–UK confirms 26pc increase in cases in 24 hours; Spain’s death toll reaches 500
–Iran warns of millions of casualties if precautions aren’t followed in the coming days
LONDON: The World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Regional Director for Europe Hans Kluge on Tuesday said that every country in Europe should be taking the “boldest” actions possible to try to halt or slow the epidemic of COVID-19.
Speaking after an online meeting of representatives from health ministries across the region, Kluge said that he was “very pleased” to see Britain stepping up its recommendations for social distancing, and urged all countries to work together and learn from each other.
“Europe is the epicentre of the first pandemic of coronavirus and every country, with no exceptions, needs to take their boldest actions to stop or slow the virus spread,” Kluge said during an online news briefing for media.
“These are unprecedented times,” he said. “It is important that countries work together, learn from each other and harmonise the efforts,” he added.
UK CONFIRMS 26PC RISE IN CASES:
The United Kingdom confirmed that cases of coronavirus rose 26 per cent to 1,950 from 1,543 the day before.
Britain reported its first confirmed coronavirus case on January 31. There have so far been 56 reported deaths.
The government said that as of 9 am on March 17, 2020, 50,442 people were tested in the UK, of which 48,492 were confirmed negative and 1,950 were confirmed as positive.
ITALY CONFIRMS ADDITIONAL CASES:
Meanwhile, Italy confirmed 2,470 additional cases in only 24 hours. Overall, Italy recorded 27, 980 cases, with 2,749 people who healed and 2,158 who tragically died.
Reacting to the development, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said, “We cannot let our guard down.”
Conte recently declared a lockdown of the whole country until April 3 as the country registered the largest number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and deaths outside of China. “We are fighting the most important challenge of the past decades, the most serious one after World War II, to win it we need the responsible contribution of 60 million Italians,” he said.
In an act to support each other while quarantined, Italians have organised flash-mobs throughout the country.
FRANCE UNDER LOCKDOWN:
France went under lockdown as President Emmanuel Macron toughened measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus and his government promised financial help worth tens of billions of euros to ensure companies stayed afloat.
France’s 67 million people are allowed out of their homes only to buy groceries, go to work or seek medical care after Macron announced strict border controls and restrictions on movement late on Monday.
More than 100,000 police officers are being deployed nationwide to enforce the restrictions, which are unprecedented in France during peacetime.
FINLAND TO RESTRICT TRAFFIC OVER ITS BORDERS:
Finland’s Interior Minister Maria Ohisalo said that the country will start heavily restricting traffic over its borders on Thursday in an attempt to contain the coronavirus outbreak.
Finland’s centre-left government approved legislation on Tuesday to adopt a state of emergency that the parliament is expected to approve on Wednesday.
Finland’s health authority had confirmed 319 coronavirus cases but no deaths by Tuesday.
SPAIN’S DEATH TOLL REACHES 500:
Spain set up police checks at its land borders with France and Portugal and turned back foreigners attempting to enter, part of strict measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in Europe’s second hardest-hit country.
The government reported 182 new fatalities overnight, bringing the total number to 491 and making Spain the country with the world’s fastest-rising death toll after Italy. The number of infected topped 10,000 for the first time to 11,178.
Spain shut its land borders on Monday to all but Spaniards, permanent residents and trans-border workers. Trade in goods is not affected. The Balearic Islands – among Europe’s most popular holiday destinations – closed its air space to visitors.
IRAN ISSUES DIRE WARNING:
Iran issued its most dire warning yet on Tuesday about the outbreak of the new coronavirus ravaging the country, suggesting millions could die in the Islamic Republic if the public keeps travelling and ignoring health guidance.
A study by Tehran’s prestigious Sharif University of Technology offered three scenarios. If people begin to cooperate now, Iran will see 120,000 infections and 12,000 deaths before the outbreak is over. If they offer medium cooperation, there will be 300,000 cases and 110,000 deaths. But if people fail to follow any guidance, it could collapse Iran’s already-strained medical system. If the medical facilities are not sufficient, there will be four million cases, and 3.5 million people will die.
Iran also temporarily freed about 85,000 people from jail, including political prisoners, in response to the coronavirus epidemic.
TWO COVID-19 CASES AT WORLD HEALTH HQ:
Two cases of COVID-19 were registered at the World Health Organisation headquarters, a spokesman said on Tuesday.
The WHO, based in the Swiss city of Geneva, is coordinating the international response to the new coronavirus pandemic, which has infected more than 180,000 people and killed more than 7,000 across 145 countries.
“We do have two staff confirmed with symptoms of COVID-19,” spokesman Christian Lindmeier told reporters at a virtual press conference.
“This was last week, Friday and Thursday. They both have gone home. They have self-isolated. They showed symptoms. Colleagues in the office have been checked and we’re waiting for further information on those. Everything so far seems OK with them,” he said.
He also said that all but essential staff members were working remotely.
PHILIPPINES SHUTS DOWN ALL MARKETS:
The Philippine Stock Exchange closed indefinitely on Tuesday while currency and bond trading were suspended, the first shutdown of markets worldwide in response to the coronavirus, with authorities citing risks to the safety of traders.
The move comes after some bourses around the world closed trading floors or paused trade after withering falls in market value. It is the first blanket market halt.
And while the Philippine shutdown was prompted by health reasons, amid a broad nationwide lockdown, it raises the prospect other exchanges may follow and has drawn analysts’ attention.
“Given the unprecedented speed of the slump in equity prices, it has been suggested that stock exchanges might be closed soon if things don’t turn around,” research house Capital Economics said in a note on Tuesday.
