- What a challenge to be the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) in the time of the coronavirus.The entire planet hanging on your every word, addressing daily news conferences at the headquarters in Geneva to detail an ever-increasing number of cases in an ever-increasing number of countries.This is the lot of Ethiopian Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the first African head of the WHO - and you can find out more about him in Imogen Foulkes' profile.
- The total number of deaths from coronavirus in Iran has risen to 92, the health ministry reports, with 15 new deaths announced on Wednesday.The total number of cases in the country increased by 586 in the last 24 hours.Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said 522 people had fully recovered from the infection.
- The French government is stepping in to regulate face masks and hand gels, the Local France reports.President Emmanuel Macron announced that the government would take control of all stocks and distribute them to people who need them.It comes as hospitals in France reported thefts of 10,000 masks.Hôpitaux de Paris has reported the theft of 8,300 masks from its sites, as well as 1,200 bottles of hand sanitiser gel, while the Hôpital de la Conception in Marseille reported the theft of 2,000 masks.The French government has advised that masks are only necessary for those infected or who are self-isolating. Despite this, stocks are running low across the country.
- Hospitals in the UK are being asked to carry out more video-based consultations of patients to reduce the risk of spreading the coronavirus.NHS England hopes the move will reduce the number of people in hospitals and lower the potential for transmission.Officials believe up to a fifth of the workforce may be off sick during the peak of an epidemic in the UK.The number of people diagnosed with coronavirus in Scotland has risen to three, bringing the total number of UK cases to 53.
- The World Health Organization has warned that banknotes may be spreading coronavirus.A spokesman has advised consumers to use contactless payments to minimise any risks.“We know that money changes hands frequently and can pick up all sorts of bacteria and viruses,” a WHO spokesman said.“We would advise people to wash their hands after handling banknotes, and avoid touching their face.”Last month banks in China and Korea began disinfecting and isolating used banknotes as part of efforts to stem the spread of the deadly virus.However, a Bank of England spokesman told the Telegraph it had no plans to follow suit, adding "the risk posed by handling a polymer note is no greater than touching any other common surface, such as handrails, doorknobs or credit cards”.It is not known how long the virus can survive outside the body, but experts believe the odds of contracting the virus via inanimate objects are low.
- Disinfecting robots, smart helmets, thermal camera-equipped drones and advanced facial recognition software are all being deployed in the fight against Covid-19 at the heart of the outbreak in China.President Xi Jinping has called on the country's tech sector to help battle the epidemic.Healthcare tech is also being used to identify coronavirus symptoms, find new treatments and monitor the spread of the disease, which has so far infected more than 90,000 people worldwide.
- India reported 17 new cases of coronavirus on Wednesday, bringing the total in the country to 28, according to the government.The numbers on Tuesday included 14 Italian tourists who were part of a tour group.One Indian who was travelling with them to the northern state of Rajasthan has also tested positive.In the capital Delhi, an Indian citizen who had recently travelled to Italy tested positive for the virus on Monday.Other affected regions include the southern states of Telangana and Kerala.Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has tweeted that he will not participate in any celebrations for the Holi spring festival.“Experts across the world have advised to reduce mass gatherings to avoid the spread of COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus. Hence, this year I have decided not to participate in any Holi Milan programme.”
- The London Book Fair has been cancelled, "following the escalation of COVID-19 Coronavirus in Europe".Organisers Reed Exhibitions said: "The effects, actual and projected, of Coronavirus are becoming evident across all aspects of our lives here in the UK and across the world, with many of our participants facing travel restrictions."We have been following UK government guidelines and working with the rolling advice from the public health authorities and other organisations, and so it is with reluctance that we have taken the decision not to go ahead with this year’s event."The decision follows the withdrawal of a wave of major publishers including Penguin Random House, Pan Macmillan and Harper Collins.In a statement issued on Tuesday. Penguin Random House said it was withdrawing from this year's fair "in the interest of the health and wellbeing of our employees, authors, and partners".The annual London Book Fair, which was scheduled to take place from 10-12 March, is among the biggest of its type in the world - second only to Frankfurt. Book fairs in Leipzig and Bologna have already been cancelled due to the outbreak.Organisers vowed the fair will return in 2021.
