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- We're pausing our live coverage for now, but we'll be back with the latest coronavirus updates from tomorrow morning.A lot has happened today, so here's a quick recap:
- The global death toll has now passed 30,000, with some nations marking their own sombre landmarks
- Deaths in the UK passed 1,000, hitting a total of 1,019; Spain's death toll exceeded 5,000, reaching 5,690; and Italy's death toll surpassed 10,000, with a new total of 10,023. Overall deaths in Europe exceeded 20,000 for the first time
- US President Donald Trump told reporters that he was thinking of placing a quarantine on New York, Connecticut and New Jersey - but New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said he did not see how that could be legally enforceable
- In positive news, the Chinese city of Wuhan, where the virus first emerged late last year, has partially reopened after more than two months in isolation
- South Korea also says it has more people who have recovered from the virus than are currently infected
- And the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new test that can positively detect the coronavirus in just five minutes
- Earlier today, President Trump said he was considering imposing a quarantine on New York, and parts of New Jersey and Connecticut, to slow the spread of coronavirus.New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has responded by saying that the "quarantine" is already happening in his state, which has banned major gatherings and ordered people to remain at home. However, Mr Cuomo said he would oppose any effort to "lockdown" his state."If you said we were geographically restricted from leaving, that would be a lockdown," he told CNN."Then we would be Wuhan, China, and that wouldn’t make any sense," he said, adding that this would cause the stock market to crash in a way that would make it impossible for the US economy to "recover for months, if not years"."You would paralyse the financial sector," he added, calling it the opposite of Mr Trump's hope to quickly jumpstart the US economy."It's a preposterous idea, frankly," he said, adding it would be "anti-American" and a "declaration of war" on states by the federal government.It is not clear whether Mr Trump could close state borders. While the president does have sweeping powers, especially during a national emergency, it is the role of state and local governments to take the lead in preventing the spread of disease.Mr Cuomo also said that he plans to sue Rhode Island if they continue targeting New Yorkers to threaten them with punishment if they do not quarantine. That state's governor has mobilised soldiers to seek out fleeing New Yorkers.
- People should prepare to fight coronavirus like they would prepare for surgery by staying fit and healthy - that's according to medics at the Centre for Perioperative Care (CPOC).They suggest a healthy diet, exercise, alcohol-free days and quitting smoking will reduce the risk of becoming severely ill with the virus and ending up in intensive care.CPOC deputy director Scarlett McNally said there has been "a lot of very important advice" on how to cut the risk of becoming infected, but there was "little on the importance of preparing in case the virus is contracted".Read the full story here
- Here's a recap of the latest coronavirus developments in the UK today:
- The number of people to have died with coronavirus in the UK reached 1,019 - an increase of 260 in one day
- "Now is not the time to be complacent," warned NHS England medical director Stephen Powis at the daily press conference
- Business Secretary Alok Sharma announced changes to insolvency rules to give companies greater flexibility to "weather the storm" of the crisis
- He also promised to "boost the supply" of personal protection equipment (PPE) to NHS frontline staff
- England started testing hospital staff for coronavirus
- Boris Johnson chaired the morning Covid-19 meeting via video-link as he - and Health secretary Matt Hancock - began self-isolation
- The business secretary, Mr Sharma, later said the prime minister would "continue to lead right from the front"
- Meanwhile, Scottish Secretary Alister Jack has become the third member of the cabinet to begin self-isolation after showing symptoms
- And Britons in India say they have been left "abandoned" with "no help whatsoever" from the UK government after the country was put under lockdown on 23 March with less than four hours' notice
- The US has recorded its first death from an infant who tested positive for coronavirus.The baby died in Chicago, Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr Ngozi Ezike said."There has never before been a death associated with Covid-19 in an infant. A full investigation is under way to determine the cause of death," Dr Ezike said."We must do everything we can to prevent the spread of this deadly virus. If not to protect ourselves, but to protect those around us."The death of a child less than a year old with coronavirus was previously reported in China, but that child had a pre-existing condition.
