid city council has just announced that all parks in the capital will be closed from 4pm local time today.As well as urging people to stay at home, Madrid city council has just announced that all parks in the capital will be closed from 4pm local time today.
“Given the crowds of people who are unfortunately ignoring all the warnings and congregating in Madrid’s public spaces, the mayor has given the order to close all of the city’s parks and gardens from 4pm,” it said in a tweet.“Given the crowds of people who are unfortunately ignoring all the warnings and congregating in Madrid’s public spaces, the mayor has given the order to close all of the city’s parks and gardens from 4pm,” it said in a tweet.
There are now 5,753 cases and 136 deaths in Spain. 2,940 of the cases are in the Madrid regionThere are now 5,753 cases and 136 deaths in Spain. 2,940 of the cases are in the Madrid region
India has recorded its second coronavirus death – a 68-year-old woman in Delhi who caught the virus from her son who had travelled to Italy and Switzerland. The son developed symptoms a fortnight after returning to India. Officials are trying to trace the 1,500 people he may have been in contact with at the large plant where he worked.India has recorded its second coronavirus death – a 68-year-old woman in Delhi who caught the virus from her son who had travelled to Italy and Switzerland. The son developed symptoms a fortnight after returning to India. Officials are trying to trace the 1,500 people he may have been in contact with at the large plant where he worked.
Her family complained that the cemetery they took her to refused to cremate her. Crematoriums in India tended to be crowded and the staff felt at risk. It was only when doctors arrived to prescribe the right protocol that her last rites were performed. The number of coronavirus cases in India stands at 84.Her family complained that the cemetery they took her to refused to cremate her. Crematoriums in India tended to be crowded and the staff felt at risk. It was only when doctors arrived to prescribe the right protocol that her last rites were performed. The number of coronavirus cases in India stands at 84.
With no hand sanitisers available, the New Delhi government has designated them ‘essential commodities’ so that anyone hoarding them or selling them at inflated prices can be punished by law.With no hand sanitisers available, the New Delhi government has designated them ‘essential commodities’ so that anyone hoarding them or selling them at inflated prices can be punished by law.
As stories trickle in of some people concealing their travel history to affected areas or refusing to be tested and, if necessary, isolated, the Delhi government has also invoked the Epidemic Act. This allows district magistrates to take coercive action to isolate high-risk people.As stories trickle in of some people concealing their travel history to affected areas or refusing to be tested and, if necessary, isolated, the Delhi government has also invoked the Epidemic Act. This allows district magistrates to take coercive action to isolate high-risk people.
The wife of a Google employee in Bengaluru, for example, fled her home and vanished last week. Officials found that she had flown to Delhi – at the other end of the country - and travelled by train to Agra to her parents’ home.The wife of a Google employee in Bengaluru, for example, fled her home and vanished last week. Officials found that she had flown to Delhi – at the other end of the country - and travelled by train to Agra to her parents’ home.
Across many states, social life is being curbed with weddings, engagement ceremonies and birthday parties banned in the south Indian state of Karnataka. The message to Indians is to stay at home and avoid large gatherings. Several states have closed swimming pools, gyms, cinemas, night clubs, and theatres.Across many states, social life is being curbed with weddings, engagement ceremonies and birthday parties banned in the south Indian state of Karnataka. The message to Indians is to stay at home and avoid large gatherings. Several states have closed swimming pools, gyms, cinemas, night clubs, and theatres.
A petition calling for the UK to go into lockdown to prevent the spread of coronavirus has reached more than 110,000 signatures, meaning it will be considered for parliamentary debate.
It encourages the UK to follow the containment procedures of countries that have been widely affected by the outbreak, by restricting unnecessary travel and discouraging public gatherings.
“It is time the government should prioritise the health of the public and should consider how vital it is to implement effective containment now,” the petition says. “It is better to spend money to contain the virus and treating the relatively low numbers who are ill now rather than wait for more casualties.”
The government responds to all petitions with more than 10,000 signatures, and considers any petition with more than 100,000 signatures for parliamentary debate.
This video explores how Islam has been impacted by coronavirus. It follows Kuwait changing the call to prayer to tell people to pray in their homes, rather than at a mosque.
