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 15 updates.
Taiwan Announces Traveler Quarantine, Detects 6 New Cases
Taiwan reported six new cases of the coronavirus on Sunday, all imported and marking the biggest daily rise in infections, in people who had returned to the island from mostly European countries, bringing its total tally to 59.
The government is working on tracking down all the people who had contact with the new cases, it said in a statement.
The infected individuals had traveled from Greece, Turkey, Egypt, Japan, and Thailand. Two of the patients had transited in Dubai, the government added.
While Taiwan has won plaudits from international experts for its early prevention measures to stop the spread of the virus, it has now stepped up measures to stop cases from overseas entering the territory.
On Saturday the island said it would begin requiring a 14-day quarantine for all people arriving from Europe’s Schengen border-free travel zone, as well as Britain and Ireland.
Taiwan has only reported one death from the virus, while 20 have recovered and been released from hospital. The other cases are all in stable condition.
Taiwan’s health minister has advised people not to travel at all and to stay in Taiwan.
US City Hoboken Announces Night Curfew, Restricts Bars, Restaurants
The U.S. city of Hoboken, across the Hudson River from New York City, on Saturday announced a night curfew starting March 16 and ordered bars and restaurants to conduct only delivery services amid the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.
In a statement, Mayor Ravi Bhalla said all residents of Hoboken, New Jersey, will be required to remain in their homes between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., “except for emergencies, or if you are required to work by your employer.”
The mayor said that bars and restaurants in the city will not be allowed to serve food from Sunday, 11 a.m. local time. However, they will be allowed to conduct delivery services.
“I received a call from our police chief Kenneth Ferrante notifying me of a bar fight in downtown Hoboken, with at least one person falling in and out of consciousness, and our police having to wait for over 30 minutes for an ambulance to arrive, because our EMS is inundated with service calls,” Bhalla said.
“This is unfortunately a contributing factor why we cannot continue bar operations which can trigger calls for service that are delayed in part because of this public health crisis.”
Hoboken reported its first case of coronavirus on Friday.
Uzbekistan Confirms First Case
An Uzbek citizen has tested positive for coronavirus after returning from France, Uzbekistan’s Healthcare Ministry said on Sunday, marking the first infection from the virus in the Central Asian country of 34 million.
It said it was taking the necessary measures to prevent the spread of the virus.
Uzbekistan’s state airline said on Sunday it was suspending or curbing flights to a number of cities in Western Europe, Asia, and the Middle East until the end of April.
Walmart Shortens Its Hours to Disinfect and Restock
Walmart, the largest retailer in America, said Saturday that it will will modify its store hours in response to the pandemic.
Beginning Sunday, all of Walmart’s more than 4,700 U.S. stores will be open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. until further notice. The company said the shortened hours will help employees restock shelves overnight and clean stores. Thousands of Walmart stores are already operating under shortened hours.
Starting March 15, Walmart stores and Neighborhood Markets will be open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. until further notice. This will help ensure associates can clean and stock products. Stores operating under more reduced hours will keep current hours of operation. https://t.co/xw5GuNFQ0F
— Walmart (@Walmart) March 15, 2020
Walmart employees will keep their regular daytime or evening shifts, the company said.
Argentina Bans Entry to Travelers From Outbreak Countries
The government of Argentina has banned entry for all non-residents who have traveled to countries dealing local outbreaks of COVID-19 within the past 14 days.
The announcement late Saturday night said the ban will be in place for at least 30 days.
While it did not list the affected countries, Argentina has already stopped issuing visas for travelers from China, Iran, Japan, South Korea, many European countries.
Italian Tenor Maurizio Marchini Sings for His Neighbors During Lockdown
During Italy’s lockdown, tenor Maurizio Marchini sung for his neighbors from his balcony in Florence.
Italian tenor Maurizio Marchini singing for his neighbors in Florence ??
— Tim Cates (@timcates) March 14, 2020
Oregon Reports First Death From New Coronavirus
A man in his 70s has become the first person in Oregon to die from the new coronavirus.
The Oregon Health Authority said the Multonomah County man was hospitalized at the Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center and died Saturday.
The man, who had underlying heath conditions, tested positive for COVID-19 on March 10, the authority said. He had no known contact to a confirmed case and had not traveled to another country where the virus is circulating.
Australia Announces Mandatory Self-Isolation for All International Arrivals
Australia’s Prime Minister has announced that all travelers arriving in Australia from overseas, including those arriving through airports and cruise terminals, will be required to undergo a mandatory self-isolation period of 14 days.
“I just want to be clear about the travel restrictions I have just announced. All people coming to Australia will be required, will be required, I stress, to self isolate for 14 days. This is very important,” PM Scott Morrison said on Sunday.
“It’s legal enforcement.”
New Zealand announced similar measures yesterday.
Morrison has said that the extra measures were to ease the burden on the nation’s healthcare system.
“The truth is that while many people will contract this virus, that is clear, just as people get the flu each year it is a more severe condition than the flu but for the vast majority, as I said last week, majority, around eight or 10 as is our advice, it will be a mild illness and it will pass.
“However, as older Australians and those that are more vulnerable and those that are more vulnerable and those in remote communities and with pre-existing health conditions, it is a far more serious virus and that is our concern.
