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Coronavirus latest updates: Ten more people in UK die, Jet2 flights turn back from Spain Coronavirus latest updates: 10 more people in UK die, 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
Hundreds of members of the scientific community have sent two open letters to the British government, voicing their concerns about the response to the coronavirus outbreak.
One comes from 198 academics in the field of maths and science, calling for urgent measures of social distancing across the UK.
It says: “Going for ‘herd immunity’ at this point does not seem a viable option, as this will put NHS at an even stronger level of stress, risking many more lives than necessary.”
Another letter has been signed by 164 behavioural scientists. It raises concerns about the idea of “behavioural fatigue” – the idea that if the public are instructed to take preventative measures too early, they’ll eventually revert back to prior behaviour.
The letter suggests that this has been a cornerstone of British government policy on coronavirus and sheds doubt on the evidence behind this.
“While we fully support an evidence-based approach to policy that draws on behavioural science, we are not convinced that enough is known about ‘behavioural fatigue’ or to what extent these insights apply to the current exceptional circumstances,” it says.
“If ‘behavioural fatigue’ truly represents a key factor in the government’s decision to delay high-visibility interventions, we urge the government to share an adequate evidence base in support of that decision. If one is lacking, we urge the government to reconsider these decisions,” it ends.
Here’s another video from Italy, where neighbours are playing music together from their apartment, whilst they are in quarantine.
Syria has shut schools, cancelled most public events, and reduced public sector hours to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
The Health Ministry said the steps were “preventative” and “precautionary” and intended to raise the health sector’s readiness to control the virus should it emerge, and says there have been no cases in the country.
There’s a very sweet video on Twitter showing a young boy in Milan, Italy, shouting from the balcony of his home to the Red Cross, who are are bringing food to doctors.
It translates roughly as “thanks and good job”.
Northern Ireland schools will be closed for “at least 16 weeks” but they will they will not be shutting immediately, the region’s first minister, Arlene Foster, has said after a summit with the Ireland’s taoiseach, Leo Varadkar.Northern Ireland schools will be closed for “at least 16 weeks” but they will they will not be shutting immediately, the region’s first minister, Arlene Foster, has said after a summit with the Ireland’s taoiseach, Leo Varadkar.
The disclosure gives a glimpse of the scale of coronavirus crisis to come and will lead to questions as to whether a four-month schools closure is being planned for the rest of the UK.The disclosure gives a glimpse of the scale of coronavirus crisis to come and will lead to questions as to whether a four-month schools closure is being planned for the rest of the UK.
Foster confirmed that schools in Northern Ireland will close at some point in an effort to stem the spread of the virus but it was a matter of timing.Foster confirmed that schools in Northern Ireland will close at some point in an effort to stem the spread of the virus but it was a matter of timing.
We’ll have a full report soon.We’ll have a full report soon.
The Middle Eastern kingdom Jordan says it will suspend all passenger flights in and out of the country from Tuesday, according to a government statement just issued.The Middle Eastern kingdom Jordan says it will suspend all passenger flights in and out of the country from Tuesday, according to a government statement just issued.
Schools and universities will be closed and so will tourist sites including Petra as part of a number of proposals to limit public gatherings in the country.Schools and universities will be closed and so will tourist sites including Petra as part of a number of proposals to limit public gatherings in the country.
The measures may seem onerous, given Jordan has a single confirmed case of the virus - a citizen who returned from Italy and was identified as being infected on 2 March.The measures may seem onerous, given Jordan has a single confirmed case of the virus - a citizen who returned from Italy and was identified as being infected on 2 March.
But earlier today the Canadian government announced that one of its citizens who recently returned from Jordan had tested positive, raising the possibility there are undetected cases here.But earlier today the Canadian government announced that one of its citizens who recently returned from Jordan had tested positive, raising the possibility there are undetected cases here.
The tour guide who showed the woman around has been quarantined but there’s no idea yet how the Canadian contracted the disease.The tour guide who showed the woman around has been quarantined but there’s no idea yet how the Canadian contracted the disease.
Jordan will would stop all incoming and outgoing passenger flights into the country from Tuesday, the prime minister, Omar Razzaz, has confirmed.Jordan will would stop all incoming and outgoing passenger flights into the country from Tuesday, the prime minister, Omar Razzaz, has confirmed.
He also said that universities and schools would be closed for two weeks, with all tourist sites, sports and cinemas also set to close.He also said that universities and schools would be closed for two weeks, with all tourist sites, sports and cinemas also set to close.
Jordan had one confirmed Covid-19 case, but this was successfully treated and the patient left hospital on Friday. It had already closed its borders with Egypt, Iraq, Syria and the occupied Palestinian territories and Israel.Jordan had one confirmed Covid-19 case, but this was successfully treated and the patient left hospital on Friday. It had already closed its borders with Egypt, Iraq, Syria and the occupied Palestinian territories and Israel.
The number of coronavirus cases in South Africa has risen to 38, up from 24 a day earlier, the ministry of health has said.The number of coronavirus cases in South Africa has risen to 38, up from 24 a day earlier, the ministry of health has said.
As of 9am on Saturday, there were 1,140 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK, and 21 deaths, Public Health England has confirmed.As of 9am on Saturday, there were 1,140 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK, and 21 deaths, Public Health England has confirmed.
This is an increase of 342, and ten further deaths, since yesterday.
37,746 people have been tested, of which 36,606 were confirmed negative.37,746 people have been tested, of which 36,606 were confirmed negative.
Ten more patients who tested positive for the coronavirus have died, bringing the death toll in the UK to 21, NHS England has said.Ten more patients who tested positive for the coronavirus have died, bringing the death toll in the UK to 21, NHS England has said.
The first minister of Northern Ireland, Arlene Foster, has said that when schools in Northern Ireland are closed, they will remain shut for a minimum of 16 weeks.The first minister of Northern Ireland, Arlene Foster, has said that when schools in Northern Ireland are closed, they will remain shut for a minimum of 16 weeks.
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.
“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.
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!
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.
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.
There 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.
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.
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.
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.