More from Sam Jones, our correspondent in Madrid:
Seville has announced that it will be cancelling the city’s world famous Holy Week processions as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Andalucían capital’s mayor, Juan Espadas Cejas, said it was the hardest decision he had taken in his five years in office, but added: “The declaration of the state of emergency, together with the need to safeguard public health and to allow enough time for a return to normality in the city, justify this move.”
Espadas said he was confident that the people of Seville would understand why the decision had been taken.
The cancellation of the spectacular but sombre parades, which draw huge crowds of foreign visitors, comes as tourist bookings plummet.
Last year, nearly 84 million people visited Spain, 18 million from the UK. Tourism is the nation’s third biggest industry, accounting for 11% of GDP. Even before the severe restrictions, including schools closures and bans on large public events, announced in the Madrid area, bookings were down.
According to the Spanish hoteliers’ confederation, reservations were already down 20-30%, in particular for holidays in Catalonia, Valencia and the Balearic and Canary Islands, in February compared with last year. Hotel bookings were down 24% in Madrid and 20% in Barcelona.
The government in India has announced that it will treat coronavirus as a notified disaster, which will enable it to take greater measures as part of the state disaster response fund.
The Labour leadership candidate Lisa Nandy is set to call for an aid package like that delivered after the second world war.
Speaking at the National Union of Mineworkers in Barnsley today, Nandy will call for greater transparency about the expert advice received by the government, more social care funding to protect older people, and a Covid-19 workers’ taskforce to ensure that workers with insecure and low paid jobs don’t arrive at work unwell.
She will also call for a consultation with council and community leaders, along with support for charities that tackle loneliness, to address the risks of self isolation.
“We need the equivalent of a Marshall Plan to protect our older people. After a decade of underfunding, a virus that could affect up to 80% of the population will not be dealt with by our NHS alone,” she will say.
In China, the number of new coronavirus cases brought to the mainland from overseas has exceeded the number of locally transmitted infections, for the first time.
This occurred on Friday, data from the National Health Commission showed.
Mainland China had 11 new confirmed cases on Friday, up from eight cases a day earlier, but only four of those, all in Hubei province, were locally transmitted.
The other seven – four in Shanghai, one Beijing and two in Gansu – came from travellers coming into China from Italy, the United States and Saudi Arabia.
This indicates a slowing of the virus in China, which has been at the centre of the outbreak.
Japan has said it will take “bold, unprecedented” steps to protect the economy, the prime minister, Shinzo Abe, has said.
Abe urged international cooperation to combat the impact of coronavirus on the global economy.
Abe also said Japan would consider various options, including a proposal by ruling party lawmakers to temporarily cut the country’s sales tax rate, to support an economy suffering “quite a big blow” from the coronavirus outbreak.
“The near-term focus is on containing the virus. After that, we need to put Japan’s economy back on a solid footing. We will take bold, unprecedented steps to achieve this,” he told a news conference.
“The impact of the coronavirus [on the global economy] has been enormous and markets are suffering disruptions,” he said. “The government will closely coordinate with other countries as well as with the Bank of Japan. If necessary, we’ll respond appropriately in line with agreements made by the G7 and G20.”
There have been another 22 positive cases in Wales overnight, bringing the total number of people infected with coronavirus to 60.
Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta, will shut schools and organise remote teaching for a minimum of two weeks in an attempt to halt the spread of coronavirus.
The announcement was made today by Jakarta’s governor, following reports of 27 more cases, bringing the total to 96. The number of deaths increased to five.
While most case are in Jakarta, cases were also reported in cities in western and central Java, Manado on Sulawesi island and Pontianak on Borneo island.
“We must massively, in an integrated way and without panic, search and find, and isolate positive cases,” Yurianto said. He added that “a community-based approach” was set to be adopted to prevent healthy people from getting sick.
Leo Varadkar and Arlene Foster are to meet on Saturday to discuss an all-of-Ireland approach to combatting coronavirus.
With mass gatherings including sporting events and concerts to be banned across the UK from next weekend, pressure was growing on Northern Irish leaders to close schools in line with the move south of the border.
The caretaker taoiseach and first minister will meet in Armagh as part of a wider delegation involving Ireland’s chief medical officer, who has been acting on Irish as well as EU modelling.
You can read the full story here: