Coronavirus’ spread has reached a “decisive point”, the World Health Organisation chief has said, as he urged governments to take “aggressive” action to prevent it. “Every country must be ready for its first case, its first cluster, the first evidence of community transmission and for dealing with sustained community transmission. And it must be preparing for all of those scenarios at the same time,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.
It follows a warning from Australia’s Scott Morrison said that “there is every indication the world will soon enter a pandemic phase”. More than 2,800 people have now been killed by the virus around the globe, and more than 82,000 infected – including Iran’s vice-president Masoumeh Ebtekar.
In Britain, where 15 people have tested positive, the NHS fears that its weakest patients could be denied lifesaving care if the virus overwhelms hospitals. A doctors’ practice and a number of schools have closed over disease fears. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has banned foreigners from entering – including religious pilgrims hoping to visit Mecca, Islam’s holiest site – and Japan has logged its first case of a patient who had previously recovered testing positive for a second time.
It would be "wrong" to disclose whether the person found to be suffering with the coronavirus is a Northern Irish national, the country's chief medical officer says, also refusing to say where the person is being treated.
Mr McBride added: "I don't think it should cause [the public] a lot of concern. I think we should reassure the public as we have been doing all along - as the minister has said repeatedly it wasn't a case of if but when we would have a case in Northern Ireland.
"We have now seen our first case in Northern Ireland - someone returning from northern Italy - and that is not unexpected."
Mr McBride added: "I don't think it should cause [the public] a lot of concern. I think we should reassure the public as we have been doing all along - as the minister has said repeatedly it wasn't a case of if but when we would have a case in Northern Ireland.
"We have now seen our first case in Northern Ireland - someone returning from northern Italy - and that is not unexpected."
Northern Ireland confirms first case
The patient had recently travelled from Italy via Dublin, the country's chief medical officer Michael McBride said.
Mr McBridge said authorities are "working rapidly" to identify anyone the patient came into contact with to prevent a further spread.
The patient had recently travelled from Italy via Dublin, the country's chief medical officer Michael McBride said.
Mr McBridge said authorities are "working rapidly" to identify anyone the patient came into contact with to prevent a further spread.
FTSE loses £152bn amid coronavirus fears
The FTSE 100 leading index of UK companies has lost £152bn in value in the past four days, over fears of the coronavirus outbreak.
The index has fallen 8.2 per cent so far this week, shedding £62bn today.
The FTSE 100 leading index of UK companies has lost £152bn in value in the past four days, over fears of the coronavirus outbreak.
The index has fallen 8.2 per cent so far this week, shedding £62bn today.
50 Britons to leave hotel in Tenerife
Around 50 Britons at the H10 Costa Adeje Palace Hotel in Tenerife will be able to leave, sources have told the PA news agency.
They are among 168 Britons currently being held on the site after at least four guests were diagnosed with coronavirus.
Around 50 Britons at the H10 Costa Adeje Palace Hotel in Tenerife will be able to leave, sources have told the PA news agency.
They are among 168 Britons currently being held on the site after at least four guests were diagnosed with coronavirus.
Those who can leave are understood to have arrived on Monday, after the guests who were diagnosed had already left.
Overall, 130 guests from 11 countries have been told they can leave by Spanish authorities.
A statement from the Foreign Office said: "We are urgently seeking clarification from the Canary Island authorities following their announcement that 130 tourists of different nationalities will be granted permission to leave the Costa Adeje Palace Hotel.
"We continue to offer support to all British nationals at the hotel."
Three more deaths in Italy
Three more people have died in Italy from coronavirus, bringing the death toll from the worst outbreak of the illness in Europe to 17, the Civil Protection Agency said.
The number of confirmed cases has risen to 650, officials said, from 528 announced at a news conference some seven hours earlier. The vast majority are in the northern regions of Lombardy and Veneto.
Three more people have died in Italy from coronavirus, bringing the death toll from the worst outbreak of the illness in Europe to 17, the Civil Protection Agency said.
The number of confirmed cases has risen to 650, officials said, from 528 announced at a news conference some seven hours earlier. The vast majority are in the northern regions of Lombardy and Veneto.
Can you cancel travel plans amid coronavirus crisis?
