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Live Updates: More Places Shut Down To Curb Coronavirus Spread
Global case count as of now
Total cases: 334,514
Deaths: 14,599
Recoveries: 97,574
For live and country-wise data, https://www.gulf-insider.com/covid19/?ref=widget
Syria announces it’s first case
Syria’s health minister Nizar Yazigi has announced the country’s first confirmed coronavirus case.
2020 Tokyo Olympics: IOC Considers Postponement
The International Olympic Committee is considering a postponement of Tokyo 2020, with four weeks until it has to make a decision.
The IOC said that cancellation is “not on the agenda”, but a ‘scaled-down’ Games will be considered.
UK records youngest coronavirus death
An 18-year-old with underlying conditions has died in England. They are thought to be the youngest person in the UK to die of the virus so far.
Global fashion retailer H&M will produce “personal protective equipment”
The global fashion retailer H&M has announced tonight that it is using its global supply chain to produce “personal protective equipment” such as masks, gloves and aprons for use in hospitals and by health care workers to help tackle the widespread effects of the COVID-19 pandemic,
The H&M Group said its supply chain teams around the world were collectively supporting initial efforts to support as many countries and communities as possible worldwide.
France: 1500+ new cases and 100+ deaths today
‘Be careful’: Spain’s last 1918 flu survivor offers warning on coronavirus
José Ameal Peña was four years old when the 1918 flu tore through his small fishing town in northern Spain.
More than a century later, Ameal Peña – believed to be Spain’s only living survivor of a pandemic said to be the deadliest in human history – has a warning as the world faces off against Covid-19. “Be careful,” he said. “I don’t want to see the same thing repeated. It claimed so many lives.”
The 1918 flu, known as the Spanish flu after the country’s press was among the first to report on it, killed between 50 and 100 million people around the world.
In Ameal Peña’s town of Luarca, it claimed 500 lives – a quarter of the town’s population of 2,000.
In recent weeks Ameal Peña has watched anxiously as another pandemic has developed. Spain has been among the hardest-hit countries, with 1,720 deaths and counting.
Opera star Plácido Domingo tests positive
USA: Republican Senator Rand Paul Tests Positive
Republican US Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky has tested positive for coronavirus, his office said in a statement on Sunday, becoming the first member of the upper chamber of Congress to announce he has COVID-19 as the number of US cases continued to grow.
Spain asks EU to roll out “Marshall Plan”
Spain’s prime minister has called for the European Union to roll out its own “Marshall Plan,” describing a program of public investment capable of countering the deep economic blow of the crisis.
Angela Merkel in Quarantine
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is in quarantine after a doctor who gave her a vaccine tests positive for coronavirus
Greece Announces Nationwide Curfew
Greece’s prime minister has announced that as of 6 AM tomorrow a curfew will come into effect nationwide. In a televised address – his third in less than a week – Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the measure will prohibit “the circulation and movement of citizens” deemed to be “purposeless” – the strictest restriction, yet, in the fight to contain the novel coronavirus spreading further.
Exceptions to the rule would be made for citizens going to and from work; for the provision of food and medicine; for visits to a doctor and for those who needed care; for those exercising individually, or with one other person, and for people walking dogs. Those travelling to their permanent place of residence would also be exempt from the measure.
But once enforced anyone out on the streets would have to have their passports or identity cards with them at all times. Fines of 150 euro will be given in the case of infractions.
UK: Stricter measures if people don’t act “responsibly”
In his daily coronavirus briefing, PM Boris Johnson said:
- The government is now taking special steps to protect the particularly vulnerable – 1.5 million in all.
- Uk will need far, far more ventilators and a huge effort is underway to get these.
- If people do not observe social distances, stricter measures will be enforced. Stresses: “stay home, protect our NHS and save lives”.
- “The answer is always to be guided by the science,” stressing the importance of timing for a lockdown.
Italy: 5560 new cases and 651 new deaths
USA: More than 12,000 new cases reported today
Deaths in Scotland Reach 10
The number of people who have died after testing positive for coronavirus in Scotland has risen to 10, the Scottish Government said.
The death toll stood at seven this morning, and the country has 373 confirmed cases.
Colombia: Riots break out in prisons
Colombia’s prisons were rocked by riots and protests overnight, with inmates demanding better protection against the spread of Covid-19 in the South American country’s jails.
Shootouts were heard outside some prisons as videos circulated on social media showing fires and unrest.
UK: Confirmed cases at 5700
- There have been 281 deaths in the UK – an increase of 47.
