Coronavirus updates: Social curbs ramped up around the world

Taftan, a small town on the border with Iran, is thought to be where most coronavirus cases in Pakistan originated. More than 6,000 people, the majority of them pilgrims who crossed over from Iran, have been identified as high-risk carriers needing to be screened. Many have been quarantined at Taftan in unsanitary conditions which have fuelled the spread of infection. There have been protests, as we reported in live coverage on 10 March.

Most of the 183 coronavirus cases in Pakistan so far have been traced to this so-called quarantine facility. The country has just reported its first suspected coronavirus death – but although the 50-year-old man had been in Iran, he bypassed Taftan, returning by plane to Lahore.

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UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab is currently taking questions in the Commons ahead of giving a statement to MPs on coronavirus.

His opposition counterpart, Emily Thornberry, quizzes him on the reaction of US President Donald Trump to the outbreak.

“The truth is Mr Speaker, Donald Trump’s lack of international leadership on the issue has been quite extraordinary,” says the Labour politician.

“He started by calling the outbreaks a hoax, comparing it to winter flu and dismissing health advice, but now he is calling it ‘the foreign virus’, blaming Europe for its spread and today blaming China, saying he takes no responsibility at all.

“Does the secretary of state agree that it is shameful that this kind of behaviour is what we have come to expect from the current American president, even at this time of global crisis?”

But Mr Raab doesn’t agree.

He tells Ms Thornberry: “I think we have done quite a good job in this House of trying to have a bipartisan approach, and whether it is domestically or internationally, it just doesn’t help finger pointing in any shape or form.”

Two tourists will be kicked out of New Zealand after failing to follow mandatory arrival rules about self-isolating for 14 days, government officials say.

“They are currently being quarantined,” immigration official Stephen Vaughan was quoted by local media as saying. “If they fail to depart after quarantine, they will be arrested and detained under the Immigration Act.”

A third tourist was also detained over her failure to have an adequate self-isolation plan in place, according to the NZ Herald newspaper.

New Zealand began implementing the strict new arrival rules on Monday. You can read more about what other nations are doing, including threatening fines and even jail time, here.

Dharshini David

Economics Correspondent

Some UK businesses will “inevitably” fail during the coronavirus outbreak, according to the outgoing head of the Office For Budget Responsibility.

Far from his usual approach of urging fiscal restraint, Robert Chote tells the Treasury Select Committee a temporary spike in borrowing would be sensible – saying it’s better to spend a “little too much” than too little.

He says, “when the fire is large enough, you just spray water” (and worry about the clean up after).

Mr Chote highlights that the government ran deficits of 20% of GDP for five years during the World War Two era (vs just under 2% GDP last year), and says that was the right thing to do.

He also urges help for those working in the gig economy.

His words, coming hours before the Chancellor is expected to outline more support, helped limit the fall in the FTSE-100 this morning.

Eamonn Brennan, the boss of pan-European air traffic control organisation Eurocontrol, has reported that Monday saw a rapid decrease in the number of flights being operated across the continent.

It was down by a third compared to the same operational day last year.

Michelle Roberts

Health editor, BBC News online

That is something that scientists are exploring. Serum from people who have recovered has helped to treat other diseases, like Ebola.

It is not yet clear how helpful it will be for coronavirus.

If you have a question you want the BBC to answer, email YourQuestions@bbc.co.uk or tweet using the hashtag #BBCYourQuestions.

Michelle Roberts

Health editor, BBC News online

Jen wanted to know if people with pre-existing coughs but no other symptoms should self isolate in light of the updated advice.

Anyone who has a new and persistent cough, however mild, should self-isolate because it might be a symptom of coronavirus.

If you have a question you want the BBC to answer, email YourQuestions@bbc.co.uk or tweet using the hashtag #BBCYourQuestions.

Michelle Roberts

Health editor, BBC News online

Many of you have been getting in touch with questions following measures announced by the UK government on Monday.

Specifically, Juliette wanted to know if she should self-isolate after possible indirect contact with someone who has the virus.

Self-isolation is recommended for anyone who develops symptoms of coronavirus – a high temperature and/or a new persistent cough. Anyone living in the same household as that person should also self-isolate for 14 days.

Additionally, people with high risk or underlying health conditions are being strongly advised to stay at home as much as possible and reduce unnecessary social contact.

People who think they may have been in contact with someone else who has coronavirus but have not yet developed symptoms themselves are not being told to self-isolate, although it would be sensible to avoid close contact with others.

Everyone can do their bit to prevent the spread of coronavirus by stopping non-essential contact with others and unnecessary travel.

People who can work from home should do so and the public should avoid pubs, clubs and theatres.

If you have a question you want the BBC to answer, email YourQuestions@bbc.co.uk or tweet using the hashtag #BBCYourQuestions.

Aparna Alluri

BBC News, Delhi

Mumbai, India’s most populous city, has told officials at airports and hospitals to stamp the left hand of those who should be quarantined at home with indelible ink that lasts for 14 days.

The stamp – an image of which has been circulating on social media and WhatsApp since Tuesday afternoon – shows the date until which a person is to be quarantined.

Mumbai is located in Maharashtra state, which has reported the highest number of coronavirus cases so far – 39.

India has confirmed 126 cases, and three deaths until now.

“Those who require self-quarantine but don’t want to stay in hospital or hotels and want to go home, they should have a sense of responsibility. They should not roam around freely. They should follow quarantine strictly,” Maharashtra’s chief minister, Uddhav Thackeray told local media.

The ink being used is the same as the one used to mark voters during elections.

The state’s health minister said this was a way to ensure that those under home quarantine follow it strictly, and so that others can identify them if they do step out.