Should holidaymakers cancel their trip to Milan? Should they back out of that two-week package to Tenerife? What about Singapore? Here’s everything you need to know about your rights, from Helen Coffey
Should holidaymakers cancel their trip to Milan? Should they back out of that two-week package to Tenerife? What about Singapore? Here’s everything you need to know about your rights, from Helen Coffey
Can you cancel your holiday amid coronavirus outbreak?
Your rights, explained
Owners of Alton Towers, Thorpe Park and Legoland 'restrict' employees travel over coronavirus fears
Merlin Entertainments, which owns Alton Towers, Thorpe Park, Legoland and other popular attractions, said it has "restricted" its employees' travel to countries with a high risk of coronavirus and has introduced "enhanced cleaning regimes" on its sites.
Legoland is currently closed for winter and will reopen in mid-March, with Alton Towers and Thorpe Park due to open closer to the end of March.
A Merlin spokesman said: "The health and safety of our guests and our staff is always our top priority and we will take all necessary precautions to ensure their continued welfare.
"We have restricted employee travel to higher-risk countries, implemented enhanced cleaning regimes at our attractions, and informed our teams of coronavirus symptoms as well as the importance of good hygiene practices.
"Like many businesses, we continue to monitor the situation closely and are in regular contact with local authorities so we may respond quickly to any developments."
Merlin's brands also include the London Eye, Madame Tussauds, Shrek's Adventure! London and the Blackpool Tower Eye.
Downing Street defends response to situation at hotel in Tenerife
Downing Street has defended the response to the situation at the H10 Costa Adeje Palace hotel in Tenerife.
The prime minister's official spokesman said: "The Foreign Office has been in contact with more than 100 British nationals who are staying in the hotel.
The prime minister's official spokesman said: "The Foreign Office has been in contact with more than 100 British nationals who are staying in the hotel.
"They are providing them with support, they are also in regular contact with local authorities and tour companies to share information.
"The quarantine is being managed by the Spanish authorities. We understand that those guests who have been assessed by medical staff and who are not showing symptoms are free to move around within the hotel."
Pressed on whether there would be an evacuation flight for Britons, the spokesman said: "We base all our decisions on medical and scientific advice and everything is kept under review."
Discussing the potential cancelling of mass events in the event of an intensified virus spread, Matt Hancock, the health secretary, told the Nuffield Trust Summit: "We do want to minimise social and economic disruption subject to keeping people safe.
"Of course that is always going to be a balance. We're going to be led by the scientific advice into what works."
"Of course that is always going to be a balance. We're going to be led by the scientific advice into what works."
Coronavirus unlikely to reach level of deadly 1918 Spanish flu
England's chief medical officer has said while the coronavirus presents "some challenges", he does not think the world is facing anything on the level of the deadly Spanish flu in 1918, which is estimated to have killed at least 50 million people worldwide.
Speaking to health professionals at the Nuffield Trust Summit in Windsor, Professor Chris Whitty said: "Occasionally things come along which, no matter how good your strategic aim is, will knock you off course for a while.
Speaking to health professionals at the Nuffield Trust Summit in Windsor, Professor Chris Whitty said: "Occasionally things come along which, no matter how good your strategic aim is, will knock you off course for a while.
"We are not heading into a H1N1 1918 flu pandemic situation, but the coronavirus does present some challenges for us. It definitely will for a period. How big remains to be seen."
Prof Whitty went on: "The key point to make ... is this is a global problem or it is nothing.
"If this becomes a global epidemic then the UK will get it, and if it does not become a global epidemic the UK is perfectly capable of containing and getting rid of individual cases leading to onward transmission."
"If this becomes a global epidemic then the UK will get it, and if it does not become a global epidemic the UK is perfectly capable of containing and getting rid of individual cases leading to onward transmission."
He said onward transmission in the UK was "just a matter of time in my view".
"If it is something which is containable, the UK can contain it. If it is not containable, it will be non-containable everywhere and then it is coming our way", he added.
Prof Whitty said there could be a "social cost" if the virus intensifies which could lead to the reduction of mass gatherings and school closures for more than two months.
He went on: "We are not saying we will do them, but we have to look at all of them...
He went on: "We are not saying we will do them, but we have to look at all of them...
"One of the things that's really clear with this virus, much more so than flu, is that anything we do we're going to have to do for quite a long period of time, probably more than two months.
