Coronavirus latest: Trump closes US-Canada border; stocks slide; Glastonbury and Eurovision cancelled

Stocks fell sharply on Wednesday and Hong Kong confirmed 14 new coronavirus cases, the highest number of new cases in a single day, with 13 of them from overseas arrivals in the city. There are now 181 cases and four deaths in the city.

This came as the United States pushes a US$1 trillion package to fight the economic threat posed by the deadly coronavirus, while China’s health authorities signalled a potential new milestone in the fight against the pandemic’s spread.

China’s National Health Commission spokesman Mi Feng said there were no new “suspected” domestic cases on the mainland, but added that caution was still needed against imported cases.

He said it was also necessary to “vigorously carry out international cooperation to take joint responses”.

His comments came as China confirmed just one new mainland domestic case on Wednesday and 12 imported cases. The total number of infections was 80,894, while 69,601 people have recovered. The death toll was 3,237, with 11 new deaths reported Wednesday in Hubei province, ground zero of China’s outbreak.

Asian hotspots China and South Korea have seen new infections and deaths level out in recent weeks as numbers ballooned across Europe, which has shut its borders.

The situation in the US appeared more grim after a Bloomberg report said US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin warned Republican senators that US unemployment could rise to 20 per cent without government stimulus intervention.

In Africa, with its fragile health care systems, more than 400 cases have been reported. Latin America has more than 1,100, with the continent’s most populated country Brazil confirming its first death Tuesday.

Here are the developments:

European stocks fall, Wall Street opens lower

Wall Street stocks resumed their downward slide early on Wednesday as the economic toll mounts from the rapid near-shutdown of key industrial and services sectors.

About five minutes into trading, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 5.4 per cent at 20,102.12. The broad-based S&P 500 slumped 4.9 per cent to 2,404.96, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index tumbled 4.5 per cent to 7,003.31.

European shares tumbled on Wednesday as fears over the relentless global spread of the coronavirus overshadowed sweeping stimulus measures to support businesses and contain the economic damage from the pandemic.

The pan-European STOXX 600 index sank 4.6 per cent, sending it back toward near-seven-year lows hit in a massive global sell-off on Monday, with bourses in London and Germany leading declines.

US-Canada border closed to non-essential travellers

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced the closure of the US-Canada border to non-essential travellers as the coronavirus epidemic intensified in both countries -- but said that trade would not be impacted.

The shutdown built on Trump’s barring of visitors from most of Europe, China and other parts of the world, as the number of confirmed virus cases in the US surged past 6,500, with 115 deaths.

“We will be, by mutual consent, temporarily closing our Northern Border with Canada to non-essential traffic. Trade will not be affected. Details to follow!” Trump tweeted.

Canada’s Foreign Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was also expected to make an announcement on the issue, without providing specifics. As of Wednesday morning, Canada had around 600 confirmed coronavirus cases and eight deaths.

25 million more people face unemployment

The coronavirus outbreak will significantly increase global unemployment, pushing up to nearly 25 million more people out of work, the United Nations said on Wednesday.

“The economic and labour crisis created by the Covid-19 pandemic could increase global unemployment by almost 25 million,” the International Labour Organisation said as it released a fresh study.

It added however that an internationally coordinated policy response could “significantly lower” that number.

Britain announces emergency laws, support for workers

Britain has unveiled sweeping emergency powers to deal with the spiralling coronavirus outbreak, including proposals allowing police to detain potentially infected people to be tested.

There have been 1,950 confirmed cases and 71 deaths in Britain.

Britain has ramped up its response to the Covid-19 pandemic, after initially taking a more cautious approach than other countries. Chief scientific adviser Patrick Vallance said it was “reasonable” to estimate that 55,000 people inside the country could now have the virus.

Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Wednesday his government would bring forward new measures to support workers and protect private renters from being evicted from their homes because of coronavirus, and was also stepping up testing for coronavirus to 25,000 a day.

A decision on closing schools would be made imminently, he said.

