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Thursday, March 19, 2020, 22:28
EU's Brexit top negotiator Barnier has coronavirus
By Agencies
Thursday, March 19, 2020, 22:28 By Agencies

European Union chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier speaks during a media conference at EU headquarters in Brussels, March 5, 2020. (VIRGINIA MAYO / AP)

MADRID / NAIROBI / SAN SALVADOR / RIO DE JANEIRO / SAO PAULO / OTTAWA / LJUBLJANA / SANTIAGO / WASHINGTON / MANAGUA / PARIS / ROME / BERLIN / SKOPJE / LIMA / ZURICH / MEXICO CITY / HAVAN / ALGIERS / KINSHASA / MALABO / JOHANNESBURG / LONDON / MOSCOW / MILAN / BUDAPEST / BRUSSELS - The European Union's chief negotiator for Brexit, Michel Barnier, said on Thursday he had tested positive for COVID-19.

"I would like to inform you that I have tested positive for COVID-19. I am doing well and in good spirits. I am following all the necessary instructions, as is my team," he said on Twitter.

Spain

Spain’s health ministry said on Thursday the death toll from the coronavirus epidemic soared by 209 to 767 fatalities from the previous day as the total number of coronavirus cases climbed by a quarter to 17,147 on Thursday.

On Wednesday, there were 13,716 cases in Spain.

UK, Hungary, Chile, Italy mobilize military to help tackle outbreak

Countries across the world, including Britain, Hungary and Chile said they were mobilizing military forces to help tackle the coronavirus outbreak.

In the United Kingdom, up to 20,000 British military service personnel will be put on standby, the defense ministry said on Thursday. The number represented a doubling of service personnel who are on standby.

Britain, with 2,626 confirmed cases and 104 deaths, was bracing for the virtual shut down of London as uunderground train stations across the capital closed and Prime Minister Boris Johnson mulled tougher measures to tackle the coronavirus crisis.

The UK said up to 20,000 military personnel will be put on standby, while Hungary will deploy special military task forces and CHile will mobilize the military to guarantee law and order

After ordering the closure of schools across the country, Johnson on Wednesday said the government was ruling nothing out when asked whether he would bring in measures to lock down London.

ALSO READ: Anger mounts over UK govt's decision to keep schools open

Queen Elizabeth was due to leave the capital for her ancient castle at Windsor. The monarch has also agreed to postpone the planned state visit by Japanese Emperor Naruhito in June.

Italy ordered the army to move bodies from a northern town at the centre of the coronavirus outbreak where funeral services have been overwhelmed as the government prepared to prolong emergency lockdown measures across the country.

An army spokesman confirmed on Thursday that 15 trucks and 50 soldiers had been deployed to move bodies to neighboring provinces. 

In Hungary, where 73 confirmed cases and one death has been recorded so far, will deploy special military task forces to monitor the operations of 140 state companies, providing critical services during the coronavirus pandemic, 'Defense Minister Tibor Benko said late on Wednesday.

The newly created task forces, consisting of several soldiers, police officers and disaster unit workers, will provide regular briefings on the companies to the defense ministry, Benko said.

In Chile, President Sebastian Pinera on Wednesday said the military will be mobilized to support the public health sector and guarantee law and order, as he declared a 90-day state of catastrophe to step up the government's action to combat the epidemic that has so far infected 238 people in the country. 

Pinera said a series of restrictions will take effect starting at midnight, including a ban on mass gatherings to curb infections. He added that a curfew to limit people's movement was under consideration.

Economy Minister Lucas Palacios, meanwhile, announced "shopping centers will close" across the country as of Thursday. Supermarkets, pharmacies, banks and shops selling household supplies or construction materials will remain open, he said.

People walk on an empty Westminster Bridge in London, March 18, 2020. (DOMINIC LIPINSKI / PA VIA AP)

Algeria

Algeria on Thursday announced that death toll from the novel coronavirus in the country has risen to eight.