- The UK total number of confirmed cases is now at 5,700.
Mozambique confirms first case of the new coronavirus
Mozambique has confirmed its first case of the new coronavirus – a 75-year-old man who had recently returned from Britain.
Germany will ban public meetings of more than two people
Germany will ban public meetings of more than two people unless they are about work on slowing the spread of the coronavirus.
Bahrain is the first country to test medicines for coronavirus
Bahrain Announces New Measures
- Industry, Commerce and Tourism Minister Zayed Al Zayani has announced that all commercial outlets will be closed from the 26th of March. He said that all hypermarkets, cold stores, bakeries, pharmacies and banks will remain open. The temporary closure is till 9th April as part of the measures taken to combat the spread of the Coronavirus.
- Public gatherings of more than 5 people have been banned.
Bahrain will repatriate it’s second batch of citizens from Iran
The Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Walid Al-Manea, announced that the second group of citizens will return to Bahrain from Iran through the International COVID-19 Repatriation Programme, via a chartered plane scheduled for Monday 23 March 2020.
Dr. Al-Manea highlighted that the Ministry is continuing its efforts to intensify all measures to contain and prevent the spread of COVID-19.
These measures include immediate laboratory tests for all evacuated citizens on arrival in the Kingdom, under the supervision of a specialised medical team.
Canada: Death Toll Rises by Almost 50% Percent
The Canadian death toll from the coronavirus outbreak jumped almost 50% percent to 19 in less than a day, according to official figures released by the federal government today.
Ottawa said late on Saturday that 13 people had died from the respiratory illness caused by the virus, but by 9 a.m. ET (1300 GMT) on Sunday that number had grown to 19.
The number of confirmed cases rose to 1,302 from 1,099, with a further 69 people listed as probably suffering from the highly contagious virus.
Cambodia Reports 31 New Cases
Cambodia has reported 31 new cases of coronavirus on Sunday, 29 of them among French tourists, bringing the total number of infections recorded in the Southeast Asian country to 84, the health ministry said in a statement.
Spain moves to extend state of emergency
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has said his government would ask parliament to extend for another 15 days until April 11 a state of emergency it imposed this month to try to curb the spread of the virus.
The nationwide state of emergency was first announced on March 14 and it bars people in the nation of around 46 million people from leaving home except for essential outings like buying food or seeking medical care.
Emirates Reverses Decision Cancelling All Passenger Flights
Dubai carrier Emirates has reversed a previous announcement suspending all passenger flights, saying it is going to continue flying to 13 destinations, including the U.S., the UK, Japan, Australia and Canada.
The company said Sunday that the decision comes after receiving requests from governments and customers to support the repatriation of travellers. Hours earlier, Emirates said it was suspending all passenger flights starting Wednesday.
Bahrain Indian Embassy Announces Hotline
The Indian Embassy has announced a hotline for Indian expats in Bahrain – the number is 39415772.
Saudi Arabia cases pass 500
Saudi Arabia has reported a jump in coronavirus cases. Saudi Health Ministry spokesman Mohammed Abdelali said the kingdom recorded 119 new cases, raising the total number to 511, the highest to date in the Gulf Arab region.
Singapore confirms 23 new cases
23 new cases of the virus have been confirmed in Singapore. 18 of the cases had recently travelled to Europe, North America, South America and ASEAN countries, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said in its daily update. Nine of the cases had travelled to the UK and three to the US.
Lebanon’s army patrol streets to enforce preventative measures
Following the request from Lebanon’s prime minister Hassan Diab on Saturday for stricter preventative measures, the country’s army has been on the streets of downtown Beirut today, patrolling.
Lebanese officials called for tougher emergency measures, including curfews, after the number of coronavirus cases in the country surged to 230, with four victims believed to be in critical condition.
Bahrain recorded second death in the Kingdom
First two cases of coronavirus confirmed in the Gaza Strip
The first two cases of coronavirus were confirmed in the Gaza Strip last night in individuals who had come from Pakistan.
Abdelnasser Soboh, director of the World Health Organization’s Gaza office, said the territory only has 62 ventilators, with all but 15 already in use.
Hundreds of Gazans have returned home in the past two weeks, but only 92 people have been examined, highlighting the territory’s limited testing capacity. More than 1,270 people have been quarantined at hospitals, hotels and schools after crossing into Gaza from Israel and Egypt, according to the Health Ministry.
Former Real Madrid president dies from coronavirus
Former Real Madrid president Lorenzo Sanz died Saturday from the new coronavirus, his family said. He was 76. Sanz had been in intensive care since the beginning of the week while being treated for the virus.
