Top story: More than sixty million told to stay put
Good morning – Warren Murray with Tuesday’s unfolding news.
The entire Italian population – more than sixty million people – is being put under lockdown from today in an attempt to stop the spread of coronavirus. The prime minister, Giuseppe Conte, announced the drastic measure at an evening press conference. People will only be able to travel between cities for emergency reasons and can face fines and up to three months in jail for breaking quarantine rules. Checkpoints on motorways, toll booths, train stations and airports are expected to be introduced today. “There is no more time. I will take responsibility for these measures. Our future is in our hands,” Conte said. The government has told people to “stay at home” and banned all public gatherings. “We need to change our lifestyle. We need to change it now … We cannot let meetings become occasions of contagion,” Conte warned.
Italy is struggling to contain Europe’s worst outbreak of Covid-19, which has claimed 463 lives and infected 9,172 people there. In the US, Donald Trump has said he will today announce “major” measures to protect the US economy after global markets went into freefall. The US president suggested his administration was proposing measures for hourly wage earners to ensure they can take time off, loans for small businesses, and tax relief.
Anyone arriving in the UK from Italy should self-isolate for two weeks, UK officials have warned. Within a fortnight the government is set to advise anyone with a fever or a mild respiratory tract infection to self-isolate for seven days. There is reassuring evidence that the 14-day self-isolation and quarantine measures being adopted around the world are striking the right balance, because people still carrying the virus can appear to be symptom-free for an average of up to five days. More developments throughout Tuesday at our live blog.
* * *
Sequel Tuesday – Joe Biden will aim to cement his position as frontrunner for the Democratic nomination today as millions of voters in six states have their say in primary contests ahead of the US presidential election. It is a crucial test for Bernie Sanders, the other main contender, who is battling to reverse the momentum Biden gained on Super Tuesday a week ago. If an ageing rocker’s endorsement counts for anything then Neil Young has enthusiastically offered his to Sanders, declaring: “Every point he makes is what I believe in.” The Sanders campaign has been working hard across Michigan, which has the most delegates of any of the voting states today.
* * *
Boy marooned in hospital – A disabled 10-year-old boy has been living for nearly a year on an acute NHS medical ward because the local council has failed to find appropriate accommodation for his family, the Guardian has learned. Ahmed has cerebral palsy and scoliosis, is fed through a tube and is registered blind. He was admitted to the Royal Manchester children’s hospital on 1 March 2019 and after six weeks was well enough to be discharged. But his hospitalisation has ended up costing taxpayers at least £115,000 when a three-bedroom home nearby would cost about £10,200 a year. His parents and sisters, who have sought asylum, have been living in a one-bedroom flat at Ronald McDonald House. A Manchester council spokesperson said: “A very specific type of property is required by the family … we will continue to work with the family to try to find a property that will meet their priority needs.” The hospital trust declined to comment.
* * *
Endometriosis link to body shape – Girls who are tall and lean in childhood may be more at risk of later developing endometriosis, the painful, often debilitating condition in which womb tissue grows elsewhere in the body. Researchers made the findings after studying decades of data from Denmark on children’s height and weight at 13 years of age, then correlating it with hospital data from the age of 15 onwards. “Body size during these ages is an indicator for later risk,” said Dr Jennifer Baker, a co-author of the research from the University of Copenhagen and Frederiksberg hospital in Denmark. “It really tells us that the roots of this disease lie earlier in life than people have previously thought.”
* * *
Light shed on Saudi royal intrigue – The arrests in Saudi Arabia of two leading royals followed discussions between the two men about using the “allegiance council”, led by one of them, to block Mohammed bin Salman’s accession to the throne, Martin Chulov writes this morning. The council exists to ensure a smooth transition of power and was instrumental in securing Mohammed bin Salman as crown prince in 2017. Prince Ahmed bin Abdul Aziz, who is believed to have voted against him, was arrested along with the former crown prince, Mohammed bin Nayef, on what are thought to be treason charges. The murder of the Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi in late 2018 remains a potent issue for the crown prince’s critics, many of whom claim he lacks the judgment or temperament to become leader.
