Globally just under 174,131 are infected and over 6,684 have died while more than 77,865 have recovered. (Monday, March 16th at 08.00.)
CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK IN NUMBERS (continuously updated)
14.50 Tunisian land border with Libya closed
Tunisia’s land border with Libya has been closed due to the coronavirus, Transport Minister Anouar Maarouf said on Monday.
Tunisia, which has confirmed 20 cases of the coronavirus, has imposed restrictions on flights with some European countries and stopped sea travel.
14.47 Lufthansa’s Austrian unit suspends all flights from Wednesday night
Lufthansa’s Austrian unit Austrian Airlines said on Monday it would temporarily stop flight operations due to worldwide travel restrictions and falling passenger numbers from Wednesday night.
The halt was currently planned to last until March 28, the carrier said.
14.45 Ferry company Stena Line to cut 950 jobs in Sweden
Ferry company Stena Line will cut 950 jobs in Sweden as a result of the coronavirus outbreak and the travel restrictions imposed by several countries, the company said on Monday.
The company was experiencing a “drastic decline” in travel bookings as a result, with the worst effect experienced in Scandinavia, it said. “At present, it is estimated that passenger operations will not recover before the peak season in summer,” the company said in a statement.
14.43 Virgin Atlantic to ground up to 85% of fleet
Virgin Atlantic, the UK-based airline, said it would ground 75% of its fleet by 26 March and by up to 85% at points in April, as it cancelled more flights due to coronavirus.
Virgin, which is 51% owned by Richard Branson’s group and 49% owned by U.S. airline Delta, said it will also ask staff to take eight weeks unpaid leave over the next three months to try to cut costs but avoid job losses.
14.41 Anger mounts over UK government’s decision to keep schools open
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson faced a backlash on Monday over his decision to keep schools open, with angry parents keeping their children at home and complaining that other countries were doing more to stop the spread of coronavirus.
14.27 Germany halts flights from Iran and China
Germany’s transport ministry plans to halt flights from Iran and China in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus, newspaper Bild reported on Monday, citing government sources.
The two countries are experiencing large outbreaks of the virus, which is now spreading rapidly in Europe as well.
14.05 UK to discuss social distancing measures for elderly
British Prime Minister will discuss proposals for social distancing measures to protect the elderly from coronavirus at a government emergency meeting on Monday, his spokesman said.
Johnson has also asked finance minister Rishi Sunak to chair economy and business response to the outbreak committee, the spokesman said, adding that the tax authority was ready to help all businesses including airlines suffering due to coronavirus.
14.01 Kazakhs told to work remotely where possible
Kazakhstan instructed local companies on Monday to allow their employees to work remotely where possible due to the coronavirus outbreak.
“Today all companies, state-owned and private, that can switch to remote work must do so,” Labour and Social Protection Minister Birzhan Nurymbetov told a briefing.
13.50 Greece imposes 14-day quarantine on new arrivals, shuts retail stores
Greece said on Monday people arriving in the country from abroad will be placed in a two-week quarantine, while retail stores will be shut effective on Wednesday.
Supermarkets, pharmacy stores and food delivery services were exempted from the latest measures, the country’s alternate government spokesman said.
13.47 EU to take measures on its external borders within hours, Macron condemns unliteral closure of borders
Measures will be enacted on the European Union’s external borders in the coming hours, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the EU’s Ursula Von der Leyen and Charles Michel agreed on Monday, Macron’s office said.
Macron also condemned unilateral border control measures taken by some European Union countries in a bid to control the coronavirus outbreak, following a phone briefing with Germany’s Angela Merkel and other EU officials.
13.29 UK rail operators ask government for bailout
Companies running rail services in Britain have asked the government for a bailout to help deal with the fallout from a plunge in demand due to people working from home because of coronavirus, a source familiar with the situation told Reuters.
13.21 Armenian government declares state of emergency for one month
The Armenian government on Monday declared a state of emergency from March 16 until April 16 to slow the spread of the coronavirus outbreak.
Armenia has reported 30 coronavirus cases so far. One patient has recovered, and more than 300 people remain in quarantine, authorities say.