Top epidemiologist self-isolates

A British professor who was in Downing Street this week after convincing Prime Minister Boris Johnson to stiffen his response to the coronavirus outbreak has self isolated after developing a persistent dry cough and a fever.

“Sigh. Developed a slight dry but persistent cough yesterday and self isolated even though I felt fine. Then developed high fever at 4am today. There is a lot of COVID-19 in Westminster,” said Neil Ferguson, a professor of mathematical biology at Imperial College London.

On Tuesday, he said the British government got the timing of its coronavirus strategy about right but that there was no time to lose on moving to more stringent measures.

Glastonbury Festival, Eurovision cancelled

Britain’s Glastonbury Festival, the largest greenfield music festival in the world, has been cancelled this year due to the coronavirus outbreak, organisers said on Wednesday.

Paul McCartney and Taylor Swift were among those due to play Glastonbury in its 50th anniversary year in June.

Organisers of the Eurovision Song Contest said it will not take place in 2020. “It is with deep regret that we have to announce the cancellation of the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 in Rotterdam,” Eurovision’s organisers said in a statement.

Taiwan to shut border to foreigners

Taiwan will bar foreign nationals from visiting the island beginning Thursday to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

The ban will be until further notice, according to Chen Shih-chung, the head of Taiwan’s coronavirus command centre.

Foreigners holding Taiwan resident permits, diplomatic visas or business visas will be allowed to enter, and all new arrivals will be subject to 14-day home or hotel quarantine.

The island’s government on Wednesday reported 23 new cases, bringing the total to 100, including one death. Of the 23, two were domestic infections and the rest were imported.

Taiwan has so far issued travel warnings for 98 countries.

Vaccine approved for human testing in Wuhan

CanSino Biologics Inc. said it received Chinese regulatory approval to start human trials of a vaccine against the novel coronavirus.

The vaccine, co-developed by the Hong Kong-listed company and China’s Academy of Military Medical Sciences, will undergo clinical trials in Wuhan, CanSino Biologics said in a statement to the Hong Kong stock exchange on Wednesday. Wuhan is the epicentre for the pandemic that has spread to all corners of the planet, infecting more than 190,000 people and killing more than 7,800.

CanSino’s trial involves injecting the experimental vaccine into 108 healthy adults, aged 18 to 60, in three different doses, according to data from the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry. Tests will start this month and continue through year’s end. The vaccine was tested on animals and proven safe and capable of eliciting immunity against the virus, CanSino said in its statement.

Grim new single-day record for Iran

Iran said on Wednesday that the novel coronavirus has killed 147 more people, a new single-day record in the virus-stricken country that raised the overall toll to 1,135.

There were 1,192 new infections confirmed in the past 24 hours, raising the total to 17,161. Tehran province had the highest number of new cases with 213.

“Now everyone knows about this disease, and what is very strange is that some don’t take it seriously,” Deputy Health Minister Alireza Raisi said. “If people help, we can control it, and if not, then expect it to last more than two months.”

The deputy minister complained that in Tehran “bazaars are busy” and that people travel in their cars despite warnings not to do so. Iran is yet to impose any lockdowns but officials have repeatedly called on the public to stay home.

Malaysia reports surge in new cases, will keep palm plantations open

On Wednesday Malaysia confirmed 117 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 790. The health ministry said 80 of the new cases were linked to a gathering of 16,000 at a mosque near Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia has closed its borders and restricted internal movement by shutting schools and businesses from Wednesday until March 31.

Meanwhile, the government directed palm plantations to continue operations even as the country shuts businesses, ensuring steady supplies of the tropical oil to global markets. Malaysia is the world’s second-largest producer of palm oil, which is used in everything from cosmetics to biscuits and accounts for about 65 per cent of global edible oil exports. The planned closure of palm plantations as a part of the measures had caused concerns in top importers, including India.

Indonesia, the world’s biggest palm oil producer, has yet to take a decision on plantation closures.

