The novel coronavirus that originated in Wuhan, China, and the disease it causes, COVID-19, has spread to more than 100 countries and territories around the world, killing thousands.
Check back for March 13 updates.
Spain Orders First Mandatory Lockdown
Spain has ordered its first mandatory lockdown, confining over 60,000 people to four towns as COVID-19 infections increase sharply.
The rise is straining health services and putting more pressure on the government to act faster to fight the pandemic.
The country had more than 3,800 cases by Friday morning and at least 84 deaths. The Spanish capital, Madrid, has nearly 2,000 cases alone, many linked to nursing homes.
The government has closed museums and sports centers, sent home nearly 10 million students, asked people to work remotely and limited crowds at public events in high-risk areas. But questions are rising whether the measures are enough.
Madrid’s vice president said Friday that the region is in dire need of medical supplies, despite announcing an unprecedented plan to pool intensive care units from both public and private hospitals and to use hotel rooms for medical needs.
Mt Everest (Gokyo Ri | Public domain)Nepal Closes Mount Everest
Nepal has closed all of its Himalayan peaks, including Mount Everest this climbing season, because of fears of the coronavirus outbreak, a government minister said on Friday.
Nepal, home to eight of the world’s 14 highest mountains, including Mount Everest, gets more than four million dollars in permit fees for the world’s highest peak and other mountains every year.
Tourism Minister Yogesh Bhattarai said expeditions to all peaks in the March-May spring season had been suspended.
“Climbing this season has been closed,” Bhattarai told Reuters.
“It is as a precaution for that,” he added when asked, it was because of the coronavirus.
Nepal has confirmed just one case of the coronavirus—a student studying in China on a trip home—out of 450 people tested.
English Premier League Suspended
All elite soccer matches in England, including the Premier League, were suspended until April 4 on Friday due to the coronavirus pandemic, English soccer’s governing bodies said.
“Following a meeting of shareholders today, it was unanimously decided to suspend the Premier League with the intention of returning on April 4,” the Premier League said in a joint statement.
The English Football League (EFL), which oversees all professional tiers of English soccer below the top-flight, had announced the suspension of all football activity earlier in the day.
The Football Association said the professional game in England would be postponed until April 3 at the earliest.
England’s upcoming friendly internationals against Italy and Denmark at Wembley on March 27 and 31, respectively, will not take place, the FA said in a statement.
The men’s and women’s FA Cup competitions have also been suspended.
The decision to suspend all football activity in the country had been jointly taken by the Premier League, the FA, the EFL and the Women’s Super League (WSL), it added.
Bulgaria Declares State of Emergency
The Bulgarian parliament voted unanimously on Friday to declare a state of emergency until April 13 to contain the spread of coronavirus after the number of confirmed cases in the country more than tripled to 23.
The state of emergency will allow for travel bans to and from countries with large coronavirus outbreaks, the closing of schools and universities, and permit police to intervene when imposed isolation of infected people is not observed.
Prime Minister Boyko Borissov appealed to Bulgarians to follow the rules, saying that on Thursday alone 14 people that were supposed to be under quarantine did not observe it.
“We want this state of emergency for one month,” Borissov told parliament. “We need it for those who violate quarantine.”
Australian Official Tests Positive, Spanish Royalty Tests Negative
Australian Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton is in isolation at a hospital after testing positive for the coronavirus. He returned to Australia on Sunday from Washington, D.C., where he met U.S. Attorney-General William Barr and President Donald Trump’s daughter, Ivanka, last week.
Dutton also attended a conference with other representatives of the Five Eyes intelligence network, which includes the U.S., Canada, Britain, Australia and New Zealand.
Dutton said Friday he was in isolation in a hospital after confirmation he has the virus.
Australian authorities have stepped up their response to the outbreak by recommending people avoid nonessential gatherings of 500 or more and to reconsider all international travel.
Australia has more than 120 confirmed cases.
The Spanish royal palace, meanwhile, said King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia have tested negative for the coronavirus.
The royal couple took the test on Thursday after the government confirmed the infection of Equality Minister Irene Montero, who had attended an event with the queen last week.
Another Cabinet member was also confirmed to be infected after all the Cabinet was tested.
In a statement on Friday, Spain’s Royal House said the queen will suspend all her activities and her temperature will be regularly checked.
