Spain and France both imposed partial lockdown as part of their efforts to slow the spread of the Covid-19pandemic as the UK government came under pressure to take action immediately.
The news came as the UK’s death toll from coronavirus nearly doubled, by rising from 11 to 21 as preparations were reportedly made to ban mass gatherings across the country from next week
Boris Johnson has faced criticism over his government’s plan to build up immunity within the population to fight the virus over a prolonged period, rather than introducing mass lockdowns.
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Plans to ban UK mass gatherings next week
The UK government is reportedly moving ahead with plans to ban mass gatherings from next week just days after Boris Johnson said such measures would not be necessary yet.
The prime minister faced criticism this week for not taking stronger action against the coronavirus pandemic, despite other European countries introducing lockdowns and closing schools.
A Whitehall source has told the PA that emergency legislation will be published next week and more people could be told to work from home as part of efforts to slow the spread of the virus.
Yesterday, the number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the UK rose to 798, with 11 deaths reported.
You can read more on the story below:
UK to ban mass gatherings over coronavirus
Many sports organisations have already outlawed mass gatheringsApple shuts all stores outside of China
Apple has announced it is closing all stores outside Greater China until 27 March in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
The company said the most effective way to minimise the risk of the virus' transmission is to “reduce density and maximise social distance”.
“In our workplaces and communities, we must do all we can to prevent the spread of Covid-19,” Tim Cook, Apple’s chief executive, said.
“Apple will be temporarily closing all stores outside of Greater China until 27 March and committing $15m to help with worldwide recovery.”
Our technology editor, Andrew Griffin, has more on the story below:
All Apple stores outside of China have shut
Apple has shut every Apple stores outside of China as coronavirus spreadsNorway advises citizens against all foreign travel amid pandemic
Norway has advised its citizens to not travel to any foreign country for the next month, while Norwegians currently abroad have been told to consider returning home as soon as possible.
The country’s Foreign Ministry said the spread of the virus and the risk that other nations will restrict travel has made the recommendation necessary.
WHO spokesperson questions UK approach to ‘herd immunity’
A World Health Organisation spokesperson has questioned the UK’s approach to developing “herd immunity” against Covid-19.
The UK government’s chief scientific adviser has said millions of Britons will need to contract coronavirus and build up immunity to minimise the impact of future outbreak.
Herd immunity is developed when enough people in a population have become immune to a contagious disease that it is harder for it to spread.
Dr Margaret Harris told BBC Radio 4’s Today: “We don't know enough about the science of this virus, it hasn't been in our population for long enough for us to know what it does in immunological terms.
“Every virus functions differently in your body and stimulates a different immunological profile.
“We can talk theories, but at the moment we are really facing a situation where we have got to look at action."
New Zealand to order all incoming passengers to self-quarantine
Jacinda Ardern has said all incoming passengers to New Zealand, including New Zealand citizens, will be required to isolate themselves for 14 days upon entering the country from Monday.
The only countries exempt from the restrictions are a handful of Pacific islands which have not yet reported any cases of Covid-19.
The prime minister has said the measures, which will have a major effect on the country’s tourism industry, will be some of the toughest border restrictions in the world.
New Zealand has had only six confirmed cases of the illness which have all been connected with international travellers.
Czech government closes most shops and restaurants to fight outbreak
The Czech government has said most shops and restaurants will be shut for 10 days as part of efforts to contain the spread of coronavirus.
The measure, which was announced overnight, following other restrictions such as closing schools and banning public events.
From Monday, foreign travel will be banned and foreigners will be barred from entering the country.
Exceptions to the order on closing shops included food stores, pharmacies, banks, post offices, gas stations and takeaway food establishments.
“We need people to go to work but stay home afterwards,” Jan Hamacek, the Czech interior minister, said.
“Those [countries] who have managed to do something about the situation say ... limit interaction among people.”
Italians have been singing from their balconies to lift spirits during their country’s nationwide lockdown which began last week.
Italy has the most severe outbreak of Covid-19 in Europe and has introduced some of the strictest measures in the world to slow the spread of the virus.
Donald Trump’s national emergency declaration did not inspire a lot of confidence for many Americans as he refused to take personal responsibility for early failures by his administration.
It didn’t help that the press conference started on a duff note, with the president immediately mispronouncing the word ‘coronavirus’.
Indy100’s Greg Evans has more on the story below:
Philippines confirms 34 new coronavirus cases, bringing tally to 98
The Philippines has reported an additional 34 confirmed coronavirus cases, bringing its total to 98 ahead of the implementation of quarantine measures in the capital of Manila.
The rise marked the largest single-day increase in confirmed cases in the Southeast Asian nation, which has reported eight Covid-19 deaths.
Details of the new cases are being validated and authorities are verifying reports of additional cases, Maria Rosario Vergeire, the country’s health assistant secretary, told a news conference.
Premier League considering finishing season between July and September
The Premier League are looking into finishing the 2019-20 season between July and September, and shortening the 2020-21 campaign, after the competition was suspended until 4 April on Friday.
However, there are some football authorities who fear that games across Europe could be locked down until September due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Our chief football writer, Miguel Delaney, has more on the story below:
Premier League to consider finishing season between July and September
Clubs on Friday undertook lengthy negotiations to discuss what next, after it was confirmed the competition has been suspended until 4 AprilAfrican nations record first cases of coronavirus
The African nations of Rwanda and Mauritania have recorded their first cases of Covid-19.