Pope recommends hugs, phone calls as Italy may need to extend lockdown

Pope Francis stressed Wednesday the importance of families and friends making small gestures such as hugs and phone calls during times of isolation in a pandemic.

“We must rediscover the concrete nature of small things, of making small gestures toward those around us – family, friends,” the 83-year-old pontiff said. “They are gestures of tenderness, of affection, of compassion, which are nonetheless decisive and important – for example, a hot dish, a caress, a hug, a phone call.”

Meanwhile, officials said an unprecedented lockdown imposed on Italians last week might be extended if the incidence of new cases does not slow. The government has ordered restaurants, bars and most shops to shut down until March 25, with schools and universities closed. But since the restrictions were ramped up on March 12, the number of new cases has more than doubled in Italy to 31,506. The number of deaths has more than tripled to 2,503.

The head of welfare in the northern region of Lombardy, the epicentre of the contagion, said even tougher curbs might be needed to halt the trend. “Either the curve goes down by Sunday or we will probably have to consider adopting even more rigid measures,” Giulio Gallera told local media.

Virus a ‘product of poor Chinese culture’

Hong Kong experts called on the public to stop spreading unfounded rumours online that the United States was the origin of the deadly virus that causes Covid-19.

“The coronavirus from Wuhan is a product of the poor Chinese culture,” infectious diseases expert Professor Yuen Kwok-yung and Dr David Christopher Lung, honorary assistant professor at the Department of Microbiology at the University of Hong Kong, wrote in a column published by Chinese-language newspaper Ming Pao on Wednesday.

Foreign ministry spokesman tweets claim US military brought virus to Wuhan

“[Chinese people] overhunt and eat wild animals to fulfil their desire, treat animals inhumanely and disrespect lives. The deep-rooted corrupted customs and habits are the root of the virus. With such attitude, ‘Sars 3.0’ will definitely appear in the next decade.

“It was a big mistake that the wild animal markets were not closed after Sars,” said the experts, referring to a form of atypical pneumonia caused by a type of coronavirus, which struck mainland China in late 2002 and killed 299 in Hong Kong in 2003.

Europe shuts borders

EU leaders signed off a ban on almost all foreign travel into the bloc for 30 days after an emergency video summit on the coronavirus outbreak.

All 27 EU states except for Ireland, which is in a common travel area with non-EU member Britain, are on board, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.

Germany announced it would impose the restrictions straight away, and France said Tuesday it had already done so.

The EU executive’s plan also covered the non-EU Schengen free movement area countries Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein. It was not immediately clear whether these four would also participate.

More than 61,000 cases of Covid-19 – the disease caused by the virus – have been confirmed in the EU and Britain so far, with 2,740 deaths. Europe has supplanted China to become the epicentre of the pandemic.

‘20 per cent jobless’ warning as Trump seeks US$1 trillion

The Trump administration is proposing US$1 trillion in economic stimulus to contain the effects of the coronavirus, including relief for small businesses and the airline industry, and US$1,000 cheques for American workers.

“We’re going big and that’s the way it’ll be,” US President Donald Trump told reporters.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin raised the possibility with Republican senators that US unemployment could rise to 20 per cent without government intervention because of the impact of the coronavirus, according to people familiar with the matter, Bloomberg reported.

He reportedly told the senators that he believes the economic fallout from the coronavirus was potentially worse than the 2008 financial crisis. A Treasury spokeswoman said Mnuchin “used several mathematical examples for illustrative purposes, but he never implied this would be the case”.

The unemployment scenario raised by Mnuchin would be a dramatic turn from February, when the US jobless rate fell back to a half-century low of 3.5 per cent.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said his chamber would this week pass a multibillion-dollar emergency spending bill cleared by the House of Representatives on Saturday, despite concerns from some Republicans.

As coronavirus panic grows, Americans stock up – on guns

Saudi Arabia to convene virtual G20 leaders summit

Saudi Arabia, which chairs the Group of 20 major economies, announced an extraordinary virtual leaders summit next week “to put forward a coordinated set of policies to protect people and safeguard the global economy”.

The kingdom also said that mosques would no longer be open for the customary five daily prayers or Friday congregations, an exceptional move to limit the spread of the coronavirus which has infected 171 people in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia has taken drastic steps to try and slow down the spread of the virus, including suspending the Umrah pilgrimage, halting international flights, and closing schools and most public establishments.

CNN Philippines goes off-air in virus scare

CNN Philippines stopped broadcasting on Wednesday after a coronavirus case was confirmed in the building where the television channel is based, forcing it off the air while the offices are disinfected.

Viewers tuning in to the local franchise were met with the network’s red logo on a blank screen as it announced it would be off-air for at least 24 hours.

In Hong Kong, South China Morning Post closed its headquarters in Causeway Bay’s Times Square building after a freelancer working in its newsroom tested positive in a preliminary screening for the coronavirus.

Deep cleaning at the offices will take place as staff work from home. The publication’s main online platform would continue to be updated round the clock with the latest news. The flagship print edition would still hit the news stands daily.

Airlines need US$200 billion to survive

The global airline industry needs government aid and bailout measures totalling between US$150 billion and US$200 billion if it’s to survive the coronavirus crisis, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Even then, the pandemic is likely to reshape the industry, with many airlines failing, others consolidating and entirely new groupings emerging, IATA Chief Executive Officer Alexandre de Juniac said on Tuesday.

IATA, which represents 290 airlines around the world, said a February 5 estimate suggesting carriers will lose US$113 billion in revenue this year is already outdated. It didn’t take account of the border closures and flight bans that have been enforced around the world as the virus has spread.

Tom Hanks has the ‘blahs’

Tom Hanks said he feels the “blahs” but has no fever as he and wife Rita Wilson remain in isolation in an Australian residence after being discharged from a hospital following their coronavirus diagnosis.

A representative for the Oscar winner confirmed that the pair were no longer hospitalised, and Hanks himself provided an update saying he was doing chores and getting beaten by his wife in cards as they remain self-quarantined.

“Hey folks. Good news: One week after testing positive, in self-isolation, the symptoms are much the same. No fever but the blahs. Folding dishes and doing the dishes leads to a nap on the couch. Bad news: my wife has won 6 straight hands of Gin Rummy and now leads by 201 points,” he posted on social media on Tuesday evening.

Instead of a photo of himself or his wife, the post showed an old typewriter that he travelled with “that I used to love. We are all in this together. Flatten the curve,” he wrote, promoting the idea of social distancing to prevent further spread of the disease.

Australia orders citizens not to travel abroad

Australia told its citizens on Wednesday to halt all overseas travel in an unprecedented move designed to choke off the spread of the coronavirus epidemic.

The government also banned non-essential indoor gatherings of more than 100 people including weddings and restaurants as part a range of measures that could be maintained implemented for more than six months to slow the spread of the new coronavirus. The indoor limit follows an earlier ban on outdoor gatherings exceeding 500.

Australia by Wednesday had 454 confirmed infections among a population of 25 million, but the infection rate is gathering pace.

South Korea and Thailand cases

The number of new coronavirus infections in South Korea saw a slight uptick for the second day straight, with 93 new cases recorded since the previous day, according to Korea’s Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

The increase, which brought the country’s infection total to 8,413, followed a days-long downward trend in new cases. Three more infected people also died, bringing the death toll to 84. Most of the cases, including 79 of the new ones, are concentrated in the south-eastern city of Daegu and its surrounding region.

Thailand, meanwhile, reported 35 new coronavirus cases, taking its total infections to 212, a disease control official said. Many of the latest cases are linked to clusters from pubs and boxing stadiums. Schools, universities and a number of recreational have started to close.

First dog found with coronavirus has died, Hong Kong authorities say

Big Brother cast learns about virus crisis

Germany’s Big Brother contestants reacted with tears and concern when the host on Tuesday broke the news of the coronavirus pandemic on live TV, lifting an information blackout that had kept them unaware of the shutdowns sweeping Europe.

Broadcaster Sat 1 had faced a growing backlash for keeping the 14 residents in the dark while the rest of Germany comes to grips with unprecedented confinement measures to slow the virus’s spread.

Many family members told the contestants to stay upbeat and used the opportunity to encourage them to stay put.

The latest season of the show started in early February, when the virus was still largely confined to China’s Wuhan city.

Tokyo Olympics to be held as planned

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Tuesday that this summer’s Tokyo Olympics will be held as scheduled, despite challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic.

“The IOC remains fully committed to the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, and with more than four months to go before the games there is no need for any drastic decisions at this stage; and any speculation at this moment would be counterproductive,” it said in a statement.

“The IOC encourages all athletes to continue to prepare for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 as best they can,” the statement said, adding, “The IOC has confidence that the many measures being taken by many authorities around the world will help contain the situation of the Covid-19 virus.”

Russia shuts down all schools but Putin says virus ‘under control’

Russian authorities are closing all of the country’s schools for three weeks starting next Monday amid the coronavirus pandemic. Officials said there would be an extended spring break with the opportunity to continue studies remotely.

Authorities in different Russian regions imposed restrictions on public events and recommended that people work and study from home. Last week, Moscow closed schools and banned gatherings of more than 50 people in the city.

Russia has also closed its borders to foreigners from Wednesday.

President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday said the situation with the spreading coronavirus is “under control” in Russia after infections were “contained”.

Hong Kong skiers return from Whistler and Vancouver infected with Covid-19

Russia on Tuesday reported a total of 114 cases of coronavirus, up from 93 on Monday, with no fatalities.

Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova, who is responsible for health, dismissed concerns that authorities may struggle if thousands of Russians require respiratory support.

Russia is “ready to use over 40,000 respiratory support systems,” she said at the meeting, adding that 106 of the cases in Russia are not severe.

Amazon prioritises medical supplies for delivery

Amazon on Tuesday made a priority of medical supplies and household staples, putting shipments of other goods on hold to focus on key items during the coronavirus outbreak.

“We are seeing increased online shopping and as a result some products such as household staples and medical supplies are out of stock,” the e-commerce titan said. “We are temporarily prioritising household staples, medical supplies and other high-demand products coming into our fulfilment centres so we can more quickly receive, restock and ship these products to customers.”

People hunkered down due to the deadly coronavirus have turned to Amazon for anything from toilet tissue to groceries and pet treats.

Brazil reports first death

Brazil on Tuesday reported its first confirmed death from the coronavirus outbreak, as Congress cancelled a joint session due to a lack of quorum and the country braced for the mounting epidemic.

If lawmakers fail to turn up due to concerns about spreading the disease, the government’s agenda of privatisations, tax reforms and public payroll cuts could quickly grind to a halt.

Brazilian official who met Trump tests positive for coronavirus

President Jair Bolsonaro underwent his second coronavirus test on Tuesday, after it emerged in recent days that he had contact with a number of people now known to have contracted the virus. The test results may be released later on Tuesday, the president’s office said.

Bolsonaro was first tested last Thursday after his communications secretary Fabio Wajngarten, who was part of the presidential party that visited Florida and met Trump last week, tested positive for Covid-19.

Bolsonaro said via social media on Friday he had tested negative.

Cruise ship stranded off South Africa coast

More than 1,700 people are stranded on a cruise and a cargo ship off the coast of South Africa’s Cape Town over fears that some of them are infected with coronavirus, the ports authority said Tuesday.

Transnet, South Africa’s maritime authority, said it “held off port limits” two ships after a crew member on board one of the vessels “began to exhibit symptoms of Covid-19”. The crew member had been on a flight from Istanbul, Turkey on March 9, with six other people who went onto board cruise liner AIDAmira that sailed to neighbouring Namibia.

The six passengers are currently asymptomatic and none of the passengers or crew members on the cruise ship have shown any symptoms.

Bloomberg, Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, Reuters and DPA