Covid – 19 Headlines Mar 11, 2020

 

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Protecting At-Risk People from Covid-19

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Treatment and Vaccine Developments for COVID-19 / SARS-CoV-2

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Covid -19 Headlines

Officials concerned COVID-19 may be community spread in New Jersey

TRENTON, New Jersey (WPVI) — New Jersey reported eight new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, raising the state total to 23.

In a news conference, Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said four of the new cases are in Bergen County; two are in Middlesex County; two are in Monmouth County.

“Community spread indicates that the coronavirus is amongst us. We have an expectation that that may be the case,” Persichilli said.

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Colorado opens drive-thru coronavirus testing facility. Here’s what you need to know

Colorado is opening a drive-up coronavirus testing center Wednesday, one of the first in the nation, as the state ramps up testing efforts to fight the growing viral outbreak.

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7 pm EST. An increase of 4,294 cases and 242 deaths from 12 noon

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Denmark shuts schools and universities after surge in coronavirus cases

COPENHAGEN (Reuters) – Denmark will close all schools and universities and will start sending home all employees in the public sector with non-critical jobs in the coming days to curb the spread of the coronavirus, the prime minister said on Wednesday.

Coronavirus in Australia: Contagious student went clubbing in Brisbane

Revellers at a popular Brisbane nightclub are being told to be on the lookout for symptoms after a student with coronavirus went clubbing.

Dow drops more than 1,400 points, or 5.9%, as investors await broader response to economic damage from the coronavirus.

NEW YORK (AP) — Dow drops more than 1,400 points, or 5.9%, as investors await broader response to economic damage from the coronavirus.

Sweden reports first coronavirus death

Sweden has reported its first death from the new coronavirus and banned public gatherings of more than 500 people to try to stop the spread of the disease.

Sweden has around 460 confirmed cases of the virus, the first of which was identified at the end of January.

US considering ban on travellers from Europe over coronavirus: Top official

WASHINGTON: The United States is weighing a ban on travellers from Europe to slow the spread of the coronavirus, a senior US official said on Wednesday (Mar 11).

Italy PM Conte toughens virus lockdown

Italy’s Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has added new restrictions to the lockdown imposed to fight the coronavirus after figures showed Italy posting the highest daily increase in deaths of any country since the outbreak began.

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First US COVID-19 containment zone in NY, 51 more cases in Massachusetts

Today during a press conference in Albany, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the country’s first containment zone in New Rochelle, Westchester County, the epicenter of New York’s COVID-19 outbreak.

Italian daily coronavirus deaths jump 31% to 827

ROME (Reuters) – The death toll from an outbreak of coronavirus in Italy has jumped in the last 24 hours by 196 to 827, a rise of 31%, the Civil Protection Agency said on Wednesday, the largest rise in absolute numbers since the contagion came to light on Feb. 21.

Qatar and Bahrain record jump in coronavirus cases, Kuwait bans flights

DUBAI (Reuters) – Qatar reported 238 more coronavirus infections among individuals under quarantine in a residential compound on Wednesday, the latest Gulf state to record new cases in a regional outbreak that prompted Kuwait to cancel all commercial passenger flights.

Italy COVID-19 total tops 10,000; funding grows for treatments, vaccines

Italy’s surge of COVID-19 cases continued today in the wake of a national lockdown announced yesterday, as some of the country’s neighbors closed borders and other countries in Europe, such as France, reported similar steep rises.

Italy in coronavirus lockdown as deaths soar and economy fades

ROME (Reuters) – Shops and restaurants closed, hundreds of flights were canceled and streets emptied across Italy on Tuesday, the first day of an unprecedented, nationwide lockdown imposed to slow Europe’s worst outbreak of coronavirus.

India cancels almost all visas, closes Myanmar border, as regional coronavirus cases rise

MUMBAI (Reuters) – India said on Wednesday it will suspend the vast majority of visas to the country in a wide-reaching attempt to prevent the spread of coronavirus, as cases across the region continued to rise.