Afghanistan has announced its first Coronavirus death
The Health Ministry confirmed that the patient, who was 40 years old, died three days ago in northern Balkh province and the result of his coronavirus test arrived today.
Another suspected patient died today in western Herat province. The coronavirus test result will arrive tomorrow. Herat neighbours Iran and is the most affected city with 18 positive cases so far.
Afghanistan has reported 34 coronavirus cases so far, 10 in last 24 hours.
Emirates Suspends All Passenger Flights
Emirates airline will suspend all passenger flights by March 25 but retain its cargo operations, the airline announced today. Read More…
Australia adds $38.5 billion in stimulus
Australia’s government will spend additional A$66.4 billion ($38.50 billion) as part of a second stimulus package to shelter the economy from the financial impact of the coronavirus, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said today, as states moved to impose major lockdowns.
The new stimulus will go to individuals in need and small and medium-sized businesses. Those businesses produce about a third of the country’s annual economic output and employ more than 40% of the workforce, according to government statistics, Reuters reported.
Afghanistan reports 10 new cases
India amps up measures
- All train operations in India are suspended until at least 31 March
- The capital city of Delhi will be locked down from 6 to 6, until atleast 31 March
- Lockdowns were imposed in 75 districts across the country and in Goa, the curfew was extended until Wednesday.
USA: Sudden Spike of cases in NYPD
The New York City Police Department is dealing with a sudden spike in coronavirus cases. According to NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea, over 50 police officers have tested positive for the virus, but only one has been hospitalised.
The 1st Precinct in Manhattan is the hardest hit, with 31 officers (17 percent of the workforce) calling in sick, forcing the NYPD to call the Movie and Television Unit to fill in.
Thailand Reports 188 New Cases
Thailand reported 188 new coronavirus infections, its largest daily increase, taking the total to 599 cases, a senior health official said.
E-commerce giant Alibaba sends coronavirus supplies to Africa
The Chinese billionaire founder of e-commerce giant Alibaba has sent coronavirus supplies to Africa. Jack Ma sent a cargo flight from Guangzhou in China containing more than 6 million medical items, which arrived today in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa. The supplies will be distributed to African countries in need of resources to battle the virus.
According to Ethiopian officials and the Jack Ma Foundation, the plane carried 5.4 million face masks, 1.08 million testing kits, 40,000 sets of protective clothing and 60,000 protective face shields. Ma has sent similar shipments of medical supplies to countries in Asia, Europe, North America and Latin America.
The virus has been slow to reach Africa but has now spread to at least 42 of the continent’s 54 countries.
Kuwait reports a total of 188 cases
Kuwait’s Health Ministry recorded 12 new cases of coronavirus over the last 24 hours, bringing the total to 188 with 30 recoveries.
New Cases Recorded in Morocco
Morocco has recorded eight new cases of coronavirus, bringing the number to 104.
Oman Announces New Restrictions
Oman has announced new measures to combat the spread of the virus, including banning public gatherings and implementing remote work for both government and private employees.
The country has also ordered the closure of exchange houses, and has shut down the printing of newspapers, magazines and other publications of the same kind.
Palestine has ordered its citizens to 14-day home confinement starting today
UAE shuts down pools, cinemas, gyms
The UAE shut down pools, beaches, parks, cinemas and gyms to contain the spread of coronavirus, allowing restaurants to work at 20 percent capacity with customers at least two meters apart.
COVID-19 has infected more than 308,000 people globally and has claimed the lives of over 13,000.
Singapore Bans Entry of Foreigners
Singapore has banned the entry and transit of all foreigners, except those with work permits in essential services.
Malaysia has sent the army to the streets to enforce restrictions
43 more deaths in the Netherlands
The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in the Netherlands rose by 573, or nearly 16%, to 4,204, Dutch health authorities said in a daily update on Sunday.
The death toll in the Netherlands rose by 43 to 179, with victims aged between 57 and 97.
The Russian military is sending medical help to Italy
Iran cases jump to 21,638, with 129 more deaths
Schools will remain open in Australia
The Australian prime minister, Scott Morrison, has announced wide-ranging restrictions on businesses but has said schools will remain open.
Among those affected will be clubs, hotels, pubs, entertainment venues, indoor supporting venues and places of worship.
Death toll in Spain climbs to 1,720
The death toll in Spain has climbed to 1,720 – with 394 lives claimed in the past day – as the country’s prime minister warned that the “worst is yet to come” and announced plans to extend the country’s near-total lockdown until the 12 of April.
