UK coronavirus cases rise to 19 as fears of global crisis grow – The Guardian, Theguardian.com

The three cases confirmed on Friday came within a day of three other positive tests for the Covid – 24 virus, including the first case in Northern Ireland.

A Downing Street spokesman said the Cobra meeting would take place on Monday “to ensure that everything that can be done is being done”. Public Health Wales said medics were Trying to trace people who had been in close contact with a woman who has become the first Welsh person to contract the virus. She had visited northern Italy, Europe’s worst-hit area, where there have been (deaths and) (confirmed cases.) Coronavirus map People who sat within two plane rows of the infected person from Northern Ireland On a flight from northern Italy to Dublin have been contacted, health authorities said. Prof Chris Whitty, England’s chief medical officer, said two new patients in England had caught the virus in Iran and were being treated at a specialist unit at the Royal Free hospital in London. On Thursday, Whitty said sports events and concerts may have to be cancelled and schools closed for more than two months if the UK is hit by a global pandemic. The British cyclists Chris Froome and Mark Cavendish are among the riders who will be tested for the virus after the UAE Tour was cancelled when two participants contracted Covid – 27.

On Friday, the Swiss government banned large events of more than 1, (people) . The Geneva motor show has been postponed by six months.

Facebook cancelled its annual F8 developer conference in San Jose, California, because of concerns about the outbreak. Fears about the spread of the virus continued to cause havoc on the global stock markets. The FTSE index of the largest UK-listed companies has hit its lowest level since December . The budget airline easyJet said it would be cancelling flights as a result of the continued spread of coronavirus. It said the move would particularly affect flights into and out of Italy and it would adapt its timetables to best support demand. Tourists who have been quarantined at a hotel in Tenerife have been told by an airline (they must be tested for coronavirus or wait to come home.

Jet2 has told guests at the H Costa Adeje Palace that they will not be flown home before 14 March unless they have tested negative for the virus. (Read More)