Coronavirus cases in Germany surpass 1,500: Koch Institute

BERLIN (Reuters) – The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany has risen to 1,567, the Robert Koch Institute for infectious diseases said on Wednesday.

To slow COVID-19 spread, California county turns to mitigation

In what is likely a harbinger of things to come as the number of COVID-19 cases rises across the country, Sacramento County announced Mar 9 that it is shifting its efforts to slow the spread of the virus from containment to community mitigation.

That means that people who’ve come into contact with someone who has the pandemic coronavirus will no longer have to quarantine themselves for 14 days, according to a county news release. The recommendation applies to members of the general public as well as to healthcare workers and first responders.

Banknotes carry no particular coronavirus risk: German disease expert

BERLIN (Reuters) – Handling banknotes doesn’t pose a particular risk of contracting coronavirus, the head of Germany’s Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases said on Wednesday.

Number of coronavirus deaths in Britain rises to eight

LONDON (Reuters) – The number of people in the UK who have died after testing positive for coronavirus has risen to eight after the death of two elderly people, health officials said.

Costa Rica reports 22 coronavirus cases, nearly double prior tally

SAN JOSE (Reuters) – Costa Rica’s health ministry confirmed on Wednesday that the number of coronavirus cases in the Central American country increased to 22, up from 13 previously reported.

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Coronavirus may have reached Italy from Germany, scientists say

ROME (Reuters) – A team of scientists in Milan believes Italy’s coronavirus epidemic might have come to the country via Germany and not directly from China as many experts initially assumed.

France’s coronavirus death toll close to 50, new restrictions imposed

PARIS (Reuters) – France’s coronavirus death toll rose by almost 50% to 48, French Health Minister Olivier Veran said on Wednesday, adding new restrictions would be implemented to try and contain the outbreak.

Alaska governor declares emergency amid coronavirus fears

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy on Wednesday declared a public health disaster emergency in response to concerns about the new coronavirus.

Arizona reports 3 more cases of coronavirus for total of 9

PHOENIX (AP) — State officials on Wednesday reported three more diagnosed cases of the coronavirus in Arizona, raising the total to nine.

Cuomo says NYC’s St. Patrick’s Day parade might be cancelled

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday that health experts are recommending that New York City’s venerable St. Patrick’s Day parade be cancelled amid the coronavirus outbreak.

The governor told a news conference at the state Capitol that officials would likely make a decision later Wednesday. The parade, scheduled for Tuesday, would draw thousands to Manhattan at a time when officials are trying to reduce large gatherings.

Tests show new virus lives on some surfaces for up to 3 days

The new coronavirus can live in the air for several hours and on some surfaces for as long as two to three days, tests by U.S. government and other scientists have found.

Their work, published Wednesday, suggests people can get infected through the air as well as from touching things that were contaminated by others who have it, in addition to direct person-to-person contact.

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India ‘bans foreign travellers’- Guardian

Starting Friday, India is essentially banning all foreign tourists, and quarantining anyone who’s been to 7 countries worst-affected by coronavirus. India has about 60 cases so far, none of them fatal.

Spain cases rise- Guardian

On Wednesday evening, the number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Spain rose to 2,152 almost half of which – 1,024 – were in the Madrid region.

10th UK death announced

NHS England has announced that another person has died after testing positive for coronavirus. They are the eighth to die in the UK, the authorities say. Two more British people have also died abroad.

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White House, tech industry meet to discuss coronavirus response

WASHINGTON: White House officials met Wednesday with U.S. technology industry officials to discuss tech-related response efforts to the coronavirus outbreak and ways for government to collaborate with the private sector.

Iran VP, 2 Cabinet members have new virus

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran’s senior vice president and two other Cabinet members have contracted the new coronavirus, a semiofficial news agency reported Wednesday as the death toll in the Islamic Republic from the outbreak rose by 62 to 354.