"The implications of that are non-trivial, so we need to think that through carefully.
"This is something we face as really quite a serious problem for society potentially if this goes out of control. It may not but if it does globally then we may have to face that."
IMF likely to downgrade global growth due to coronavirus
The International Monetary Fund is likely to downgrade its growth forecast as result of the impact the coronavirus will have on global economic growth, a spokesman for the IMF has said.
"Clearly the virus is going to have an impact on growth," IMF spokesman Gerry Rice said.
He said he expected a decision soon on the impact of the coronavirus for the IMF and World Bank spring meetings in April, noting a range of options were under consideration.
The International Monetary Fund is likely to downgrade its growth forecast as result of the impact the coronavirus will have on global economic growth, a spokesman for the IMF has said.
"Clearly the virus is going to have an impact on growth," IMF spokesman Gerry Rice said.
He said he expected a decision soon on the impact of the coronavirus for the IMF and World Bank spring meetings in April, noting a range of options were under consideration.
Iran insists coronavirus under control as vice-president diagnosed with disease
A top official in the inner circle of Iran‘s president became the latest senior figure in the country to contract the coronavirus, as the number of deaths spiked to at least 26 with 245 cases confirmed, Borzou Daragahi reports.
A top official in the inner circle of Iran‘s president became the latest senior figure in the country to contract the coronavirus, as the number of deaths spiked to at least 26 with 245 cases confirmed, Borzou Daragahi reports.
'There is nothing to worry about': Opaque regime in Iran insists coronavirus under control as vice-president latest high profile patient
Experts suggest Iran underplaying the extent of the virus and cases could be as high as 18,000Guests to leave Canary Islands hotel on coronavirus lockdown
Some 130 guests will be allowed to leave the quarantined hotel in Tenerife, Spanish news agency EFE has reported, quoting officials.
It is unclear how many Britons are among the guests.
Derbyshire infection
Public Health England is trying to track down everyone who has come into contact with one of the latest people in the UK to be infected with coronavirus.
Public Health England is trying to track down everyone who has come into contact with one of the latest people in the UK to be infected with coronavirus.
Dr Fu-Meng Khaw, centre director for Public Health England in the East Midlands, said: "Public Health England is contacting people who had close contact with one of the latest confirmed cases of Covid-19.
"The case is a resident of Derbyshire and became infected whilst in Tenerife. Close contacts will be given health advice about symptoms and emergency contact details to use if they become unwell in the 14 days after contact with the confirmed cases. This tried and tested method will ensure we are able to minimise any risk to them and the wider public.
"We are aware that Burbage Primary School in Buxton has taken the decision to close today.
"My team have spoken to the school, assessed the risk and confirmed that there is currently no information to suggest that there is any increased health risk to any pupils or staff at the school and no public health reason to remain closed at the current time."
Dean Wallace, director of public health for Derbyshire County Council, said: "I'd like to reassure people that the risk to the general public remains low and Derbyshire County Council is working with health colleagues to do everything we can to stop the virus spreading and ensure the people of Derbyshire are protected.
"Good hygiene is the best prevention and there are some simple steps you can take to protect you and your family by washing your hands regularly and thoroughly, and if you cough, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue."
"The case is a resident of Derbyshire and became infected whilst in Tenerife. Close contacts will be given health advice about symptoms and emergency contact details to use if they become unwell in the 14 days after contact with the confirmed cases. This tried and tested method will ensure we are able to minimise any risk to them and the wider public.
"We are aware that Burbage Primary School in Buxton has taken the decision to close today.
"My team have spoken to the school, assessed the risk and confirmed that there is currently no information to suggest that there is any increased health risk to any pupils or staff at the school and no public health reason to remain closed at the current time."
Dean Wallace, director of public health for Derbyshire County Council, said: "I'd like to reassure people that the risk to the general public remains low and Derbyshire County Council is working with health colleagues to do everything we can to stop the virus spreading and ensure the people of Derbyshire are protected.
"Good hygiene is the best prevention and there are some simple steps you can take to protect you and your family by washing your hands regularly and thoroughly, and if you cough, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue."
Moscow spat
Moscow's city leadership has asked China to respect the measures it is taking to limit the spread of coronavirus.