The state-run ENTV channel quoted a statement of the Health Ministry as saying that the overall confirmed cases with COVID-19 has soared to 82, including 8 deaths.

Argentina

Argentinian health officials on Wednesday reported 19 new cases, bringing the total to 97, with two fatalities.

Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, announced a temporary closing of some businesses, including dance halls, sports clubs, casinos, game centers and theaters. It also announced a plan to allow non-essential public-sector employees to work from home.

Austria

Austria will spend up to 38 billion euros (US$42 billion) to secure jobs and keep companies afloat, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said on Wednesday.

Roughly 1,650 people in Austria have been infected and four have died from the virus.

From midnight, Austria will also make checks at the German border, a measure that its northern neighbor introduced on Monday.

Belgium

Belgium recorded 309 new coronavirus cases on March 18, a spokesman for the Belgian health ministry said on Thursday, bringing the total number of infected in the country to 1795.

The spokesman said that 7 new deaths were recorded on Wednesday.

Benin

Benin recorded its second case of COVID-19 on Wednesday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to two, announced Benin's Minister of Health Benjamin Hounkpatin.

Botswana

The government of Botswana has decided to close all institutions of learning in the country in a bid to prevent the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.

In a Wednesday press release, the Office of the President directed that all schools be closed, effective March 23.

So far, Botswana has not registered any case of the coronavirus infection.

Wearing masks, Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro, center, holds a piece of paper as Economy Minister Paulo Guedes, left, speaks to Health Minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta during a press conference on the new coronavirus. At the Planalto Presidential Palace in Brasilia, Brazil, March 18, 2019. (ANDRE BORGES / AP)

Brazil

The coronavirus outbreak hammered Brazil on Wednesday, crushing local markets, infecting more members of the country's political elite and prompting loud protests against President Jair Bolsonaro's handling of the mounting crisis.

Bolsonaro's national security adviser, the mines and energy minister and the head of the Senate all tested positive for the virus on Wednesday, as the death toll rose to four dead with 428 people infected.

On Wednesday night, Brazil erupted to the sound of banging pots and pans and shouts of "Bolsonaro out!" with housebound protesters expressing their anger toward the president. 

ALSO READ: Bolsonaro, AMLO roll the dice with laid-back virus response

Bolsonaro announced emergency measures to contain the virus and buttress the economy, including assistance for poorer families and support for a struggling aviation industry.

He said Brazil was considering closing all its land borders, following a decree closing its border to Venezuelans except trucks shipping goods or cross-border humanitarian aid previously authorized by health officials. 

In another restriction of border traffic, land transport regulator ANTT suspended for 60 days all international bus services.

In an almost empty lower chamber of Congress, lawmakers approved a presidential decree declaring a national emergency, which allows the government to waive fiscal targets and free up budget resources. The decree is expected to pass the Senate next week.

Canada

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Wednesday his government would provide C$27 billion ($18.6 billion) in direct support to families and businesses struggling because of the coronavirus outbreak, and stood ready to do more.

The coronavirus has infected some 700 Canadians in all 10 provinces, killing nine. 

The government will provide C$55 billion (US$38 billion) in additional aid to businesses and households through tax deferrals. 

ALSO READ: US-Canada border to close, global infections near 200,000

Costa Rica

Costa Rica on Wednesday reported a total of 69 cases, 19 more than that of Tuesday, including its first fatal victim, an 87-year-old man.

Croatia 

Croatia announced on Thursday that a man who died a day ago had coronavirus, which made him the country's first coronavirus-related death.

Croatia will close all services including cinemas, restaurants and bars, as well as shops for a month from Thursday, except food stores, pharmacies and petrol stations as it bids to crack down on the coronavirus, Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic said on Wednesday.

So far Croatia has registered 102 cases of coronavirus and there have been no deaths.

Cuba

The Cuban Ministry of Public Health on Wednesday confirmed a 61-year-old Italian tourist as the country's first death from COVID-19.

The ministry also confirmed three new cases of COVID-19: two Cubans and a 77-year-old American.

With the three new cases, the country's count of confirmed COVID-19 cases rose to 10, including four foreigners. 

Czech Republic

The Czech government is preparing to offer 100 billion crowns (US$4.05 billion) of aid for businesses and 900 billion more in loan guarantees to help the economy withstand the impact of the coronavirus, Prime Minister Andrej Babis said on Wednesday.

The combined package could be worth nearly 18 percent of the central European country's economic output in 2019. The Czech Republic, like much of Europe, is shutting shops and factories, closing borders and putting people on lockdown to fight the spread of the virus.

The Czech Republic had 464 cases of illness from the virus and no deaths as of Wednesday morning.

Passengers wearing face masks wait at the Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport, in Santiago, Chile, on March 18, 2020. (MARTIN BERNETTI / AFP)

Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has unveiled several prevention and control measures to stem the spread of COVID-19.

Apart from strengthening border security, the government has announced a suspension of flights from all high-risk countries, which will take place this Friday.

Cargo planes, ships and other means of freight transport will be authorized to enter the DRC territory, with personnel on board going through examination.

President Felix Tshisekedi has also ordered the closure of schools, universities, official and private higher institutes. Suspension of all gatherings has also been imposed for the next four weeks starting Thursday.

The DRC has registered a total of 14 cases in about a week since its first case of COVID-19 was reported on March 10.

Denmark

The Danish government on Wednesday announced two new economic initiatives, aimed at helping small business owners and businesses in areas seriously hit by the COVID-19 outbreak.

Updated figures showed that 1,057 people tested positive for COVID-19 with four confirmed dead, the National Board of Health reported on Wednesday. 

El Salvador

El Salvador has registered its first case of coronavirus infection in the country, President Nayib Bukele said on Wednesday.

Earlier, the government said that the country would take steps to limit the economic impact for people and businesses affected by the coronavirus outbreak, including suspending charges for some services.

For a three-month period, affected parties will be exempt from payments for electricity, water, mortgages and personal loans, credit cards, telephones, cable and internet, among other services, Fuentes said.

Egypt

Egypt will shut all cafes, malls, sporting clubs and nightclubs from 7:00 pm until 6:00 am local time, starting Thursday, until March 31 to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, the government said in a statement.

The government said supermarkets and pharmacies were exempted from the closure. The country has so far registered 210 cases of the coronavirus, including 6 deaths.

On Wednesday, Egypt started sterilizing hotels and places frequented by foreign tourists in the Red Sea resort city of Hurghada, in the first stage of the sterilization of all hotels and resorts across the country.

Equatorial Guinea

Equatorial Guinea on Wednesday reported a new case of COVID-19, bringing the total to four, according to a statement from the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

France

France's 15-day lockdown ordered by President Emmanuel Macron to curb the coronavirus epidemic could be extended if necessary, Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said on Thursday.

Since Wednesday morning, police deployed to enforce the lockdown has carried out 70,000 controls and handed out 4,095 tickets to those flouting the lockdown, Castaner added.

French health authorities reported 89 new deaths from coronavirus on Wednesday, taking the total to 264 or an increase of almost 51 percent, a much more marked rise than recently seen as the country was in its second day of a lockdown aimed at containing the outbreak.

During a press conference, health agency director Jerome Salomon added the number of cases had risen to 9,134, up from 7,730 on Tuesday, which is a rise of 18 percent in 24 hours.

People watch as German Chancellor Angela Merkel delivers a rare TV address to the nation. In Oberhausen, Germany, March 18, 2020. (FABIAN STRAUCH / DPA VIA AP)

Germany

The number of coronavirus cases in Germany climbed by 2,801 or roughly a third in a single day, the Robert Koch Institute said on Thursday.

The tally increased to 10,999 cases while 20 patients died, the public institute said on its website.

Finance Minister Olaf Scholz's test for the coronavirus came back negative, he said on Thursday.

On Wednesday, Chancellor Angela Merkel urged all German citizens to help fight the spread of the coronavirus by sticking to rules aimed at reducing direct social contact and avoiding as many new infections as possible.

"It is serious. Take it seriously," Merkel said in a rare televised speech. "Since German reunification, actually, since World War II, there has never been a challenge for our country in which acting in solidarity was so very crucial."

In her speech, Merkel said she was well aware that the restrictions on the freedom of movement were hard to accept for many Germans, but she insisted every citizen had to do her and his part to contain the spread of the disease.

Earlier in the day, the first German town imposed a curfew to slow the spread of the coronavirus, officials said, though the nearly 7,000 citizens of Mitterteich in southern Bavaria are still allowed to buy groceries, go to work and visit the doctor.

The curfew will last until April 2, said authorities in the district of Tirschenreuth, close to the Czech border.

Greece

Greece will ban public gatherings of 10 people and more from Thursday in an attempt to prevent the spread of coronavirus, its crisis management minister Nikos Hardalias said.

Hardalias said anyone violating the limit on gatherings would face a 1,000 euro fine. 

Greece reported a rise in the number of coronavirus cases on Wednesday by 31, to 418 people. It has reported five deaths.

Honduras

The government of Honduras said Wednesday that the number of confirmed cases in the country had increased to 12 from 9 a day earlier.

Ireland

Nearly half confirmed cases of coronavirus in Ireland are in the capital Dublin, the health department said on Wednesday in its first detailed regional breakdown of figures as the daily growth rate eased.

Ireland's total number of cases rose by 25 percent to 366. The number of people who have died from the virus remained at two.

Office lights of the Lombardy region headquarters building in Milan, northern Italy, make up the Italian words 'State a casa' (Stay home), March 18, 2020. (LUCA BRUNO / AP)

Italy

Italy will remain under lockdown beyond previous deadlines due to expire later this month and in early April, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said on Thursday, in ongoing efforts to try beat the coronavirus in Europe's worst-affected country.

In comments to the Corriere della Sera newspaper, Conte said measures taken to close schools, universities and to impose severe restrictions on movement would have to be prolonged.

The Italian government threatened on Wednesday to ban all outdoor exercise as the toll soared and frustration grew over the number of people defying a nationwide lockdown order

Under current measures, Italy's 60 million people are only allowed to travel for work, medical reasons or emergencies under an order that runs until April 3, while most shops, except those selling food and pharmacies, are supposed to remain closed until March 25.

ALSO READ: 13-­member team of Chinese experts fly to Italy

The Italian government threatened on Wednesday to ban all outdoor exercise as the coronavirus death toll soared to 2,978 and frustration grew over the number of people defying a nationwide lockdown order.

The national death toll surged by 475 over the past 24 hours, the largest increase in numerical terms since the outbreak first came to light on Feb 21. The total number of confirmed cases grew by 4,207 to 35,713.

Libya

Libya's eastern-based army on Wednesday imposed curfew in parts of the country controlled by the army to fight against possible COVID-19 infection.

Meanwhile, the UN-backed government denied imposing curfew in and around the capital Tripoli, calling on people to avoid crowded places against COVID-19 infections. 

Libya is politically divided between eastern and western governments.

The country has not declared any COVID-19 infections yet, but has taken measures against the virus such as closing all airports and land border crossings for three weeks, ordering school closures, as well as suspending all sports and entertainment events.

Mauritius

Mauritius has confirmed its first three cases of coronavirus, its government said in a statement on Thursday.

Mexico

Mexico registered its first death from coronavirus on Wednesday, the health ministry said in a statement, saying the deceased was a diabetic whose symptoms began last week.

The lower house of Congress on Wednesday approved a bill to create a fund that would free up nearly 181 billion pesos (US$7.5 billion) for use in emergencies such as combating coronavirus. The bill now passes to the Mexican Senate.

Meanwhile, the mayor of Tijuana, the biggest Mexican city on the US border, urged residents to restrict visits to the United States to reduce the risk of catching the coronavirus, as Mexico’s tally of infections climbed.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Mexico rose on Wednesday to 118 from 93 a day earlier, the Mexican health ministry said.

Morocco

Morocco asked its citizens not to leave their homes except to buy essential goods, seek medical treatment, or go to work, as a precautionary measure against the spread of the coronavirus, the interior and the health ministries said on Wednesday.

Morocco has confirmed 54 cases, including two deaths and one recovery.

Nicaragua 

Nicaragua has registered its first case of coronavirus infection, a 40-year-old Nicaraguan man who picked up the virus during a recent visit to Panama, Vice-President Rosario Murillo said on Wednesday.

Nigeria

Nigeria will from Saturday ban entry to arrivals from 13 of the countries worst affected by the coronavirus epidemic for four weeks, the minister of interior said on Wednesday.

All the countries on the list, which includes the United States, Britain, Germany, Italy, Iran, South Korea and Japan, have reported more than 1,000 coronavirus cases.

"We have also suspended issuance of visas to citizens of these countries and have also cancelled all visas earlier issued to them," said Minister of Interior Rauf Aregbesola.

Nigeria has recorded eight confirmed coronavirus cases, health ministry officials said on Wednesday.

North Macedonia

North Macedonia has declared a state of emergency as it tries to contain the coronavirus, President Stevo Pendarovski said on Wednesday after meeting top government and health officials.

The state of emergency is initially set to last 30 days but can be extended, Pendarovski said.

It allows the government to adopt and enforce decrees to counter the disease in the absence of parliament which was disbanded before an election that had been due on April 12 but has now been cancelled.

It is the first state of emergency in the landlocked Balkan country, which has reported 35 coronavirus cases, since it peacefully split from the now-defunct Yugoslavia in 1991.

Panama

Panama on Wednesday had registered 109 cases of coronavirus infection in total, up from 86 one day earlier, health minister Rosario Turner told a news conference.

The Panamanian government decreed a nationwide curfew starting at 9 pm and lasting till 5 am local time.

Peru

Peru's President Martin Vizcarra on Wednesday announced an immediate restriction on overnight movement across the country in a bid to halt the spread of coronavirus.

Vizcarra said Peruvians should remain in their homes between 2000 local time (0100 GMT) and 0500 local time (1000 GMT).

The number infected by coronavirus in the country rose to 145, from 117 reported a day earlier, according to the Ministry of Health.

Portugal

Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa declared on Wednesday in a televised national speech a "state of emergency" in a bid to contain the spread of COVID-19.

The state of emergency, the first of its kind in the Portuguese history, can be extended for another 15 days, according to the Portuguese law.

The president said that this was an exceptional decision and that the pandemic will be a "huge" challenge to the economy, adding that it is a "war".

The number of positive COVID-19 cases in Portugal rose to 642 on Wednesday, 194 more than on the previous day, according to the Directorate-General for Health (DGS). Two deaths have been reported so far.

Russia

Russian health authorities on Thursday ordered the country's regions to ensure a 14-day isolation period for everyone arriving from abroad to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Individuals can be isolated at home or put under observation in specialized clinics, said a decree signed by Anna Popova, head of Russia's Federal Service for the Oversight of Consumer Protection and Welfare.

All arrivals are required to report when they returned to the country, as well as the place and duration of their stay abroad via local hotlines.

Russia on Thursday reported its first coronavirus-related death, an unnamed 79-year-old woman in Moscow with underlying health issues who died from pneumonia after testing positive for the virus.