Seiko Hashimoto, minister in charge of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, speaks during a press conference at the prime minister’s official residence in Tokyo, Japan, on Sept. 11, 2019. (Eugene Hoshiko/AP Photo/File)
Former Tokyo Governor Says Olympics ‘Almost Certainly Have to Be Canceled’
The former governor of Tokyo from 2014 to 2016 who oversaw the early planning for the Tokyo Olympics has told The Times that the 2020 games will ” almost certainly have to be canceled because of the worldwide coronavirus pandemic.”
Asia editor Richard Lloyd Parry from The Times posted his full interview.
“Don’t you care for the health of athletes?” says Mr Masuzoe. “That’s a big contradiction. The Games without spectators is not an option.”
ends
— Richard Lloyd Parry (@dicklp) March 13, 2020
US National in Taiwan Becomes Island’s 50th Case
Taiwan’s Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has announced the island’s 50 confirmed case on Friday after a male U.S. national living in central Taiwan tested positive for the virus.
The U.S. national, who works from home, welcomed four American friends to Taiwan on Feb. 24. He began showing symptoms of the virus three days later. The four friends, who are two couples, left Taiwan on Feb. 26.
In one of the couples, the first individual began coughing on Feb. 24, followed by the other, who started showing symptoms of the virus on Feb. 26. A family relative of the couple in the United States tested positive for the virus on March 10.
Taiwan’s CDC suspects that the 50th patient contracted the virus from his friends.
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte and Chinese leader Xi Jinping during a welcoming ceremony at Villa Madama in Rome on March 23, 2019. (Alberto Pizzoli/AFP/Getty Images)
Italy’s Coronavirus Outbreak Puts Spotlight on China Ties
The worsening coronavirus outbreak in Italy has led its government to re-evaluate its relationship with Beijing and align more with Washington, an expert said.
Almost a year after Italy became the first G-7 country to sign on to the Chinese regime’s flagship foreign policy project, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI, also known as One Belt, One Road)—drawing criticism from its Western allies—the country’s initial handling of the outbreak indicated a shift in relations.
Italy’s decision to join the BRI in March 2019 sparked concern from the United States and Western allies. Italy defended its decision, with Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio last month saying that it signed on to the initiative for “commercial reasons” and “economic advantages,” Bloomberg reported.
But according to data compiled by the RWR Belt and Road Monitor, which tracks Chinese investments under the initiative, Italy hasn’t attracted many projects in the past year, except for a deal between Jetion Solar (China) Co. and Eni SpA to invest about $2.2 billion and develop new solar projects.
“The outbreak of the coronavirus in Wuhan has led the Italian government to reassess its approach to China, while also sending a message to the Trump administration,” Nicola Casarini, senior fellow and head of research for Asia at Rome-based think tank Istituto Affari Internazionali, told The Epoch Times in an email.
Universal Studios to Close Theme Parks
Comcast Corp’s Universal Studios is closing its theme parks in Hollywood and Orlando until the end of the month.
The theme park near Los Angeles will close on Saturday with plans to reopen on March 28.
The Orlando park said it is closing from Monday, March 16.
Update from Universal Orlando Resort pic.twitter.com/Usrhi57dZD
— Universal Woahlando Resort (@UniversalORL) March 13, 2020
Its hotels and the Universal CityWalk will remain open, a statement said.
Disney has also announced closures following numerous states banning mass gatherings of over 500 people.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaks to media during a press conference in the Blue Room at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia on March 3, 2020. (Tracey Nearmy/Getty Images)
Australia to Ban Mass Gatherings, Raises Travel Alert
The Australian government has banned all non-essential gatherings of more than 500 people from Monday to limit the spread of the coronavirus.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison made the announcement after receiving advice from health officers on Friday.
In a press briefing, Morrison advised that the ban means that people can “go about their normal essential business they do each day,” while avoiding large crowds from Monday.
“That, of course, doesn’t include schools. It doesn’t include university lectures. It doesn’t mean people getting on public transport or going to airports or things of that nature,” Morrison told reporters.
He said the ban was part of the government’s incremental response to the pandemic.
“I do have still plans to go to the football on Saturday. This is an arrangement we are putting in place for next week as a precaution. This is an early-stage action that we are undertaking to make sure we get ahead of this. I would be going on Saturday because I had previously planned to, and these are measures we are putting on from next week, and there are further measures that will come in over time, I would expect,” he said.