- There are fears of global shortages of some common drugs after India limited the export of certain medicines due to the coronavirus.India's drug makers rely on China for almost 70% of the active ingredients in their medicines.Industry experts have warned that manufacturers are likely to face shortages if the epidemic continues.On Wednesday, India - the world's biggest supplier of generic drugs - has restricted exports of 26 ingredients and the medicines made from them.The restricted drugs include Paracetamol, one of the world's most widely-used pain relievers.
- The first edition of the Coronavirus Podcast, from BBC News, will go live on Wednesday on BBC Sounds.The podcast will be presented by the BBC correspondents Fergus Walsh, Tulip Mazumdar, Dharshini David and James Gallagher, who will be joined by a range of expert guests.Catch the first edition later today looking at where things stand currently - and how we got here.
- China has confirmed 119 new cases of the virus and 38 more deaths.The majority were in the province of Hubei, where the virus first emerged in December.In total, the country has now reported more than 80,000 infections and almost 3,000 deaths.Although the vast majority of cases remain in China, the virus is now spreading faster outside the country than inside.
- Videos of Iranian healthcare workers on the frontline of the outbreak dancing are doing the rounds on social media.The outbreak of Covid-19 in Iran has killed at least 77 people in less than two weeks.
- African airlines have lost $400m (£312m) since the outbreak of the coronavirus in China in February, according to the global airline industry body, the International Air Transport Association (IATA).The losses have come from suspended and cancelled flights on routes to China. Airlines including South African Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Air Tanzania, and Kenya Airways have all suspended flights.However, the continent’s largest airline, Ethiopian Airlines, is still operating flights to and from five cities in China.The vice president of the IATA told the BBC the impact of the disease will only get worse for African airlines - which last year posted losses of $100m.So far, cases of coronavirus have been reported in Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, Nigeria and Senegal - although no African nation has suffered a major outbreak.
- How about this for a doomsday scenario: being stuck on the toilet and finding you're down to the last square.At least that appears to be the nightmare prospect scaring many Australians right now, who have become the latest group to respond to coronavirus fears by buying toilet paper en masse.This is despite authorities stressing there is no shortage - given most of the nation's rolls are made locally.
- Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte is set to announce more measures to combat the coronavirus outbreak. Italy is the worst-hit European country with some 2,260 cases and 79 deaths so far, including more than 20 in the past 24 hours.Health officials believe there has been a slowdown in the number of new cases but are considering extending the quarantine red zone near the industrial city of Bergamo, north-east of Milan.The new measures being considered will apply for the whole country for 30 days. No handshakes, no hugs or kisses, and people may be asked to stay within a metre of each other.There could be a halt to conferences and meetings, and sports events including football may have to take place behind closed doors. Over-75s may be asked to stay at home and even people over 65 may have to do the same if they are in poor health.
- South Korea has reported another 516 coronavirus cases, bringing the total number to more than 5,300.There were five new deaths in the country, taking the total to 38 so far.As the number of cases rose, the government pledged an “extra budget” of 11.7 trillion won ($9.8bn; £7.6bn) to fight the virus and mitigate the economic fallout.About 20% of the money will go towards medical equipment, hospital beds and treatment facilities.So far, 92 countries have imposed travel restrictions on people from South Korea - the worst-hit country after China.
- Kurdish news agency Rudaw has reported that Iraq has suffered its first fatality from Covid-19.A 70-year-old cleric, whose health was described as “unstable”, died just hours after it was first announced he had contracted the disease.Iraq currently has 32 confirmed cases of coronavirus.Kurdish and Iraqi authorities have closed their borders with neighbouring Iran. The number of cases in Iran rose by more than 50% for the second consecutive day on Tuesday to 2,336 – although the real figure is believed to be far higher.
- Hello and welcome back to our rolling coverage of the coronavirus outbreak.
- Italian PM to announce more measures to combat the virus outbreak
- There are fears of global shortages of some common drugs after India limited the export of certain medicines
- South Korea confirms 5,328 cases, 516 of them new; there were five new deaths in the country, taking the total to 38 so far
- Hong Kong is sending two chartered flights to repatriate some 258 residents from Hubei province, where the outbreak began in mainland China
- New cases have been recorded in Chile and Argentina
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