Across Spain, the number of confirmed cases sits at 28,572, according to the latest data from the health ministry.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia announces 70 new cases of coronavirus, 58 of which are related to attending social events.
Coronavirus: 25 New Cases in Bahrain
India goes on lockdown
Millions of Indians went into lockdown Sunday as the country brought most of its vast railway network to a halt in a bid to slow the spread of the deadly coronavirus.
Romania records its first death
Kuwait: 12 New Cases, Total of 188
USA: 2685 new cases, 46 new deaths
Thailand reports 188 new coronavirus cases – the country’s largest single-day spike.
Oman: 3 new cases, total of 55
Central America: El Salvador begins 30-day nationwide curfew
Africa
More countries in Africa have started to report their first novel coronavirus cases.
Here’s what has been happening in Africa.
Eritrea, Uganda and Angola report first coronavirus cases:
- Eritrea: The country’s Ministry of Information reported Sunday that a 39-year-old Eritrean man had tested positive. He has permanent residence in Norway and flew back to Eritrea on Saturday morning via FlyDubai.
- Uganda: A 36-year-old Ugandan man who arrived in the country on Saturday after taking an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Dubai has coronavirus, the country’s Ministry of Health said. The patient’s symptoms included high fever and poor appetite.
- Angola: Two men who traveled through Lisbon, in Portugal, and arrived on March 17 and 18 have tested positive for coronavirus, Angola’s Health Minister Silvia Lutucuta said. Both live in the country’s capital, Luanda. They are age 36 and 38.
New restrictions:
- Algeria: Algeria’s President Abdelmadjid Tebboune announced a series of measures, including stopping all mass transport within cities and between states. It is temporarily closing cafes and restaurants in big cities, the state-run news agency SPA reported. Algeria has 139 coronavirus cases and 15 deaths, according to the Ministry of Health.
Bahrain: More Than 20,901 People Have Been Tested
Last week the Ministry of Health highlighted that the contact tracing mechanism is used to track the locations of the contacts of active COVID-19 cases, in order to ensure health and safety of citizens and residents. Read More…
Singapore announced on Sunday that it will close its borders to short-term visitors and travelers transiting though the the major aviation hub starting Monday. Residents and work-permit holders have to self-isolate for 14 days after entering the city state.
Singapore has 432 confirmed cases of the virus, and recorded 2 deaths.
Russia to send medical help to Italy
The Russian military will start sending medical help to Italy from Sunday in order to help it battle the new coronavirus after receiving an order from President Vladimir Putin, Russia’s Defense Ministry said in a statement.
South Korea confirms nearly 100 new coronavirus cases
South Korea has confirmed 98 new cases of coronavirus, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said on Sunday. This brings the number of cases in the country to 8,897, with 104 deaths due to the virus.
Kuwait: 3 Recovered Patients
Kuwait’s Ministry of Health announced that 3 cases of coronavirus infected patients have recovered, bringing the total of those recovered to 30.
Australia: 214 new cases
NSW will proceed to a more comprehensive shutdown of non-essential services over the next 48 hours.
Mexico: 48 New Cases
The Philippines: 73 new cases and 6 new deaths
Colombia: 14 new cases and 1 new death
East Africa records its first case
Eritrea’s Ministry of Information has reported the east African country’s first case of coronavirus.
A 39-year-old Eritrean man tested positive for coronavirus, the ministry said.
The man has permanent residence in Norway and flew back to Eritrea Saturday morning local time via airline FlyDubai.
The man was exhibiting symptoms during the screening at Asmara International Airport. He was immediately quarantined and tested.
USA: 302 people have died
There are now at least 23,649 cases of coronavirus in the United States and 302 people have died from the virus. This includes cases in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and other US territories, as well as repatriated cases.
Here are the worst affected states:
- New York — 10,356 cases, 53 deaths
- Washington — 1,793 cases, 94 deaths
- New Jersey — 1,327 cases, 16 deaths
- California — 1,200 cases, 24 deaths
Italy
Coronavirus is the most severe crisis since World War II, says Italian Prime Minister.
Hawaii
Anyone who arrives will be subject to a 14-day quarantine.
Thailand: 188 New Cases
Thailand reported 188 new coronavirus infections on Sunday, its largest daily increase, taking the total to 599 cases, a senior health official said.
Singapore: No Short-Term Visitors
Singapore will not allow any short-term visitors to transit or enter the city-state in its latest measures to fight the spread of the coronavirus and to conserve healthcare resources for its citizens.
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