In the UK, an NHS nurse working during the coronavirus outbreak in the
UK received a standing ovation from her family as she returned home from
a shift.
Her son shared a video on Twitter and said: “We as a family have been
welcoming our mum home from work as a hero. She is a nurse in the NHS in
Britain and is working so hard every day! We will continue to do this
every time she returns home from work”
Play Video
NHS nurse applauded by family as she returns from work amid coronavirus – video
Cardinal Angelo De Donatis, Pope Francis’ vicar for the
archdiocese of Rome, has become the highest-ranking Catholic official
known to have tested positive.
De Donatis’ office has said he was tested for the virus after feeling
unwell and has been admitted to a Rome hospital. His closest aides had
gone into voluntary quarantine as a precaution.
A pope is also the bishop of Rome but appoints someone to act as his
vicar to administrate the diocese. De Donatis, 66, is not believed to
have had personal contact with Pope Francis recently.
The lockdown imposed upon Italians is being extend at least until Easter, the country’s health minister Roberto Speranza says. Italy’s been under lockdown for three weeks and the restrictions were due to end on Friday.
In these extraordinary times, the Guardian’s editorial independence
has never been more important. Because no one sets our agenda, or edits
our editor, we can keep delivering quality, trustworthy, fact-checked
journalism each and every day. Free from commercial or political bias,
we can report fearlessly on world events and challenge those in power. Your support protects the Guardian’s independence. We believe every
one of us deserves equal access to accurate news and calm explanation.
No matter how unpredictable the future feels, we will remain with you,
delivering high quality news so we can all make critical decisions about
our lives, health and security – based on fact, not fiction. Support the Guardian from as little as CA$1 – and it only takes a minute. Thank you. Make a contribution - The Guardian
Montenegro becomes the latest nation to introduce lockdown measures to
curb the spread of the virus as it tells citizens to stay indoors from
7pm to 5am on working days and from 1pm to 5am on weekends.
Barring key workers who will be issued with special permits, Montenegrins who ignore the restrictions face fines or detention.
The nation, a Nato member and EU membership candidate, has reported 91
cases and one death. It has already introduced an array of measures to
fight the contagion, including the closure of borders, ports and
marinas, a ban on public gatherings and a shutdown of schools.
Botswana has recorded its first three cases, Reuters quotes they country’s health minister, Lemogang Kwape,
as saying. According to the news agency, Kwape has told state
television the three people who have tested positive are in quarantine
and had recently travelled to Britain and Thailand.
Over in Greece, political figures have been prompted to volunteer half
of their salaries over the next two months to help the cash-strapped
state combat the novel virus. Katerina Sakellaropoulou, the country’s first female
president who assumed the post this month, says she will be handing over
50% of her wage to a special fund created to deal with the economic
fallout from the virus. Bank of Greece governor Yannis Stournaras followed suit.
The prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, had called on his cabinet and MPs in his ruling centre-right New Democracy party to do the same.
Greece was among the first European countries to enforce tough measures
to stop the virus spreading; closing schools, restaurants and shops. The
country’s tourist industry – on which much of its economy depends – has
been devastated, insiders say, with holiday packages cancelled and
hotels shut.
The Greek health authorities announced that confirmed cases had risen to
1,212, although the rate of new infections had dropped markedly from 95
cases on Sunday to 56 on Monday. The death toll now stands at 43
people. Of that number, 32 are male; reflecting the higher mortality
rates among men who fall victim to Covid-19.
In the UK, a Conservative MP has reported a pub in his constituency to
the police, alleging they were allowing people in to drink despite the
ban. Lee Andersonwrote on Facebook:
Madness. On Saturday I was told the Blue Bell pub had been having
lock-ins. I reported this to the police. Swift action caught them in the
act and the culprits are being dealt with. I told you I would shop you
and anyone else thinking of doing the same the think on.
The British poet Michael Rosen is ill in hospital
having suffered from flu-like symptoms. His family says he’s spent the
night in intensive care but is now stable:
Michael Rosen(@MichaelRosenYes)
From Michael's family: Michael is very poorly at the moment. Having
spent a night in ICU, he is now doing "ok, stable, alert" and was able
to go to a ward yesterday. Thank you very much for all your kind
concern. Emma x @underthecranes@J0e_R0sen
It’s not clear whether his condition is related to coronavirus. A week ago, he tweeted:
Michael Rosen(@MichaelRosenYes)
Day 8
Have had no chest pains
No persistent cough
So all along it could have been a heavy flu and not corona.
Today the fevers are ebbing.
In their place a deep muscle exhaustion. In every corner.
The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has tested negative, his spokesman has said.
Ofir Gendelman(@ofirgendelman)
PM Netanyahu's, his family's and staff's #coronavirus tests
all came back negative. However, he will remain quarantined until
further instructions are issued by the ministry of health.
Israel’s health ministry regulations generally require 14-day
self-isolation for anyone deemed to have been in proximity to a carrier,
with the duration reduced for the number of days that have passed since
the suspected exposure.
Finland is extending its measures to contain the outbreak by one month until 13 Mayits prime minister, Sanna Marin, has said.
In the past weeks, Finland has closed roads from Helsinki to the rest of
the country, restricted traffic across its borders, banned public
meetings of more than 10 people, closed schools for most pupils and
urged people to stay at home as much as possible. Local authorities have
confirmed 1,313 Covid-19 cases and 13 deaths.
French health authorities have reported 418 new deaths, taking the total
to 3,024. The country has become the fourth to cross the 3,000
fatalities threshold after China, Italy, and Spain.
The daily government tally only accounts for those dying in hospital but
authorities say they will very soon be able to compile data on deaths
in retirement homes, which is likely to result in a big increase in
registered fatalities.
The health agency director, Jérôme Salomon, told a news
conference the number of cases has risen to 44,550, an increase of 11%
in 24 hours. Salomon said 5,107 people were in a serious condition
needing life support, up 10% compared to Monday, an increase speeding up
again after slowing for two days.
Johns Hopkins University researchers, who have been keeping track of the
spread of the virus, say the global number of cases is now at least
755,591.
The institution collects figures from the World Health Organization and
other international bodies, as well as media reports, national
governments and other sources. Given the differing levels of testing
capacity and concerns that some countries are understating their cases,
the true scale of the outbreak is likely to be even greater.