13.20 France’s Macron condemns unilateral border control measures
French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday condemned unilateral border control measures taken by some European Union countries in a bid to control the coronavirus outbreak, following a phone briefing with Germany’s Angela Merkel and other EU officials.
13.17 AB Foods shuts Primark stores
Associated British Foods has been forced to close 74 Primark fashion stores in continental Europe due to government measures to combat coronavirus, while sales have fallen in those still open, it said on Monday.
Shares in AB Foods, which also owns major sugar, grocery, ingredients and agriculture businesses, slid 13% by 1108 GMT after it also said it could not provide earnings guidance for the full 2020-21 year due to the uncertain outlook.
12.58 Germany advises against all non-essential travel abroad
Germany is advising its citizens to refrain from all non-essential trips abroad due to the spread of the coronavirus, a spokeswoman for the foreign ministry said on Monday.
She added there were currently thousands of Germans abroad who would like to return and that the ministry was currently in discussions with airline Lufthansa about repatriating them.
12.51 Japan advises people to avoid travelling
Japan plans to widen travel warnings to much of Europe urging people avoid trips there as the coronavirus pandemic spreads, public broadcaster NHK said.
Japan will widen a level three advisory, which already applies to much Italy, to surrounding areas in Europe, NHK reported. That notice urges people to avoid all travel and asks Japanese resident there to prepare for possible evacuation.
12.48 Spain’s coronavirus death toll rises to 297 from 288
Spain’s tally of coronavirus cases rose to 8,744 on Monday and the number of fatalities rose to 297, said Fernando Simon, the head of the country’s health emergency centre.
The previous tally was 7,753 cases on Sunday, with 288 fatalities.
12.46 Iran confirms 1,053 new cases in the last 24 hours
Iran’s death toll from the new coronavirus has reached 853 with 129 new deaths in the past 24 hours, a health ministry official tweeted on Monday, adding that 14,991 people have been infected across Iran.
“In the past 24 hours we had 1,053 confirmed new cases of coronavirus and 129 new deaths,” Alireza Vahabzadeh tweeted.
12.43 Qatar says prohibits orders in restaurants, cafes
Qatar says prohbits until further notice orders in restaurants, cafes and presence of seated customers, organising of gatherings in halls, expect delivery services
12.42 Kenya raids shop selling fake coronavirus kits
Kenyan authorities raided a shop on Monday that was alleged to be selling fake coronavirus testing kits, as the World Health Organisation confirmed there were at least 327 cases on the African continent.
Police detained staff and locked the facility, witnesses told Reuters journalists at the scene, after the shop had been advertising testing kits online.
12.41 EU leaders set to hold video conference on virus on Tuesday
European Council president Charles Michel said he had called a video conference of EU leaders on Tuesday to discuss the coronavirus and the bloc’s response.
“I have decided to call a video conference with the European Council members on Tuesday 17 March to follow up on our EUCO (European Council) actions on COVID-19,” Michel, who chairs summits of EU leaders, said on Twitter on Monday.
12.39 Dubai closes bars, lounges
Dubai is closing all bars and lounges in the emirate with immediate effect until the end of March due to the coronavirus outbreak, according to a government circular issued on Monday.
A Dubai government media office spokeswoman did not immediately comment when contacted by Reuters.
12.30 Morocco to close eateries, sports and entertainment venues today
Morocco will close eateries, cinemas, theatres, sports, public clubs, baths, and other entertainment venues starting from today over coronavirus fears, the Interior Ministry said.
Markets, and shops selling necessary goods as well as restaurants offering a delivery service are exempt, the ministry said in a statement.
12.27 Hungary to close borders to international passengers
Hungarian PM Orban announced that borders will be closed to international passenger traffic while cinemas will be shut and restaurant’s opening hours limited
12.26 Algerian to suspend travel with Europe
Algeria will suspend all sea and air travel between it and Europe from Thursday over the coronavirus, Prime Minister Abdelaziz Djerad said in a statement.
Algeria said on Sunday it would suspend all travel to and from France starting on Tuesday, adding that Air Algerie would arrange emergency flights to bring back citizens.