UK testing regime criticised- Guardian

A retired intensive care doctor claims the government plans to increase coronavirus testing are “way too late” after he and his friends were repeatedly refused test despite falling ill following an Austrian skiing trip.

Lebanon closes all restaurants and cafes

Lebanon has announced sweeping measures to curtail the spread of the virus, closing all restaurants and cafes until further notice, banning flights from Iran and Italy and citizens from France, Egypt and Spain, and giving Lebanese citizens four days to return home from France, Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Germany, Spain and the UK.

World Health Organization declares pandemic

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO director-general, says there are now more than 118,000 cases in 114 countries, and 4,291 people have lost their lives.

He says it has reached the stage where it can be described as a pandemic.

‘Lack of resolve’ in some countries, says WHO

Tedros says it is a “crisis that affects every sector”. The WHO director-general says:

This is everybody’s business.

He says looking at the number of cases reported and number of countries affected “doesn’t tell the full story”.

All countries can still change the course of this pandemic.

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Britain, Italy announce war chests to soften impact of coronavirus

LONDON/ROME (Reuters) – Britain announced a $39-billion war chest to soften the economic impact of the coronavirus after the Bank of England cut interest rates on Wednesday and Italy, the worst-affected country outside China, said it might further tighten already draconian curbs.

Ukraine closing schools, banning large gatherings

Another European country is taking drastic measures to curb the spread of coronavirus. Despite only having one confirmed case to date, Ukraine has said it is closing all educational institutions

US ‘risks acting too late’

Anthony Fauci, the top US official on infectious disease, testifying to the House oversight committee, urging more aggressive preemptive action in the US:

If we don’t do very serious mitigation now, what’s going to happen is that we’re going to be weeks behind, and the horse is going to be out of the barn, and that’s the reason why we’ve been saying, even in areas of the country, where there are no or few cases, we’ve got to change our behaviour. We have to essentially assume that we are going to get hit. And that’s why we talk about making mitigation and containment in a much more vigorous way.

Sweden reports first death

Sweden joins a number of countries which reported their first death(s) from covid-19 today.

12 noon EST update. An increase of 2,341 cases and 80 deaths

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Store owner charged after homemade sanitizer burns youths

RIVER VALE, N.J. (AP) — A convenience store owner in New Jersey reacting to the coronavirus outbreak created and sold a spray sanitizer that left four children with burns, state and county law enforcement officials said.

Two more deaths in Belgium

Belgium’s health ministry has announced an additional two deaths from covid-19, having earlier reported the country’s first fatality from the virus.

2 more coronavirus cases reported in Rhode Island

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Two more Rhode Island residents have tested positive for the new coronavirus, state health officials say.

The new cases announced Tuesday bring the state’s total to five, the state Department of Health said in a release. They are considered presumptive until they are confirmed by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Virus lockdown hits Vatican as pope livestreams audience

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis held his weekly general audience in the privacy of his library Wednesday as the Vatican implemented Italy’s drastic virus lockdown measures.

Police barred the general public from St. Peter’s Square and the Vatican took measures to limit infections inside the city state and mitigate the economic fallout outside.

Iran says virus kills 63 more, death toll climbs to 354

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — The death toll in Iran from the new coronavirus climbed for another consecutive day, killing 62 more people in the past 24 hours as the government on Wednesday raised the nationwide death toll to 354.

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Swiss funnel Italian border traffic to main routes to curb epidemic

ZURICH (Reuters) – Switzerland is shuttering nine secondary border crossings with Italy and directing traffic to main routes to slow the spread of the new coronavirus while still letting workers get to their jobs, the government said on Wednesday.

Ukraine to ban mass gatherings, close schools for three weeks

KIEV (Reuters) – Ukraine’s government decided on Wednesday to ban mass gatherings and close schools for three weeks in a bid to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Albanian woman, 73, dies of coronavirus

TIRANA (Reuters) – An Albanian woman of 73 with a heart condition who had returned from neighboring Italy has become the country’s first coronavirus fatality, the health ministry said on Wednesday.