Tom Burridge

Transport correspondent

Major UK airports have written to the prime minister asking for emergency financial support.

The letter has been signed by bosses at Gatwick, Heathrow, and the Manchester Airports Group.

The airports are asking for more flexibility over protocol for border staff, and that Air Passenger Duty is deferred or suspended.

Meanwhile, the organisation which represents UK airports warned that airports might have to shut down within weeks unless urgent action is taken by government to support the industry.

The Airport Operators Association has asked for emergency financing, that taxes on airports be suspended, financial support so that airport staff can remain employed throughout the crisis and relief on policing costs.

Regional airports, like Southampton, and some airports in Scotland are in a more precarious position because of the recent collapse of Flybe.

As we’ve mentioned, people in the UK are being told to stay away from bars and restaurants, but bars and restaurants are not being ordered to close.

In an earlier post (at 7.40) we explained how the British Beer and Pub Association says this is the worst possible compromise, as it leaves the industry facing an “existential crisis” as they will not be entitled to insurance payouts.

Several high profile figures have this morning been calling for clarity, and for government support for the industry.

The number of prisoners released temporarily in Iran as the country grapples with the coronavirus outbreak has now reached 85,000, a judiciary spokesman said.

“So far, some 85,000 prisoners have been released … Also in the jails we have taken precautionary measures to confront the outbreak,” Gholamhossein Esmaili told the Reuters news agency.

Political prisoners were among those freed.

He did not say when those released would have to return to prison.

A total of 853 people have died and 14,991 have been confirmed infected across the country.

EPACopyright: EPA

Simon Atkinson

BBC News, Sydney

Aussies are renowned for their love
of travelling the world – but the Australian government has just issued a stark
warning: if you want to come home do it as soon as possible.

It had already told people to
reconsider the need to travel.

“As more countries
close their borders or introduce travel restrictions, overseas travel is
becoming more complex and difficult. You may not be able to return to Australia
when you had planned to. Consider whether you have access to health care and
support systems if you get sick while overseas. If you decide to return to
Australia, do so as soon as possible. Commercial options may become less
available.”

The Department of Foreign Affairs
and Trade also told those who choose to stay overseas that there might not be
any consular assistance available.

Opposition parties in the UK are calling for more help for individuals and for businesses across the country ahead of new measures expected to be announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak later today.

Labour’s shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, says “there must be no small measures” from the government, urging the chancellor to “get this right”.

He adds: “We need an unequivocal statement from the Chancellor today that people’s incomes will be protected and that businesses will be fully supported to prevent any going out of business as result of the virus, and it has to be on a scale sufficient to meet this crisis.”

The acting co-leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Ed Davey, says the PM’s advice for social distancing was correct, but adds: “The government bailed out the banks and the financial sector with hundreds of billions back in 2008.

“The government must now be there for millions of businesses, employees and the self-employed – Britain’s real economy.”

Alitalia has been endlessly haemorrhaging money – it’s only had one year of profit since its foundation in 1946 – but the economic turmoil caused by coronavirus has finished off any hope of privatisation.

Governments around the world have banned flights to Italy and the country is in virtual lockdown. And so the flag carrier, once a national pride, is to become a national burden with a rescue package reportedly costing the taxpayer some $670m (£550m).

The global airline industry is being crippled by the pandemic. But Alitalia, with a bloated workforce and years of mismanagement, was already in serious trouble.

Recent attempts to sell the airline to Germany’s Lufthansa, America’s Delta or even the Italian state railway company failed. It has been outpriced by low-cost carriers, its market share even in Italy slipping to just 14%.

And now Alitalia is yet another casualty of an outbreak predicted to plunge this country into deep recession.

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

EU leaders meet via videoconference later on Tuesday with plans to stop all non-essential travel within the 27 member states. Europe’s Schengen borders – which are usually border-free – could be closed for 30 days.

Spanish police have begun stopping cars crossing its borders from France and Portugal. Only Spanish nationals, residents and cross-border workers are being allowed in. Train services are also affected.

Spain has just announced a dramatic rise in cases with 491 deaths. Cadena Ser radio reports that contingency plans are being drawn up for a potential closure of air and sea traffic.

A number of EU countries have already closed their borders to non-residents and foreigners:

• Germany has in effect now done that with most of its neighbours and issued a travel warning against all holiday trips abroad
• The Czech Republic, Denmark, Poland, Lithuania, and Cyprus have closed their borders to foreigners but Slovakia is allowing in Poles for work and ski holidays

Outside of the EU, Russia is planning to close its borders to most foreigners from Wednesday until 1 May, and Ukraine has already done so.

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said she will not keep information from the public as the Scottish government works to slow the spread of coronavirus.

The UK government said on Monday that all non-essential social contact and travel should stop – a measure agreed with devolved governments in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland programme, Ms Sturgeon said she would be “as open, frank and transparent as possible” with the public.

Asked whether the sudden change of advice could lead to concerns the government was holding back information, she said: “If I came on here and tried to get into every detail of all of the information I’m looking at on NHS preparedness then I would overload you and we would not have time to do it.

“But I’m not keeping anything back and I will not be keeping anything back”, she said.

A lack of advice for schools is creating “chaos and confusion” and placing “intolerable pressure” on staff and families, a UK teachers’ union is warning.

The NASUWT, which represents teachers and head teachers, said a lack of “specific information” was creating “a rising sense of panic”.

It says it wants a definitive decision on how to protect staff and pupils, and on school closures.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson stopped short of announcing school closures as he unveiled unprecedented peacetime measures to try to control the spread of Covid-19 on Monday.