12.02 Switzerland cancels parliament session, virus cases rise
Switzerland canceled a session of its national parliament, the government held crisis talks and the Swiss stock market plunged on Monday as new coronavirus cases accelerated.
11.38 Liberia reports first coronavirus case
Liberia reported its first coronavirus case on Monday, a ministry official said.
“I can confirm that we have a case and we are managing it,” said Chief Medical Officer Francis Kateh. He didn’t provide further detail on the patient’s identity.
11.37 Thailand records 33 new cases
Thailand has recorded 33 new cases of coronavirus bringing the total to 147
11.36 Malaysia reports 125 new cases
Malaysia reported 125 new coronavirus cases on Monday, with most linked to a religious gathering attended by around 16,000 people.
The new cases bring the total tally to 553 in the country, which remains the worst affected in Southeast Asia.
11.30 Georgia bans all foreigners from entering the country
11.24 Coronavirus impact will last at least to Q3
The German economy ministry said it no longer expected an economic upswing in the first quarter because of the impact of the coronavirus on growth, with the economy unlikely to stabilise before the third quarter at the earliest.
11.01 Thailand plans to close schools, bars and theaters
Thailand plans to close down schools, bars, theaters and other entertainment centres to curb the spread of coronavirus as well as to postpone next month’s Thai New Year holiday to limit travel, a government spokeswoman said on Monday.
10.59 Philippines impose home quarantine
The Philippines imposed strict home quarantine measures and a halt on work and transport across its main island of Luzon on Monday, putting half of the population on lockdown in an aggressive bid to quell rising cases of coronavirus.
10.46 Spain mulls border closures
Closing Spain’s borders is among the options under consideration to help stem the coronavirus outbreak, Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska told radio station Cadena Ser on Monday.
10.09 Armenia to discuss declaring state of emergency
Armenia’s government will discuss declaring a state of emergency later on Monday in an effort to curb the spread of coronavirus, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said.
10.00 BA-owner, easyJet, Air France KLM make drastic cuts
The owner of British Airways and easyJet, Europe’s no.3 and no.4 airlines, said they would ground aircraft on an unprecedented scale in a battle to survive the travel restrictions and European lockdowns now convulsing the industry.
Air France KLM, one of many airlines around the world that has been hit by the coronavirus outbreak, said it was stepping up cost saving measures to deal with the impact.
09.35 China says imported coronavirus cases have become main risk
China’s foreign ministry said on Monday that imported coronavirus cases involving travellers entering the country from abroad have become the main risk.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told reporters during a briefing that health checks and quarantine measures are being imposed equally to Chinese nationals and foreigners entering China from overseas.
09.20 Kingfisher shuts French, Spanish stores, Hypovereinsbank to close 101 branches
Home improvement group Kingfisher said on Monday all 221 of its Castorama and Brico Dépôt stores in France have closed until April 14 in line with government advice on coronavirus, while its 28 stores in Spain have also shut until March 29.
Germany’s Hypovereinsbank said it is closing 101 branches.
09.04 Coronavirus crackdown leaves Honduras in near lockdown
The Honduras was in a state of near lockdown on Monday after the government decided to send public and private sector workers home, temporarily call off flights, and suspend public transport to halt the spread of the coronavirus.
The violent, impoverished Central American nation rolled out the measures late on Sunday in a bid to snuff out the virus which has so far infected six people in the country.
08.52 French airports group ADP to consider closing some areas
French airports group ADP said on Monday that it would be considering closing down some areas in its main Paris airports to deal with the coronavirus outbreak, and added it was expecting a major financial hit due to the virus.
06.45 Turkey reports 12 new coronavirus cases
Turkey identified 12 new cases of the coronavirus, bringing its total to 18, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said on Monday, marking the highest daily rise since the country announced its first case last week.
06.26 Mexico registers first coronavirus death
Mexico has registered its first death due to coronavirus, according to Mexican media reports on Sunday and two people familiar with the matter.
Veteran broadcaster Joaquin Lopez-Doriga said on Twitter that businessman Jose Kuri had died after testing positive for coronavirus following a trip to the United States.
05.49 NZ bans mass gatherings, promises fiscal package
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern banned gatherings of 500 people or more on Monday, as said there would be zero tolerance for anyone who violates the country’s new self-islolation rules to prevent the coronavirus from spreading.