“Our aim in all of this is to protect the most vulnerable. The most at risk.
“We know that the virus cannot be absolutely stopped, no one can do that but we can slow the spread. And we anticipate that will be our task over the next six months.
“No one can know for certain how long this will run. It could be shorter than that, it could be longer than that.
“The measures that we are putting in place as a government is making those types of assumptions, but that is being updated on a daily basis,” he said.
The government said that schools are to remain open for the time being.
Spaniard Fill Empty Streets With Applause for Their Medical Staff
Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs shared the moment when the whole of Spain came together to thank the country’s heathcare workers in their efforts to help coronavirus patients, and contain further spread of the virus.
“Today we pay tribute to the thousands of professionals who are fighting the #COVID19 front line,” the ministry said in a tweet.
?? #España tiene uno de los mejores sistemas sanitarios y es uno de los países más solidarios del mundo.
?? Hoy rendimos homenaje a los miles de profesionales que están combatiendo el #COVID19 en primera línea.#EsteVirusLoParamosUnidos pic.twitter.com/j2Y8NoUlLO
— Exteriores (@MAECgob) March 14, 2020
Spain announced a lockdown for its 46 million citizens due to the virus on Saturday.
Wife of Spanish PM Tests Positive
Pedro Sanchez, Prime Minister of Spain, and wife María Begoña Gómez Fernández arrive at number 10 Downing Street in London, England for a reception on Dec. 3, 2019. (Leon Neal/Getty Images)The wife of Spanish Prime minister Pedro Sanchez, Begona Gomez, has tested positive for COVID-19, according to a government statement.
“The tests carried out in the last hours in Moncloa [the prime minister’s residence] on the people closest to the prime minister have tested positive in the case of his wife, Doña Begoña Gómez,” the statement read. “Both Mrs. Gómez and the president are well, both remain in La Moncloa and follow the preventive measures established by the health authorities at all times.”
No Cast or Crew Infected By Tom Hanks and Wife
Tom Hanks, left, and Rita Wilson arrive at the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Feb. 9, 2020. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)Hospitalized Hollywood star Tom Hanks has not passed on the coronavirus to any cast or crew on the production set of an untitled Baz Luhrmann-biopic on Elvis Presley being filmed at Village Roadshow Studios on Australia’s Gold Coast.
Hanks and his wife, singer Rita Wilson, are quarantined in a Gold Coast hospital after testing positive to COVID-19 on Thursday.
A representative for the production said no cast or crew had come down with the virus although production had ceased for two weeks.
Australia Says Lockdown an Option in Face of COVID-19
Australia’s Chief Medical Officer Professor Brendan Murphy at a press conference in the Blue Room at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on March 3, 2020. (Tracey Nearmy/Getty Images)Australia’s Federal, state and territory leaders will discuss developments in the spread of COVID-19 and the needed response during a phone link-up on Sunday.
The Morrison government has warned all options are on the table to help tackle the spread of the coronavirus, which my include school closures in the future and even a complete lockdown of the country similar to Italy, France, and Spain.
“Everything is up for consideration,” Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy told national broadcaster ABC television’s Insiders Program on Sunday.
4 More African Nations Confirm Coronavirus, New Controls Put in Place
In this Feb. 6, 2020, photo, a man tries on a face mask at a pharmacy in Kitwe, Zambia. (Emmanuel Mwiche/AP Photo)Mauritania, Rwanda, Seychelles, and Central African Republic confirmed their first coronavirus cases on Saturday, bringing to 23 the number of African countries that have reported positive tests for the virus.
Moving swiftly to contain its spread, Rwanda, Senegal, Madagascar, Mauritius, Morocco and Kenya announced tougher control measures, including bans on public gatherings, halting flights and closing schools and universities.
Three days after the World Health Organization (WHO) described the outbreak as a pandemic, there is concern among health specialists about the ability of some African nations to meet the logistical and financial challenges posed by the fast-spreading virus.
Borders are porous and many nations have extremely poor health infrastructure. Some countries, like Somalia, are fighting insurgencies while others, such as South Sudan, have high levels of malnutrition.
But governments are implementing preventative steps to try to keep the virus at bay.
“To prevent the outbreak entering in Madagascar, all flights connecting Madagascar to Europe are suspended for 30 days,” Madagascar President Hery Rajaonarimampianina said in a statement.
Madagascar, one of the world’s poorest nations where malnutrition is rife and outbreaks of deadly diseases are common, will also suspend air links to the nearby islands of La Reunion and Mayotte, he said.
The East African nation of Rwanda, which registered its first coronavirus case on Saturday, announced hours later that schools and universities would be closed for two weeks starting from Monday.
The Health Ministry also called for all places of worship to close their doors and for large gatherings such as weddings and sport events to be postponed.
In West Africa, Senegal announced schools and universities would stop classes and canceled all religious festivals. So far, Senegal has reported 21 cases.
Most cases reported on the continent so far are foreigners or locals who traveled abroad. Rapid testing and quarantines have been put in place to limit transmission.
Melanie Sun, Reuters, The Associated Press, and AAP contributed to this article.
For March 14 updates, click here.
This article is from the Internet:Coronavirus Live Updates: Taiwan Announces Traveler Quarantine, Detects 6 New Cases