He also said that he was raising Australia’s travel warnings to Level 3, advising Australians to reconsider their travel overseas unless it is essential amid the coronavirus crisis.
The government raised the level of travel advice for all countries, regardless of people’s destination, age, or health.
“This is done to protect their health and to limit their exposure, given we have so many countries now that are affected by the coronavirus. Only essential travel should be considered if you are going overseas from this point forward,” Morrison said.
76-Year-Old Man is India’s First Fatality
A 76-year old man who passed away on Wednesday from suspected COVID-19 has been confirmed to have contracted the disease; the Karnataka state government health department said on Friday, according to local media reports.
Mohammed Hussain Siddiq was being treated at a hospital in the Indian city of Kalaburagi after suffering from breathlessness and other cold-and-flu symptoms after returning from Saudi Arabia on Feb. 29, where he had been visiting for a month.
He was tested at a Kalaburagi hospital on March 9 and diagnosed with “mid-zone Viral Pneumonia” while being identified as a “suspected COVID-19″ case. However, when his family insisted he be discharged from the hospital, authorities let him leave, and he was taken by family members to Hyderabad, Telangana, only to be admitted to a private hospital there later.
“The necessary contact tracing, isolation, and other measures as per protocol are being carried out. Telangana government has also been informed since he went to a private hospital there,” the health department said.
Hong Kong Records Fourth Coronavirus-Related Death
An 80-year-old man became the fourth patient in Hong Kong to die due to the coronavirus, a Nethersole Eastern Hospital spokeswoman said on Friday.
Hong Kong has so far confirmed around 130 coronavirus cases.
Africa Countries Report First Cases
Gabon, Kenya, and Ghana confirmed their first cases of coronavirus, becoming the ninth, tenth and eleventh countries in sub-Saharan Africa to register positive cases.
The region has so far been less badly hit by coronavirus than Europe or China. Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Senegal, Cameroon, Togo, South Africa, Burkina Faso, and the Democratic Republic of Congo have also registered cases.
In a statement, Gabon’s government said its case was a 27-year-old Gabonese man who had returned from France on March 8.
Ghana’s health ministry said its two cases were people who had returned recently from Norway and Turkey.
“These are imported cases of COVID-19. Both patients are currently being kept in isolation and are stable,” the ministry said in a statement.
Muhahi Kagwe, Kenya’s health secretary, told reporters on Friday that a Kenyan woman who recently traveled from the United States via London tested positive.
Ghana Minister of Health Kwaku Agyeman-Manu said two people who returned from Norway and Turkey tested positive and are in isolation.
Sub-Saharan Africa did not confirm its first coronavirus infection until Feb. 28 in Nigeria, but experts warn that rising cases could test already fragile health systems.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau attend the Remembrance Day ceremonies at the National War Memorial Ottawa, on Nov. 11, 2015. (Annie Wu/Epoch Times)
Wife of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Tests Positive
The wife of Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau has tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
The prime minister’s office said in a statement released Thursday night: “Following medical recommendations, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau was tested for COVID-19 today. The test came back positive,” Canada’s Global News reported.
The statement added, “She [Sophie] is feeling well, is taking all the recommended precautions, and her symptoms remain mild.”
Both the prime minister and Mrs. Trudeau are in isolation for the disease.
First Case Detected at UN Headquarters
The United Nations New York headquarters has detected its first case of the virus after a diplomat with the Philippines mission tested positive on Thursday, according to Reuters.
“As of today, the Philippine Mission is in lockdown, and all personnel are instructed to self-quarantine and to seek medical attention should they develop the symptoms. We are assuming that all of us have been infected,” wrote Philippines acting U.N. Ambassador Kira Azucena, according to a note sent to U.N. missions seen by Reuters.
The infected diplomat was last known to be at the U.N. headquarters on Monday for a period of about half an hour before she started noticing flu-like symptoms on Tuesday and contacted the doctor who proceeded with testing for the virus.
The Filipino mission is on 5th Avenue in Midtown Manhattan.
Mormon Church Cancels Services Around the World
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is suspending all worship services around the world due to the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, it said in a statement on Thursday night.
The Salt Lake City, Utah-based group made the decision just hours after the state’s governor recommended against all group gatherings of more than 100 people for at least two weeks.
