Coronavirus: Lowest cases in China since crisis began

Up to 16 million people in Lombardy and 14 provinces will be affected by the new lockdown:

If you’re just joining us now, welcome. Here’s a round-up of all the things you need to know to bring you up to speed:

• UK PM Boris Johnson will hold an emergency Cobra meeting today – and it’s possible that “social distancing” measures could be introduced

• China has just 40 new cases of Covid-19, the lowest since 20 January
• South Korean officials have today reported 69 cases, the lowest daily increase in two weeks
• The outbreak however, shows no signs of stopping in Europe. In Italy, the number of cases have jumped to 7,375 as an exclusion zone in the north of the country comes into force. There are 1,112 cases now in Germany
• A cruise ship that was barred by Malaysia and Thailand over coronavirus fears will be allowed to dock in Singapore

And other questions you might have around the virus, answered here.

All Romanian league matches will be played without spectators, Reuters reports quoting the Romanian Football Federation (FRF).

The FRF also said it had suspended ticket sales for a qualifier game between Romania and Denmark on 31 March.

Romania confirmed its first case of coronavirus last month and dozens of cases have been reported since.

There are now 1,112 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Germany, according to government disease prevention and control agency the Robert Koch Insitute.

As of Sunday, 847 people in Germany had tested positive.

Rising tensions on a train in Sydney…

The UK’s largest supermarket chain Tesco has begun restricting sales of essential food and household items as a result of panic-buying.

Shoppers are now limited to buying no more than five of certain goods, including

• Antibacterial gels
• Wipes and sprays
• Dry pasta
• UHT milk
• Some tinned vegetables

These rules apply both in stores and online. Here are some other stores that have also begin limiting products.

A Japan Airlines (JAL) cabin attendant has tested positive for coronavirus, said a Reuters report quoting the airline.

It’s not clear what flights she might have been on. JAL is Japan’s national flagship carrier.

One person in Japan’s Kanagawa
prefecture, which borders Tokyo, has died from the coronavirus, said Nippon TV.

Fifteen people have died in Japan – including seven who were on the Diamond Princess cruise ship.

Chinese students in France have been targeted by fake police officers who said wearing a mask was against French law.

According to local news site BFM TV, the students were told to pay 150 Euros to “police officers” who cited a French law that bans full-face coverings.

The news site quoted the Chinese embassy as saying that wearing a mask was “absolutely not illegal”.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson will today hold an emergency Cobra meeting, which is expected to look into whether “social distancing” measures should be introduced.

These could include banning of big events, closing schools and encouraging home working.

It comes after a man in his 60s became the UK’s third death linked to the Covid-19 virus. There are now 279 confirmed cases in the UK.

Although Disneyland in Shanghai will remain closed, parts of the wider resort are to re-open.

The company said “a limited number of shopping, dining, and recreational experiences” would open as “as the first step of a phased reopening”.

The complex has been closed since January.

AFP / GettyCopyright: AFP / Getty

At least 11 of the 16 makeshift hospitals in the Chinese virus epicentre of Wuhan have been able to close, reported state media outlet Xinhua.

The makeshift hospitals – in stadiums, schools, and elsewhere – treated patients who suffered from mild symptoms.

It comes as the number of new coronavirus cases in China has steadily decreased – China reported its lowest number of cases so far on Monday.

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

Indian authorities in the port city of Mangalore have turned away a cruise ship with 1,400 passengers that was due to dock there, an official confirmed to the BBC.

The country’s shipping ministry has issued an advisory that says no cruise ships from foreign countries can dock anywhere in India, as part of coronavirus preventive measures.

The ship, identified as the MSC Lirica, is registered in the Republic of Panama.

None of the passengers are believed to have any symptoms of coronavirus.

India has around 40 confirmed cases of the virus so far.

The Marshall Islands in the Pacific has banned all inbound air travellers for two weeks.

Flights can still land, although passengers cannot disembark, said the government’s Facebook announcement.

The Indian Wells tournament – one of the biggest outside the grand slams – has been cancelled.

The event was due to begin in California later this month.

Read the full story from BBC Sport here.

Japan’s Nikkei stock index has plunged below 20,000 for the first time since January 2019.

It dropped 5.07% to close at 19,698.76.

Inmates in four Italian prisons have revolted over new rules meant to help contain the coronavirus, reported Reuters, quoting prison rights group Antigone.

The introduction of the new rules – which include a ban on family visits – resulted in chaos across prisons in Naples Poggioreale, Modena, Frosinone and Alexandria.

Antigone said at least one inmate had died in Modena – though it is not clear what happened.

Several prison officers were injured as a result.

A cruise ship that was turned away from ports in Malaysia and Thailand over coronavirus fears will be allowed to dock in Singapore.

The Costa Fortuna will dock on 10 March as scheduled, said Singapore authorities.

No passengers are suffering from a fever or have any symptoms of respiratory illness.

Local reports quoting Malaysian officials say there are around 64 Italians onboard.

The ship departed from Singapore, its home port, on 3 March.