2 more Nebraska residents added to state total for COVID-19

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Two more Nebraska residents have tested positive for the new coronavirus disease, bringing the Nebraska total to five, health officials said.

Italy weighs tougher virus lockdown, boosts aid for economy

ROME (AP) — Italy mulled imposing even tighter restrictions on daily life and announced billions in financial relief Wednesday to cushion economic shocks from the coronavirus, its latest efforts to adjust to the fast-evolving health crisis that also silenced the usually bustling heart of the Catholic faith, St. Peter’s Square.

N.Y. Gov. Cuomo questions low rate of coronavirus testing in the U.S.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo questioned on Wednesday why so few people in the U.S. have been tested for coronavirus.

“When they do the retrospective on this one, they are going to say, ‘Why did it take the United States so long to bring up the testing capacity?’” said the governor on “TODAY.” “China did something like 200,000 tests per day. South Korea did about 15,000 tests per day. The United States has only done about 5,000 tests to date.”

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Belgium has first coronavirus death, briefly holds liner

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Belgian authorities held a cruise ship with more than 3,000 people on board in the port of Zeebrugge on Wednesday morning over suspected cases of the coronavirus after the country reported its first death from the disease.

Carl Decaluwe, governor of West Flanders province, banned anyone from leaving the ship after its arrival in the northern Belgian port because of two passengers who had been in contact with an infected German and were now in quarantine.

Facing recession, Europe grasps for ways to limit damage

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Suddenly staring recession in the face, European leaders are lining up an array of tax breaks, financial support for companies and likely central bank measures in the hope of preventing the coronavirus outbreak from dealing long-term damage to the economy.

Beijing quarantine, Merkel issues warning

BEIJING ORDERS QUARANTINE FOR ALL FOREIGN ARRIVALS

Beijing’s city government ordered all passengers arriving in the city from overseas, regardless of their points of departure, to undergo a 14-day quarantine. The move was part of stepped-up measures to prevent the virus that was first detected in China from re-entering the country. The number of cases in China has been falling, with just 24 new confirmed cases reported Wednesday but five of those had arrived from Italy and one from the United States.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is citing expert estimates that up to 60% to 70% of the population could be infected by the new coronavirus as she insists on the necessity of measures to slow its spread.

Spain’s virus cases pass 2,000, hit elderly hard

Spain’s coronavirus cases have surpassed 2,000, with roughly half of them in the Madrid region, where two-thirds of the country’s virus deaths have occurred.

The Health Ministry on Wednesday reported 2,002 cases nationally, up by 363 from the previous day. Deaths reached 47, up by 11 from Tuesday.

Tokyo Olympic head shoots down comments about delaying games

TOKYO (AP) — The president of the Tokyo Olympic organizing committee said Wednesday he has received an apology from an executive board member who said the 2020 Games should be delayed a year to two because of the coronavirus.

Yoshiro Mori called a quick news conference at committee headquarters to shoot down the comments.

“There is no plan now to change our plans,” Mori said, speaking in Japanese.

Slovenia will not close border with Italy: health minister

LJUBLJANA (Reuters) – Slovenia will not close border with Italy but will start performing health checks there to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, Health Minister Ales Sabeder told a news conference on Wednesday.

Swiss keep border to Italy open, route traffic over main crossings

ZURICH (Reuters) – Switzerland is closing nine secondary border crossings to Italy and directing traffic over main routes to help slow the spread of the new coronavirus while still letting the region’s workers get to their jobs, the government said on Wednesday.

Malaysia tracking 5,000 people possibly exposed to coronavirus at religious event

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – Malaysian authorities are tracking around 5,000 citizens across the country believed to have been potentially exposed to the coronavirus at a religious event in the outskirts of the capital Kuala Lumpur, the health ministry said on Wednesday.

Poland shuts all schools, museums, cinemas for two weeks due to coronavirus

WARSAW (Reuters) – Poland is closing all schools, universities, cinemas, theaters and museums for two weeks from Thursday to curtail the spread of the coronavirus, government representatives said on Wednesday.