- Rhode Island, the smallest state in the US, has called on the National Guard to stop all cars with New York license plates to ask about where they plan to self-isolate for 14 days, as required under the state's emergency orders.Troops are also going door-to-door in seaside vacation communities in search of New Yorkers."Right now, we have a pinpointed risk that we need to address, and we need to be very serious and that risk is called New York City," said Governor Gina Raimondo at a news conference on Friday.New York state has the most cases in the US right now - with more than 50,000 cases.The Rhode Island National Guard retweeted video of one such roadblock.
- Our visual data team have put together an interesting set of maps showing the real extent of the pandemic.In Europe, Italy has the highest number of confirmed cases with over 92,400. Over 10,000 people have died.Germany has over 56,000 confirmed cases with 325 recorded deaths.Another map from our team shows the number of cases in the US by state. New York continues to be the epicentre of the outbreak.For more graphs and stats on the pandemic, take a look at our visual guide here.
- The virus has now spread to dozens of countries on the African continent with 2,650 confirmed infected and 49 dead.
- A fence is being constructed at the border between South Africa and Zimbabwe despite a 21 day lockdown being in place. The fence, announced a week ago, aims to keep foreign nationals out of the country to combat the spread of the virus. Seven people in Zimbabwe have tested positive for COVID-19.
- Somalia’s Al-Shabaab militants have refused to take part in a ceasefire called for by the UN Secretary General over the outbreak. The UN had urged all militant groups around the world to sign a ceasefire to allow the globe to tackle the virus.
- Uganda has paused its open door policy for refugees and asylum seekers for 30 days. Those already in the country will be given help in line with the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health.
- There are concerns in Malawi that the virus could threaten a rerun of the country’s elections slated for 2 July. The rerun was ordered by the country’s constitutional court.
- People in self-isolation with suspected Covid-19 symptoms are to receive regular check-in texts from the NHS to check how they are.On Saturday the UK government launched a new messaging service which will send daily texts to new patients who register their symptoms and contact details with the 111 online service.Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: "I know all too well that experiencing symptoms can be worrying, but for those living on their own it will be even more so. Alongside other measures, this new daily text service will reassure our most vulnerable that they are not alone, and also to help them manage their symptoms."The service was commissioned by NHSX and built by NHS Digital and the NHS Business Services Authority.
- The UK has transformed beyond recognition in the space of a month.From one confirmed case to school closures and a lockdown, this piece by BBC Stories explores how everything happened so quickly.
- The Republic of Ireland has seen 14 more deaths in the last 24 hours bringing the total number of people to have died to 36.All 14 people who died were located in the east of the country, with a median age of 81.A further 294 cases of coronavirus were reported in the country on Saturday bringing the number of confirmed cases to 2,415.Earlier Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar had clarified that people could travel further than 2km from home to buy food and medicine, after announcing further restrictions on Friday.
- Football seasons around the world have been interrupted by the pandemic.Now, with most leagues in Europe suspended, one of the continent's leading figures has warned that the current season could be lost entirely.Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin has suggested that games could be played behind closed doors, but he warned the situation needs to be resolved before July."If we don't succeed in restarting, the season will probably be lost," the Slovenian said.
- Canada has said it is banning people with COVID-19 symptoms from domestic flights and trains.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the measures on Saturday.Under the new rules, which come into effect on Monday, people with symptoms will be denied travel on domestic flights and intercity trains.According to a government press release, train operators and airlines will have to conduct a health check of passengers before they travel.During the check, they will be asked health questions and staff will be required to look for signs of illness, according to the Globe and Mail.Those who show symptoms will not be allowed to travel for 14 days.“If you feel the onset of symptoms of a cold or of COVID-19, you need to stay at home, you need to isolate, you need to not travel,” Mr Trudeau said.He added that Canadians had been doing an excellent job at staying at home but he would enforce further measures to keep Canadians safe if needed.“Right now we’re not looking at closing the provincial borders,” he said.