In Rwanda, the health ministry said an Indian citizen had tested positive and was currently in a stable condition.
Meanwhile in Mauritania, a foreigner from Europe was confirmed as the country’s first case of coronavirus.
Mohamed Nazir Ould Hamid, the country's minister of health, said on Friday night that the patient “was immediately removed and all medical measures taken to treat him and contain this first case of [the coronavirus] in our country.”
Nineteen of Africa's 54 countries have now registered virus cases, with first cases in Kenya, Guinea and Ethiopia reported on Friday.
Authorities have said the majority of the cases are imported.
Headteachers’ union calls for Ofsted inspections to be halted
A leading headteachers’ union has called on the government to immediately halt all routine Ofsted inspections during the Covid-19 outbreak.
The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) said it would be raising the issue directly with Gavin Williamson, the education secretary, due to the ongoing “national emergency”.
Geoff Barton, the organisation’s general secretary, has said it was not a time for “business as usual”.
With the exception of establishments where there are specific safeguarding concerns, he said the government should move to suspend all routine inspections.
Jet2 cancels all flights to Spain with ‘immediate effect’
The British airline Jet2 has cancelled all flights to mainland Spain, the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The company said they were making the decision in response to local measures introduced in Spain, including the closure of bars, restaurants, and shops in the country.
“We know these local measures will have a significant impact on our customers’ holidays, which is why we have taken this decision,” Jet2 said in a statement.
Our reporter, Zoe Tidman, has more on this breaking story below:
Jet2 cancels all flights to Spain, Balearic Islands and Canary Islands with 'immediate effect'
Jet2 have cancelled all flights to mainland Spain, the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands due to the coronavirus outbreakIran death toll rises to 611
The death toll from coronavirus in Iran has risen to 611, up by 97 people, according to Iranian state TV.
Iran is suffering from the worst outbreak of Covid-19 in the Middle East with more than 12,000 confirmed cases, including a number of senior officials who have been infected.
The update came as Saudi Arabia announced it would halt all international flights to the kingdom for two weeks in the latest effort to contain the spread of Covid-19.
Opposition parties warn government is ‘playing catch-up’ with outbreak
The UK’s opposition parties have warned that the government does not look “fully in control” of the coronavirus pandemic after reports said it would be u-turning on banning mass gatherings next week.
Labour has said the government needs to “be clear with people” about its strategy, which differs from other countries in Europe, while the Liberal Democrats have accused Boris Johnson of “playing catch-up with the rest of British society”.
Earlier this week, the government said it would not ban mass gatherings yet as part of its efforts to slow the spread of Covid-19.
Our policy correspondent, Jon Stone, has more on the story below:
Opposition parties warn government is 'playing catch-up' with coronavirus and must be honest
Boris Johnson reportedly U-turning on refusal to ban mass gatherings as other countries follow international adviceFrench police lockdown central Paris as ‘yellow vests’ defy mass gatherings ban
Thousands of French security force officers were in central Paris on Saturday as anti-government ‘yellow vest’ protesters defied a ban on mass gatherings aimed at slowing the spread of coronavirus.
On Thursday, French president Emmanuel Macron announced school closures and urged people to avoid close contact due to Covid-19, which has killed 79 people in France and infected more than 3,600.
Christophe Castaner, the interior minister, said on Friday all gatherings of more than 100 people had been banned.
“It's Saturday, demonstration day [for the yellow vests]. Some people think that the coronavirus won't touch them and refuse to respect the advice,” a riot police officer told Reuters on Saturday.
Hundreds of protesters, some wearing protective masks, began convening outside the Montparnasse train station, chanting anti-Macron slogans, this morning.
Wales confirms 22 new cases
Public Health Wales (PHW) has confirmed 22 new cases of coronavirus, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 60.
“We can confirm that 22 new cases have tested positive for Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) in Wales, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 60,” Dr Chris Williams, incident director for the Covid-19 outbreak response at PHW, said.
EU calls for health checks at borders due to pandemic
The European Union has urged member states to implement health screening at their borders to halt the spread of coronavirus.
Europe has been labelled as the new epicentre of the global Covid-19 pandemic by the World Health Organisation as cases continued to rise across the continent this week.
The EU's executive commission has recommended co-ordinated border health screenings as a way to address infections.
“We've seen travel bans and controls being put in place in a number of member states,” Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, said.
“Certain controls may be justified, but general travel bans are not seen as being the most effective by the World Health Organisation.
“Moreover, they have a strong social and economic impact. They disrupt people's lives and business across the borders.”
Anne Widdecombe responds to criticism of coronavirus article: ‘Go and read it properly’
Former Tory MP and Brexit Party MEP Anne Widdecombe has responded to criticism of her recent column on coronavirus and accusations that she has downplayed the threat posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
In a column for the Daily Express, Ms Widdecombe said people were “going mad over coronavirus”.
“We have had the scare of SARs, bird flu, Ebola and of course AIDS. None proved as devastating as feared,” she wrote.
The AIDS epidemic – which is still ongoing – has killed millions and currently affects roughing 38 million people.
In response to Indy100, Ms Widdecombe said:
“[My article] was published ten days ago and did not say “Coronavirus will not prove as deadly as feared”. Go and read it properly.
“Nor did it compare Coronavirus with AIDS but compared our reactions to them…”
You can read her full statement below:
