Coronavirus news: death toll rises in Italy and Iran as outbreak could cause 2008-level economic damage – live updates
Britain’s chief medical officer says mass gatherings could be cancelled. Meanwhile, experts say virus could trigger 2008-level economic damage
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The director of the Wellcome Trust has called for the world bank to spend $10bn on the crisis.
Jeremy Farrar said an urgent commitment of $10 billion (£7.7bn), “with more to follow as needed,” was “essential” from the World Bank to “underpin the public health measures in low- and middle-income countries, coordinated by the WHO alongside critical investment in diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines.”
The coronavirus outbreak will cost world tourism at least $22bn (£17b) owing to a drop in spending by Chinese tourists, said the head of the World Travel and Tourism Council.
The COVID-19 epidemic has killed more than 2,760 people, mostly in China – where it first emerged in December – and infected more than 81,000 in over 45 countries.
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