Ardern also said the preliminary advice from the treasury department was that the economic impact from the COVID-19 could be greater than the global financial crisis.
03.32 S.Korea reports 74 new coronavirus cases
South Korea reported 74 new coronavirus infections on Monday, slightly lower than a day ago, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The new cases bring the country’s total to 8,236.
03.27 Peru to close borders
Peru will close its borders to curb the spread of coronavirus, President Martin Vizcarra announced on Sunday.
Vizcarra also called on citizens to self-quarantine for 15 days.
03.02 New York, LA shut bars and restaurants
Bars, restaurants, theatres and movie houses in New York and Los Angeles were ordered to shut down and several nations in South and Central America closed their borders in the latest moves around the world to combat the spread of the coronavirus.
02.36 Mainland China reports 16 new cases and 14 more deaths
Mainland China had 16 new confirmed cases of coronavirus infections on Sunday, the National Health Commission said on Monday, down from 20 a day earlier.
That brings the total number of confirmed cases in China so far to 80,860.
01.57 U.S. clinical trial for coronavirus vaccine to begin Monday
A clinical trial to evaluate a vaccine designed to protect against the new coronavirus will begin on Monday, the Associated Press reported, citing an unnamed U.S. government official.
The first participant in the trial, which is being funded by the National Institutes of Health and taking place at the Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute in Seattle, will receive the experimental vaccine on Monday, the AP reported
01.37 Italy’s coronavirus toll surges
Italy recorded 368 more deaths from the coronavirus outbreak on Sunday, its biggest one day rise, amid growing concern about the ability of its strained health system to cope with the relentless increase in new cases.
01.03 Colombia cancels classes
Classes at Colombia’s public schools and universities will be canceled from Monday to contain the spread of the coronavirus, President Ivan Duque said on Sunday.
The Andean country has reported 34 cases of COVID-19 and has introduced a string of measures – including closing its border with Venezuela and stopping foreign visitors from entering its territory – to contain the disease.
00.36 Guatemala registers first death
Guatemala has registered its first fatality from coronavirus infection, an elderly man who had recently visited Madrid, Health Minister Hugo Monroy said on Sunday.
00.24 France preparing confinement order
France is preparing an order that would put its inhabitants under partial lockdown to combat the coronavirus epidemic, sources aware of the planning said on Sunday, a move that would tighten further restrictions on public life.
It was not clear whether the government had taken a final decision to order people to stay in their homes or how long the confinement would last.
00.19 Long lines at major U.S. airports ‘unacceptable,’ U.S. fixing problem
Long lines and delays at U.S. international airports for returning U.S. travelers being screened for coronavirus are “unacceptable” and the government has made adjustments to fix the problem, a senior U.S. official said on Sunday.
00.03 Czech Republic restricts movement of people
he Czech Republic tightened restrictions on Sunday to combat the new coronavirus outbreak, banning people from moving around except for work, essential shopping and other necessary activities until March 24.
Prime Minister Andrej Babis said the new measures would take effect from midnight, adding the government recommended that those who can work from home or take holidays.
LATE SUNDAY EVENING
Slovenia to shut down its air traffic from Tuesday
Slovenia will shut down its air traffic from Tuesday in an attempt to reduce the spread of the coronavirus, a government spokesman told reporters on Sunday.
Venezuela orders ‘collective quarantine’
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Sunday ordered businesses to close and citizens to remain in their homes in six states and the capital of Caracas starting on Monday to slow the spread of coronavirus.
Serbia launches state of emergency
Serbia has introduced a state of emergency to halt the spread of coronavirus, President Aleksandar Vucic said on Sunday after meeting top government and health officials in Belgrade.
Lebanon launches countrywide shutdown
Lebanon declared a medical state of emergency on Sunday, announcing a sweeping shutdown that included the closure of its airport and most public institutions and private companies as it looks to rein in coronavirus.
Costa Rica closes bars and discos
The Costa Rican government has ordered the closure of all bars and discos to combat the spread of coronavirus as the tally of registered infections in the Central American country rose to 35, the health ministry said on Sunday.
REUTERS