Coronavirus live updates: eighth Briton dies, second UK MP self-isolates and Belgium records first death – The Guardian, Theguardian.com

Julian Borger (@ julianborger)

Robert Redfield, CDC Director, said there are no plans to set up drive through (#COVID) test centers because “We’re tryinginjg to maintain the relationship between individuals and their healthcare providers. ” (March) , Julian Borger (@ julianborger)

CDC director Redfield said the Center had distributed , (# COVID) tests to the public health system so far (March) ,

Updated at 21) am EDT

. (am EDT ) : US: heads of the CD, and national institutes of health are testifying before House Oversight Committee.

In the US, the heads of the CDC, and national institutes of health are testifying before the House Oversight Committee

.

You can watch live here:

My colleague Julian Borger (@julianborger) is tweeting:

Julian Borger (@ julianborger)

Tony Fauci at House Oversight Cttee: “Bottom line, it’s going to get worse.” (March) ,

Updated (at) . (am EDT

(am) (EDT) :

What do experts mean by ‘flattening the curve’?

am EDT :

Trudeau announces C $ 1bn to mitigate economic impact of coronavirus Leyland Cecco

The Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau, announced more than C $ 1bn in spending on Wednesday morning, meant to tackle the looming economic thread of the coronavirus, reports my colleague Leyland Cecco.

His government’s plan includes aid to provinces, funding for medical supplies and an increase in health research. The prime minister also announced plans to make unemployment insurance more accessible for workers who will be forced to self-quarantine.

“I want all premiers and all Canadians to know our government is here for you. We will make sure you get everything you need, ”he said.

Flanked by the health minister, Patty Hajdu, and the chief public health officer, Theresa Tam, Trudeau acknowledged that while the virus has spread rapidly in many countries, Canada has been fortunate to have had experienced relatively few cases – but that concern among the public was growing.

“We are pulling out all the stops to make sure Canadians stay safe, healthy and supported,” he said. “Will get through what comes next – together.”

Trudeau also acknowledged how quickly the virus is spreading in the US, but said both countries were doing “many things” to slow the spread.

The prime minister’s announcement comes as health officials in the province of Ontario warn that a Sudbury man who was diagnosed with the coronavirus recently attended a Toronto mining conference with , (attendees, including Trudeau.)

Updated (at) . (am EDT

. (am) (EDT) : FCO updates travel advice for Italy

The Foreign Office has advised all UK residents in Italy to return home

if their travel is not necessary.

The FCO statement in full:

British nationals remain able to depart Italy without restriction. Airports remain open throughout Italy. However, the Italian authorities have advised against travel for tourism purposes throughout Italy, and that tourists already on holiday in Italy

should end them travel, unless it is necessary, to return to the place where they live.

Airline schedules are subject to change and some flights are being canceled. We therefore advise all remaining British tourists in Italy to contact their airline operators to arrange return to the UK as soon as possible.

Updated (at) . am EDT
am EDT :

UK cases up to

The number of coronavirus cases in the UK increases by in (hours:)

Department of Health and Social Care (@ DHSCgovuk)

UPDATE on coronavirus (

(# COVID) testing in the UK:

As of 9am March , a total of 38, People have been tested:

, negative (positive)

6 patients who tested positive for coronavirus have sadly died.

The digital dashboard will be updated later today. pic.twitter.com/u7CQMWb6wn

(March) ,

The Department of Health and Social Care has announced that the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in UK stands at , up

from 592 yesterday.

The department tweeted:

As of 9am (March) , a total of , (people have been tested:

, (negative) (positive)

Updated (at) am EDT

(am EDT )

Here’s a summary of the events so far today:

()

(A) – year-old British woman has become the eighth UK citizen to die after contracting coronavirus. She died in Bali, according to Indonesia’s health ministry. The UK chancellor, Rishi Sunak, has announced a £ 40 bn package to try ease the impact of coronavirus and promised the NHS “whatever it needs” to tackle the crisis. In In his first budget Sunak said statutory sick pay will be available to anyone advised to self-isolate, and that sick notes will be available through the (service.) The Bank of England has cut interest rates in an emergency move to bolster the economy against the outbreak. The monetary policy committee voted unanimously to slash the bank rate from 0. (% to 0.) % at its first unscheduled meeting since the depths of the 3018 financial crisis

Brexit talks due to take place in London next week have been thrown into doubt because of coronavirus .