Indonesia reports first death, a British woman in Bali who was critically ill before being diagnosed

A British woman has died in Bali from coronavirus, authorities said on Wednesday, marking Indonesia’s first confirmed death from the rapidly spreading illness.
The 53-year-old died early Wednesday in a hospital on the Indonesian holiday island, but it was unclear if she contracted the virus before or after arriving in Bali late last month, local officials said.

Google scrubs coronavirus misinformation on search, YouTube

On YouTube, Google’s video service, the company is trying to quickly remove videos claiming to prevent the virus in place of seeking medical treatment. And some apps related to the virus have been banned from the Google Play app store, prompting complaints from developers who said they just want to help. An Iranian government app built to keep track of infections was also removed from the Play Store, ZDNet reported.

Citing virus, US halts inspections of foreign drug plants

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday halted nearly all inspections of overseas plants that ship drugs, medical devices and other consumer goods to the U.S., citing the global spread of the coronavirus.

The agency announced it will postpone most foreign inspections scheduled through April, because of federal guidelines prohibiting travel for government workers. Last month, it postponed most inspections in China.

The FDA is responsible for ensuring that food, drugs, cosmetics, medical supplies and other U.S. imports are produced in safe, sanitary conditions that meet quality standards. Last year, it conducted more than 3,100 foreign inspections, according to agency records.

Shortage of crucial chemicals creates new obstacle to U.S. coronavirus testing

The push to increase testing in the U.S. for the novel coronavirus that causes Covid-19 has hit a new stumbling block: shortages of key chemicals needed to start up and run the tests.

In particular, one key product, made by the diagnostics testing giant Qiagen, is in dwindling supply. The chemical is used to isolate the virus’ genetic material, or RNA, so that it can be tested.

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Seoul stocks tumble to 4-year low, Korean won up

SEOUL, March 11 (Yonhap) — Seoul stocks dropped by almost 3 percent on Wednesday to hit the lowest in almost 4 years on growing skepticism about the U.S.’s stimulus plans to counter the new coronavirus and an extended sell-off by foreign investors. The Korean won rose slightly against the U.S. dollar.

Tokyo Disneyland to stay closed through early April due to virus

TOKYO (Reuters) – Tokyo Disneyland will remain closed through early April instead of reopening next week, amid worries about the spreading coronavirus infections, operator Oriental Land Co Ltd said on Wednesday.

Closing borders won’t stop coronavirus – German health minister

BERLIN (Reuters) – Sealing Germany’s borders to prevent the spread of the coronavirus would not work, Health Minister Jens Spahn said on Wednesday, rejecting calls to follow neighbor Austria in denying entry to visitors from Italy.

To avoid that, large events like football matches must be called off, he said. Individuals should be mindful of the disease’s spread in their behavior, whether by doing without concerts or cinema trips, or in greeting parents or grandparents who are more vulnerable because of their age.

Thailand cancels visa on arrival for 18 countries, visa exemptions for three to limit virus spread

BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand on Wednesday canceled the grant of visa on arrival for 18 countries and visa exemption for three others to contain the spread of the coronavirus, the country’s interior minister said.

Previously, nationals of 18 countries or territories could use their passports or travel documents to apply for Visa on Arrival (VoA) at Thai immigration checkpoints.

The 18 places include Bulgaria, Bhutan, China (including Taiwan), Cyprus, Ethiopia, Fiji, Georgia, India, Kazakhstan, Malta, Mexico, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, and Vanuatu.

Coronavirus clusters swell on both sides of the US

Alarming clusters of the coronavirus swelled on both coasts of the U.S. on Tuesday, with more than 70 cases now tied to a biotech conference in Boston and infections turning up at 10 nursing homes in the hard-hit Seattle area.

Presidential candidates Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden abruptly canceled rallies because of worries about the virus, and New York’s governor announced he is sending the National Guard to scrub public places and deliver food in a New York City suburb that is at the center of the nation’s biggest known cluster of infections.