- What do you do when you're working on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic, and you've been forced to cancel your wedding?According to the Boston Globe, epidemiologists Jen Andonian and Matt Shearer were due to have a wedding reception with about 75 guests on Monday. And they thought it had to be put off.But Ms Andonian's colleagues at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston had another idea. They put together a last-minute ceremony for the couple - at a slightly less glamarous venue, but complete with appropriate social distancing.
- The worldwide death toll from coronavirus has surpassed 30,000 according to data from Johns Hopkins University.Italy has recorded the most deaths with the toll standing at 10,023.Earlier today Spain announced its total number of deaths had reached 5,690.
- Despite today's news of the largest rise in people dying in the UK with Covid-19, the message is that everything we are all doing now to reduce social contact is having an impact.We just can't see it in the figures yet.That's because it takes time for the effects of not going out and not going to work to be felt in hospitals, where the most seriously-ill are being tested and some are, sadly, dying.The epidemic is expected to peak in the UK in the next two to three weeks.Until then, it is likely the number of people confirmed to have the coronavirus and the number of people dying after testing positive for the virus will continue to grow at a similar pace - doubling every two or three days.The hope is that everyone's efforts now to stay at home and reduce the spread of this deadly virus will slow that growth rate at the right time, and, in time, bring it down.Luck doesn't come into it, people are being told. Only a huge national effort will make the difference. Every one of us now has a part to play in making that happen.
- Police here in the UK are able to issue on-the-spot penalty notices of up to £60 ($75) or even make arrests for those seen to be flouting UK measures to help tackle the virus.And there have been a few - if not entirely typical - cases of disobedience to handle. They include those caught threatening key workers by coughing, who will face serious criminal charges. At least two men have been convicted already.Another man in Nottinghamshire has been charged with assault after allegedly spitting at officers while claiming to have symptoms.Elsewhere, some police forces have been using more unusual tactics.For example, in Derbyshire police threw black dye into a tourist hotspot known as the blue lagoon, in a bid to reduce visitor numbers.One would-be holidaymaker from the Midlands was forced to turn his motorhome around on the motorway in Devon, with one sergeant saying the trip was "not in the spirit" of the effort to tackle the outbreak.And one force has witnessed a surge in calls from people reporting neighbours for going for more than one jog a day, or congregating for barbecuesMeanwhile, police have begun appealing for retired officers to return to the fold during the pandemic.Ex officers have been telling the BBC why they are willing to answer the call.
- The coronavirus pandemic has plunged much of our everyday life into uncertainty and it’s a stressful time for people all around the world for different reasons.If you feel like worrying about the virus, or the constant news updates about its spread, is taking a toll on your mental health you can read some useful tips to support your wellbeing here.
- A lot has been happening today. To catch you up, here is some of the latest coronavirus news from the Middle East.
- Iran, one of the world's worst-hit countries, is going to allocate 20% of its annual state budget to fighting the outbreak, President Hassan Rouhani has said. Over the last 24 hours 139 more people died, bringing the total to 2,517
- Palestinian groups in Gaza have cancelled mass rallies planned for next week along the border with Israel, amid concerns about the spread of the virus in the densely populated territory
- Qatar reported its first death from coronavirus, and 28 more cases - bringing the total number of infections in the Gulf nation to 590.
- Here's a bit more from New York Governor Andrew Cuomo's daily briefing from the state capital in Albany.Here is what he said:
- New York City officials may shut parks and issue fines to people who continue to congregate in groups, in violation of state social distancing orders
- New medical centres have opened across the state, with 4,000 new hospital beds created in recent days. One new treatment centre has been opened in each of NYC's five boroughs
- The apex, which Mr Cuomo called "the war", is still 14 - 21 days away -and the time to prepare is now
- He said he had not talked to President Trump about the idea of an "enforceable" quarantine imposed on the state, as well as the surrounding states of New Jersey and Connecticut
- States should not be outbidding each other for medical devices - rather the federal government should do the buying on behalf of each state.
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