* * *
Seagrass looks greener – Lost underwater meadows are being resurrected along Britain’s coast that promise to capture carbon emissions and harbour marine life. The seagrass meadows were once common but more than 90% have been lost to pollution-fed algae, anchor damage and port and marina building.
The meadows store carbon 35 times faster than tropical rainforests and harbour up to 40 times more marine life than seabeds without grass. The Seagrass Ocean Rescue project will ultimately place 20km of rope laden with bags carrying a million seagrass seeds on the shallow seafloor, where they will sprout through the bags and restore the habitat.
Today in Focus podcast: Lisa Nandy interview
The Labour leadership candidate Lisa Nandy speaks to Anushka Asthana. Also today: Nils Pratley on a plunge in the financial markets as coronavirus spooks traders.
Lunchtime read: ‘Felt like intentional torture’
It has been two years since the government apologised for the Windrush scandal and promised to rectify the injustices. Yet those affected are still being failed by the Home Office – with some remaining destitute, writes Amelia Gentleman.
Sport
This week, despite the shadow cast by the coronavirus and much uncertainty in recent days over whether it would happen at all, the Cheltenham Festival takes place. But the outbreak of the virus continues to impact other areas of sport, with all domestic sporting activity at all levels in Italy suspended until 3 April at the earliest, the Champions League game between PSG and Borussia Dortmund to be played behind closed doors, the tennis event at Indian Wells cancelled and Ireland’s Six Nations match in France called off.
The EFL has told the government that some clubs fear going out of business if games have to be played behind closed doors, the Guardian understands. The Premier League is as yet unaffected though, and Harvey Barnes and Jamie Vardy both scored twice as Leicester hammered Aston Villa 4-0 at the King Power Stadium. Phil Neville has praised Ellen White after the England striker came to the Lionesses’ rescue in New Jersey against Japan in the SheBelieves Cup. And Joe Marler is facing a season-ending suspension after he was cited for grabbing Alun Wyn Jones’s genitals during England’s Six Nations win over Wales.
Business
Asian stock markets have taken a breather with several regional benchmarks gaining more than 1% after New York futures reversed on news that Donald Trump plans to ask Congress for a tax cut and other quick measures as a buffer against coronavirus. Oil prices also bounced back from a record-setting fall. Hong Kong’s benchmark jumped 1.8%, Sydney added 1.2% and Shanghai climbed 0.6%. Shares edged slightly lower in Tokyo and Seoul after bouncing in and out of negative territory. Brent crude, the basis for international oil prices, gained 6.7% but still was down by nearly half from its January peak. The pound is at $1.304 and €1.148 while at time of writing the FTSE is tracking higher ahead of the open.
The papers
“Stock markets in biggest fall since 2008 as virus fears trigger panic selling”. The Guardian print edition leads with the “meltdown” in the City – the Alex Salmond trial is on the front as well. “Global markets plunge” says the Times, after billions were wiped off share values.
Elsewhere there are warnings that each and everyone might soon have to put themselves into personal lockdown if ill. “Stay at home if you have a cold”, insists the Mail, “Prepare to self-isolate” says the Telegraph, and the Express says: “Cough? ‘Stay home’ order”.
The i’s furniture is more specific “Self-isolate if you have a mild fever: next advice” with the “next” stemming from government plans to update official guidance. Metro leads with “Tech firms fight virus liars”, about the proliferation of fake advice online. Back on the financial scene, the Mirror says the “Meltdown” has left “Brit pensions battered” while the FT gives coronavirus lesser billing in causing the trading turmoil: “Oil price plunge sends tremors through battered global markets” – the brooding countenance of Prince Salman of Saudi Arabia sitting under the headline hints at who is being blamed.
• This article was corrected on 10 March 2020. People still carrying the virus can appear to be symptom-free for an average of up to five days, not five days maximum.
Sign up
The Guardian Morning Briefing is delivered to thousands of inboxes bright and early every weekday. If you are not already receiving it by email, you can sign up here.
For more news: www.theguardian.com