US states race to contain coronavirus as cases near 1,000

As coronavirus cases crop up across the United States, some governors and other leaders are scrambling to slow its spread, banning large public gatherings, enforcing quarantines and calling National Guard troops.

With new deaths reported and the number of confirmed U.S. cases closing in on 1,000, lawmakers and health officials set up containment zones and quarantine areas and sought to limit contact with those who might be infected.

China’s Zhengzhou reports new imported coronavirus case

SHANGHAI (Reuters) – Zhengzhou, the capital of China’s central province of Henan, recorded a new imported case of coronavirus on Wednesday, authorities said in a notice.

The infected person arrived in China from the Italian commercial city of Milan, via the United Arab Emirates, it added in the statement.

COVID-19 cases in the Philippines now at 49 — DOH

MANILA, Philippines (Update 1, 5:53 p.m.) — The Department of Health on Wednesday confirmed 16 additional novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in the country.

This was confirmed by Health Assistant Secretary Ma. Rosario Vergeire in a press briefing.

Because local transmission has now been declared by the Health department, the virus is now officially spreading among Filipinos on Filipino soil.

Moldova closes schools, universities to prevent virus spread

CHISINAU (Reuters) – Moldova closed all its kindergartens, schools, colleges and universities for two weeks from Wednesday in a bid to stop the spread of the coronavirus, state health officials said.

Iraq cancels Friday prayers in Shi’ite holy city of Kerbala over coronavirus fears

KERBALA, Iraq (Reuters) – Iraq canceled Friday prayers in the Shi’ite holy city of Kerbala due to concerns about the coronavirus, a statement from the administration of the city’s holy site said on Wednesday.

Bahrain records 77 new coronavirus cases among evacuees from Iran

DUBAI (Reuters) – Bahrain’s health ministry said on Wednesday 77 new coronavirus cases had been recorded among citizens evacuated from Iran by plane on Tuesday.

The new cases brought the total number of coronavirus cases recorded by Bahraini health authorities to date to 189, 30 of whom have recovered. No deaths have been recorded.

Bank of England cuts key interest rate in response to virus

LONDON (AP) — The Bank of England slashed its key interest rate by half a percentage to 0.25% on Wednesday, in an emergency response to the “economic shock” of the coronavirus outbreak.

The central bank said in a statement that the move, which was supported by all nine members of the Monetary Policy Committee, would “help support businesses and consumer confidence at a difficult time.”

Italy passes 10,000 infections as clusters spur worry in US

ROME (AP) — Expanding clusters of the new coronavirus were eyed warily Wednesday as the outbreak upended daily life and reshaped everything from the United States presidential race to Pope Francis’ travel.

In the U.S., the caseload passed 1,000, and outbreaks on both sides of the country were stirring alarm, while in Europe, an increasingly locked-down Italy counted more than 10,000 infections and recorded soaring deaths among its aging population.

“Right now, the epicenter — the new China — is Europe,” said Robert Redfield, the head of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Pope delivers catechism from private library

Pope Francis held his weekly general audience in his private library as the Vatican implemented Italy’s drastic coronavirus lockdown measures and barred the general public from St. Peter’s Square and took precautions to limit the spread of infections in the tiny city-state.

Indonesia records first death from coronavirus, health official says

JAKARTA, March 11 — A 53-year-old woman has died from coronavirus in Indonesia, the first recorded death from the virus in the South-east Asian country, a health ministry official said today.

The woman, a foreign national, had already been in critical condition when she was admitted to a hospital, said Achmad Yurianto, the health ministry official.

Questions asked about current advice given by NHS 111

(UK) The NHS 111 coronavirus tool is currently advising that unless you have had direct contact with a confirmed case of coronavirus or have recently travelled from an affected area, you do not need to call NHS 111.