China's embassy had complained about what it described as the "ubiquitous monitoring" of Chinese nationals on Moscow's public transport network in a formal complaint sent to local authorities and leaked to Russian media.
Now, Moscow's mayor Sergei Sobyanin has defended the measures.
"I ask that you relate with understanding to these necessary measures, which are aimed at preventing coronavirus infections from spreading," he wrote in a response to the embassy, the Interfax news agency reported.
Moscow's city leadership has asked China to respect the measures it is taking to limit the spread of coronavirus.
China's embassy had complained about what it described as the "ubiquitous monitoring" of Chinese nationals on Moscow's public transport network in a formal complaint sent to local authorities and leaked to Russian media.
Now, Moscow's mayor Sergei Sobyanin has defended the measures.
"I ask that you relate with understanding to these necessary measures, which are aimed at preventing coronavirus infections from spreading," he wrote in a response to the embassy, the Interfax news agency reported.
US testing
A privately-made coronavirus testing kit could be sent to 93 public health laboratories as soon as tomorrow, once the US Food and Drug Administration has approved it, health secretary Alex Azar has said.
At least 40 labs should already be able to test for the disease using existing, modified kit.
A privately-made coronavirus testing kit could be sent to 93 public health laboratories as soon as tomorrow, once the US Food and Drug Administration has approved it, health secretary Alex Azar has said.
At least 40 labs should already be able to test for the disease using existing, modified kit.
UK sends expert to Tenerife
Public Health England has sent an expert to Tenerife where dozens are holed up in a hotel after a coronavirus scare.
Professor Yvonne Doyle, the body's medical director, said: "Public Health England has sent a health protection specialist to Tenerife to work with the Spanish authorities to better understand the public health measures that have been put in place in the hotel.
"This includes understanding spread of the virus within the hotel and how the Spanish authorities are monitoring the situation."
It came as one holidaying Briton said the four-star H10 Costa Adeje Palace had turned into a "petri dish" of germs.
Some guests were ignoring quarantine rules, the person told ITV News.
Public Health England has sent an expert to Tenerife where dozens are holed up in a hotel after a coronavirus scare.
Professor Yvonne Doyle, the body's medical director, said: "Public Health England has sent a health protection specialist to Tenerife to work with the Spanish authorities to better understand the public health measures that have been put in place in the hotel.
"This includes understanding spread of the virus within the hotel and how the Spanish authorities are monitoring the situation."
It came as one holidaying Briton said the four-star H10 Costa Adeje Palace had turned into a "petri dish" of germs.
Some guests were ignoring quarantine rules, the person told ITV News.
US funding
US politicians are likely to legislate to appropriate funding for the anti-coronavirus effort within two weeks, Mitch McConnell has said.
The senate majority leader said he believed bipartisan negotiations would bear fruit.
"I hope they can work expeditiously so the full Senate would be able to take up the legislation within the next two weeks," the Kentucky Republican said.
US politicians are likely to legislate to appropriate funding for the anti-coronavirus effort within two weeks, Mitch McConnell has said.
The senate majority leader said he believed bipartisan negotiations would bear fruit.
"I hope they can work expeditiously so the full Senate would be able to take up the legislation within the next two weeks," the Kentucky Republican said.
Lebanon cases
Lebanon has confirmed its third case of coronavirus, news agency NNA cited the health ministry as saying.
It involved a man who had travelled from Iran on 24 February.
The previous two cases in Lebanon had been tied to an earlier flight from Iran that arrived last week carrying 150 passengers.
Lebanon has confirmed its third case of coronavirus, news agency NNA cited the health ministry as saying.
It involved a man who had travelled from Iran on 24 February.
The previous two cases in Lebanon had been tied to an earlier flight from Iran that arrived last week carrying 150 passengers.
UK schools close
An academy chain has closed three of its schools over the coronavirus scare because it has “some students of Italian origin”.
Schools in Wolverhampton, Buckinghamshire and London run by Khalsa Academies Trust will shut for two days for a “deep clean” as a “precautionary measure”.
An academy chain has closed three of its schools over the coronavirus scare because it has “some students of Italian origin”.
Schools in Wolverhampton, Buckinghamshire and London run by Khalsa Academies Trust will shut for two days for a “deep clean” as a “precautionary measure”.
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