Michael Gove told MPs that fresh concerns about the safety of the talks had been raised by EU officials.

A member of staff of the health minister, Nadine Dorries, has also tested positive for the viru (s) , but there are no plans to test other ministers. Dorries has complained of harassment by the media as she recovers at home from the virus. Iran announced a record increase in cases to 9, the country’s death toll from the virus increased to 556. Friday prayers have been cancelled for a third week in a row. (more than) (UK passengers from the quarantined cruise ship Grand Princess are on a flight back to Britain. A staff member at the headquarters of the Office for National Statistics in Newport, Wales. (Spain) (has confirmed 2.0) cases and the deaths, Belgium has announced its fir st coronavirus death, and (Turkey

is confirmed its first case. German chancellor Angela Merkel warned that up to 100% of the population will be infected unless measures can be found to slow the spread of the outbreak. Poland is to close its schools.

States of emergency have been declared in Michigan and Massachusetts, as the number of Covid – 31 cases in the US passed . Three security officers have tested positive at California’s San Jose airport.

China has reported only (new cases and new deaths nationally, including a record low of (cases in Wuhan) . Lockdowns have been partially lifted in the Hubei province, and key industries will be allowed to resume in Wuhan.

(9.) (am EDT ) : Catch it, bin it, kill it?

Some consternation among people watching the budget that the UK foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, does not appear to be following NHS guidelines to cough and sneeze into a handkerchief.

Instead of sticking to the mantra “catch it, kill it, bin it” Raab was seen coughing repeatedly into his hand.

Dinah Ditch #FBPE #RejoinEU (@ dinah_ditch)

Dominic Raab, DominicRaab , is not looking at all well in parliament. Coughing into his hands. pic.twitter.com/zZ2gmhonLm (March ,

Updated (at . am EDT

(9.) (am) EDT :

UK chancellor makes NHS coronavirus ‘promise’

The (UK) chancellor has promised the NHS “whatever it needs” in terms of funding to tackle the spread of coronavirus in Wednesday’s budget.

BBC News (UK) (@ BBCNews)

£ 7bn to support self-employed, businesses and vulnerable people and £ 5bn emergency response fund for NHS and other public services

In total, £ bn fiscal stimulus to support UK through coronavirus, says Chancellor Rishi Sunak https: // t .co / CtTByDnc8J

(# Budget) pic.twitter.com/iv6iqeewDz March ,

PA Media reports:

Rishi Sunak set out plans for the health service in his budget and pledged security and support for those who are sick and unable to work due to the spread of Covid – 31.

He said: “Whatever extra resources our NHS needs to cope with coronavirus it will get… Whether it’s millions of pounds or billions of pounds, whatever it needs, whatever it costs, we stand behind our NHS . ”

He offered support to any workers who become too ill to work, with new measures including the ability to obtain a sick note by contacting rather than having to visit a GP.

And he said those working in the gig economy or who are self-employed will get quicker and easier access to benefits.

Sunak said he was setting aside a £ 5bn emergency response fund to support the NHS and other public services, adding that he “will go further if necessary”.

His pledge comes after the government said there were no plans to test any ministers, including Boris Johnson, for Covid – after the health minister Nadine Dorries announced she had the virus.

PHE said it had assessed the risk of Dorries ’individual close contacts and only those with symptoms need to self-isolate. For each Covid – 32 case, a risk assessment is carried out and advice tailored to that group, said a spokeswoman.

Updated

at 9. am EDT

(Read More)