Sam Freedman, the CEO of the The Education Partnerships Group, tweeted:

Unfortunately I have a cough + a fever. Turns out I can’t get a test because I haven’t been to any affected countries or come into contact with a known case. Even though I have been through an airport + to a concert. This seems a major flaw in the testing system to say the least

Policies like the above from NHS 111 will continue to spread the virus. Asymptomatic carriers can spread the infection too. If the person above happens to have the Covid-19, he will not know without the test. The only recourse will be to stay at home and self-quarantine.

Healthcare workers support COVID-19 testing as flu season looms

(Australia) Coronavirus testing is critical to protecting the health of frontline medical workers and ensuring there is enough staff to keep the sector operating during peak flu season.

Doctors with mild coughs or runny noses have been calling in sick after being told by health officials not to go to work if they have any COVID-19 symptoms and have faced delays when seeking testing.

The Covid-19 and the flu have identical symptoms and only testing can differentiate.

Coronavirus: Hong Kong Buddhist temple linked to Covid-19 cluster ‘sincerely sorry’

A Buddhist hall in Hong Kong on Wednesday apologised for not shutting its temple and suspending gatherings sooner, after multiple worshippers and its own master contracted Covid-19.
Breaking its silence over the outbreak, Fook Wai Ching She, a temple in North Point established in 1958, said there had been no consensus among followers on whether to close during the Lunar New Year. Since the holiday in late January, 19 people connected to the venue have been infected.

A form of social distancing is canceling all the services in places of worship. Social distancing prevents close contacts between the carriers of the virus and the uninfected.

5 am EST. An increase of 576 cases and 32 deaths since 7 pm last night. Critical 4.2% Death rate 3.6%

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Vietnam’s COVID-19 cases up to 35 after new infections from Europe

HANOI: Weeks after Vietnam declared that all 16 of its COVID-19 cases had recovered, the number of infected patients is on the rise following the reintroduction of the virus on a flight from Britain.

Thirteen passengers who were on a Vietnam Airlines flight from London to Hanoi on Mar 2 tested positive for the coronavirus, most of them British or Vietnamese people who had travelled to other parts of Europe, including Italy, the ministry said.

The reintroduction of new infections from other countries will continue the epidemic even with local public health controls. The limitation of international crossings may have to last longer to contain the virus.

‘Groundswell of concern’ among doctors over Australia’s ‘frustrating’ coronavirus response

BANGKOK: Two immigration officers at Bangkok’s main airport have coronavirus and may have handled the passports of visitors to Thailand, a health official said Wednesday (Mar 11).

BTS leader RM says he felt “powerless” in face of Covid-19 after Seoul concerts cancelled

PETALING JAYA, March 11 — BTS leader, RM, revealed his frustrations over the cancellation of the group’s four concerts in Seoul as the Covid-19 epidemic continues to worsen in South Korea.

Speaking during a live stream on the band’s V Live channel yesterday, he confessed to feeling “powerless” in the face of the virus outbreak which has heavily impacted the band’s promotion of their new album Map of the Soul: 7.

Bahrain records 77 new coronavirus cases among evacuees from Iran

DUBAI (Reuters) – Bahrain’s health ministry said on Wednesday 77 new coronavirus cases had been recorded among citizens evacuated from Iran by plane on Tuesday.

First coronavirus death in Belgium, Belga news agency says

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Belgium’s health ministry reported on Wednesday the first coronavirus death in the country, Belga news agency said citing a statement.

South Korea reports jump in coronavirus cases after call center outbreak

SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korea reported a jump in new coronavirus cases on Wednesday as authorities tested hundreds of staff at a call center where the disease appeared this week, reversing 11 days of slowing infections, health officials said.

Picture the situation above at a countrywide level, as some countries see a decline in their rates, new cases from outside the country can come in and infect more again.

As new cases of coronavirus subside in China, Wuhan told to go back to work

BEIJING/SHANGHAI (Reuters) – Some key industries in Wuhan, the Chinese city at the epicenter of the coronavirus epidemic, were told they can resume work on Wednesday, a day after President Xi Jinping visited the city for the first time since the outbreak began.

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