Key developments in the global coronavirus outbreak today include:
Global coronavirus death toll passes 15,000
The number of people across the world who have died after contracting coronavirus now stands at over 15,300, according to Johns Hopkins University, which has been collating global data. The worldwide number of confirmed cases currently stands at 351,731.
In Spain, one of Europe’s worst-hit countries, the coronavirus death toll has reached 2,182, the total growing by 462 overnight. The death toll in Iran from the new coronavirus has increased to 1,812, with 127 new deaths in 24 hours.
Upwards curve in infections ‘may be flattening’ in Germany
There were signs that the exponential upwards curve in new coronavirus infections in Germany is levelling off for the first time because of the strict social distancing measures in force, the head of the country’s public health institute has said. However, Lothar Wieler urged caution, saying many health authorities had not yet submitted their data from the weekend. “I will only be able to confirm this trend definitively on Wednesday,” he said. But he said he remained optimistic.
Postponement of Tokyo Olympics under consideration
The head of the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) said on Monday he would have to consider postponing the Games amid increasing calls from committees around the world to delay the event. “From the athletes’ point of view of safety and security, we have to come to a stage where we cannot help but consider things including postponement,” the JOC president, Yasuhiro Yamashita, told reporters on Monday. However, he said too long a delay would be a burden to athletes given the possibility of having to qualify again, for example.
Britain warns tougher measures on movement may be on way
Britain’s health secretary has accused those still socialising of “very selfish” behaviour that risks the lives of NHS workers and others, as he signalled tougher restrictions on movement could be on the way. Matt Hancock said stricter rules such as curfews or further closures could come into place “very soon” and urged people still socialising or going to holiday locations to “stop it, and if you don’t stop it then we’re going to have to take more measures”.
Symptoms are defined by the NHS as either:
- a high temperature - you feel hot to touch on your chest or back
- a new continuous cough - this means you've started coughing repeatedly
NHS advice is that anyone with symptoms should stay at home for at least 7 days.
If you live with other people, they should stay at home for at least 14 days, to avoid spreading the infection outside the home.
After 14 days, anyone you live with who does not have symptoms can return to their normal routine. But, if anyone in your home gets symptoms, they should stay at home for 7 days from the day their symptoms start. Even if it means they're at home for longer than 14 days.
If you live with someone who is 70 or over, has a long-term condition, is pregnant or has a weakened immune system, try to find somewhere else for them to stay for 14 days.
If you have to stay at home together, try to keep away from each other as much as possible.
After 7 days, if you no longer have a high temperature you can return to your normal routine.
If you still have a high temperature, stay at home until your temperature returns to normal.
If you still have a cough after 7 days, but your temperature is normal, you do not need to continue staying at home. A cough can last for several weeks after the infection has gone.
Staying at home means you should:
- not go to work, school or public areas
- not use public transport or taxis
- not have visitors, such as friends and family, in your home
- not go out to buy food or collect medicine – order them by phone or online, or ask someone else to drop them off at your home
You can use your garden, if you have one. You can also leave the house to exercise – but stay at least 2 metres away from other people.
If you have symptoms of coronavirus, use the NHS 111 coronavirus service to find out what to do.
Source: NHS England on 23 March 2020
French parliament votes for two-month ‘health state of emergency’
The move legalises the restrictive measures already taken – including the confinement introduced on 16 March – and gives the government power to legislate other emergency measures by decree. Indications are the French government will announce that the confinement-to-home regulations that were initially due to last two weeks will be extended on Monday following recommendations from the country’s Covid-19 scientific committee.
Markets slump as US Senate deadlocked over Covid-19 stimulus
After stocks slumped in Asia overnight, European markets faced a rocky start. Among them was the UK-focused FTSE 250 share index, which was down 4.5% after nearly two hours of trading. This latest sell-off has been triggered by the news overnight that the US Senate failed to approve a massive funding package to combat the impact of coronavirus.
Syria confirms first case of Covid-19 after weeks of denials.
The patient is a 20-year-old woman who recently returned to Syria from an unspecified country and appropriate measures have been taken, the health minister, Nizar Yaziji, said. Fears are mounting of an outbreak that will have catastrophic consequences on the war-torn country.
Philippines isolates hundreds of health workers
More than 670 Filipino health workers have been quarantined over fears they were exposed to coronavirus, while others have resorted to using bin bags for protection as case numbers rise across much of south-east Asia. More than 50 million people in the Philippines remain under lockdown as the country’s medical facilities struggle with a lack of testing kits and shortages of protective equipment.
Wuhan’s residents start to emerge from crisis
Residents living in the city of 11 million people at the heart of the virus outbreak have been allowed to leave their residential compounds in small groups for the first time in weeks. Public transport is resuming and people are being allowed to return to work if the are certified healthy. Non-residents, stranded there since stringent travel restrictions went into effect on 23 January, can also begin applying to leave the city. China reported 39 new virus cases from Sunday, all imported from overseas.