Russia, which has temporarily barred entry to foreigners and imposed an array of flight restrictions, has reported 147 coronavirus cases so far, less than many other European countries.

Rwanda

Rwanda announced on Wednesday it will suspend arriving and departing commercial flights for a period of 30 days, effective Friday, in a bid to stem the coronavirus spread in the country.

Three additional coronavirus cases were confirmed, bringing the country's tally to 11, the Ministry of Health said in a statement.

Chad confirms first case



Chad confirmed its first case of coronavirus on Thursday, a Moroccan national who had traveled to the country from Cameroon, the government said in a statement.

Slovenia

Slovenia plans to impose a ban on socializing in public spaces from Friday to slow the spread of coronavirus, Interior Minister Ales Hojs told national TV Slovenia late on Wednesday.

Earlier on Wednesday the EU country, which borders on Italy, Austria, Hungary and Croatia, moved to lessen the impact of the heath crisis on businesses and farmers with a proposal to delay bank loan repayments to those affected for 12 months.

The country has so far confirmed 286 coronavirus cases. One person has died while six people are in intensive care.

Slovenia on Wednesday also reduced the number of border crossings with Italy to four and will go on performing health checks there. Before the outbreak there were over 20 border crossings with Italy open.

South Africa

South Africa's ports authority said Thursday that tests have come back negative for those onboard the cruise liner MV AidAmira and the MV Corona cargo vessel, which had been held under quarantine off Cape Town's port limits due to a suspected coronavirus outbreak.

On Wednesday, South Africa's government ordered bars and restaurants to close at night and limit the number of patrons to 50 people during the day as it ratcheted up its response to the coronavirus outbreak.

South Africa has 116 confirmed cases so far.

Switzerland

Switzerland extended its self-isolation on Wednesday to curb the widening spread of the coronavirus pandemic as the country's tradition of direct democracy fell victim to the outbreak.

The government cancelled a May 17 vote on Switzerland's relationship with the EU and suspended campaigns for other referendums. It was the first time in nearly 70 years that the government canceled a raft of referendums.

The government also launched the rationing of some common painkiller and anti-fever drugs to prevent panic buying caused by the coronavirus outbreak.

The number of people tested positive for the new coronavirus in Switzerland and Liechtenstein has risen to 3,028, health authorities said. The number of deaths rose to 21 from 19.

Uganda

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on Wednesday announced a string of new measures to fight COVID-19, including closing schools and other institutions of learning for one month starting from Friday.

Museveni also said that religious gatherings will be suspended for one month with immediately, and mass weddings are banned.

The government has also suspended all public rallies for political or cultural purposes for the next 32 days.

It has also instituted a travel ban to and from countries most affected by the disease. Ugandans are prohibited from going to or through those countries, Museveni said.

Ugandans coming back from abroad will be put in a mandatory quarantine in a designated place at their own cost, Museveni said.

US

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he will invoke the Defense Production Act, which allows the administration to force American industry to ramp up production of medical supplies, to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

"It can do a lot of good things if we need it," Trump said during a White House briefing with reporters.

Meanwhile, the US Senate overwhelmingly passed legislation on Wednesday providing billions of dollars to limit the damage from the pandemic through free testing, paid sick leave and expanded safety-net spending. Trump signed the bill into law later in the day.

The coronavirus has infected almost 8,000 people in the United States, killing at least 145. 

Two members of the US House of Representatives, Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida and Ben McAdams of Utah, said on Wednesday they had tested positive for the coronavirus, becoming the first members of Congress known to have contracted the illness.

The United States is suspending all routine visa services as of Wednesday in most countries worldwide due to the outbreak, a spokeswoman for the State Department said. It was not clear which or how many countries are halting services.

Meanwhile, two Washington employees of the World Bank Group have been diagnosed with COVID-19, President David Malpass on Wednesday told staff in a memo obtained by Reuters, marking the first cases at the World Bank and its sister organizations.

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