“Beginning immediately, all public gatherings of Church members are being temporarily suspended worldwide until further notice,” the Mormon church wrote in a statement. That includes conferences and large gatherings, public church services, and branch activities.
National Hockey League Freezes Play
National Hockey League (NHL) commissioner Gary Bettman has announced that this season’s play will be put on hold in line with efforts to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.
In a statement, Bettman said, “In light of ongoing developments resulting from the coronavirus, and after consulting with medical experts and convening a conference call on the Board of Directors, the National Hockey League is announcing today that it will pause the 2019-2020 season beginning with tonight’s games.
Given that the league’s players share many facilities and locker rooms with the NBA, which recently had a player test positive for the virus, “it is no longer appropriate to try to continue to play games at the time,” Bettman said.
Arsenal Head Coach Tests Positive for Virus
Arsenal said in a statement that its head coach Mikel Arteta has tested positive for COVID-19.
The club has closed its London Colney training center after the test results.
“Arsenal personnel who had recent close contact with Mikel will now self-isolate in line with Government health guidelines,” the statement read. “We expect this to be a significant number of people from Colney, including the full first-team squad and coaching staff, as well as a smaller number of people from our Hale End Academy, which we have also temporarily closed as a precaution.
“We expect those who did not have close contact with Mikel to return to work in the coming days. In the meantime, our Colney and Hale End training centers will undergo a deep clean, and our other club sites are operating as normal.”
Raul Sanllehi, head of football, added: “Mikel and the full first-team squad, players and staff, will be fully supported, and we look forward to getting back to training and playing as soon as medical advice allows. Obviously, Mikel’s full recovery is the priority now for us all.”
Fernando Alonso drives into parc ferme after winning the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit in Shanghai, China on April 14, 2013. (Vladimir Rys/Getty Images)
Formula One’s Australian Grand Prix Called Off
The Australian Formula One Grand Prix was canceled on Friday due to worries about the coronavirus outbreak after a McLaren team member tested positive before the first practice session was scheduled to get underway at Albert Park.
“At 9 a.m. today, the Australian Grand Prix Corporation (AGPC) was advised by Formula 1 of their intention to cancel all Formula 1 activity at the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix,” the AGPC said in a statement.
“In light of this decision and updated advice this morning from the Chief Health Officer of the Victorian Government’s Department of Human and Health Services, the Australian Grand Prix Corporation confirms the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix is canceled immediately.”
There were big question marks over the season-opening race after McLaren withdrew late on Thursday night when a member of their team tested positive for the virus.
The fourth round of the championship in Shanghai in April has already been postponed, while organizers of the Bahrain Grand Prix said last weekend that their race would go ahead without spectators on March 22.
Confusion reigned earlier on Friday, with fans flocking to the lakeside race-track and local broadcaster Channel Nine reporting that the AGPC chairman had said they would plow on with the race.
Hundreds of fans milled around closed entry gates before Victoria state Premier Daniel Andrews announced that none would be permitted to enter even if the race went ahead.
There was pressure from Formula One teams, with Mercedes saying they had requested organizers call it off and that they had started to pack up and leave the circuit.
Mercedes world champion Lewis Hamilton on Thursday also weighed in, saying it was “shocking” that organizers wanted to push on even with the NBA and other major sports suspending matches and competitions.
Chinese State Media Threaten the US
The Chinese Communist Party-run Global Times published an article on March 11 saying that China “could ban the export of face masks and other medical gear to America which are in acute shortage,” over recent actions by the United States to restrict market access to Chinese telecommunications company Huawei, which was founded in 1987 by a former People’s Liberation Army engineer.
The United States is “dramatically dependent” on China for medical supplies that include among them masks, scans, prescription drugs, and their ingredients, according to Rosemary Gibson, a senior adviser at the Hastings Center, a bioethics research institute, and the co-author of “China RX: Exposing the Risks of America’s Dependence on China for Medicine.”
“Our dependence is a risk to our national security,” she told The Epoch Times. “For prescription drugs, 90 percent of the core ingredients, the chemicals, and other ingredients depend on China.”
For March 12 updates, click here.
Bowen Xiao, Melanie Sun, Zachary Stieber, Jack Phillips, Cathy He, the Associated Press, and Reuters contributed to this article.
This article is from the Internet:Coronavirus Live Updates: Spain Orders Lockdown, Nepal Closes Mount Everest