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Coronavirus live news: outbreak like a nuclear explosion, says archbishop of Canterbury Italy death toll approaches 3,000; Portugal declares state of emergency; worldwide cases pass 200,000. Follow the latest updatesCoronavirus latest: at a glanceFollow our US coronavirus live blogFollow our Australia coronavirus live blogSee all our coronavirus coverageShare your experiences 11.54pm GMTReuters is reporting that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will pardon 10,000 prisoners including political ones in honour of the Iranian new year on Friday, state TV reported. “Those who will be pardoned will not return to jail ... almost half of those security-related prisoners will be pardoned as well,” judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili told state TV on Wednesday....

'Not ready to go': tributes paid to UK's first named victims of coronavirus Details of Britons to have died in Covid-19 pandemic have emerged in at least five casesCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageOf the more than 2,600 people to have contracted coronavirus in the UK by Wednesday, 104 have died. That figure has more than doubled since Sunday. Most have not been named, and the majority are older people who had underlying health conditions – though in some cases family members and medical professionals have been keen to emphasise that they were expected to live with their conditions for many years.The youngest person confirmed dead so far was 45-year-old Craig Ruston. Another unnamed victim was 93. Ninety nine of the deaths have been in England, two ...

US coronavirus live: Senate votes to expand free testing and paid leave US and Canada to close border to non-essential trafficSanders reassesses campaign after Biden builds formidable leadCoronavirus US: how many have been tested and is there a shortage?Support the Guardian’s independent journalism. Make a contributionSee all our coronavirus coverage 11.47pm GMTMelania Trump will appear in public service announcements that “address the “important ways Americans can protect themselves and those most at risk” from contracting and spreading the coronavirus, according to the White House. 11.28pm GMTMiami-Dade County will restrict of close all non-essential business, its mayor announced. Starting tomorrow, non-essential retail, private educational facilities and casi...

What a coronavirus lockdown might mean for London How countries from China to Italy have imposed measures to curb the spread of Covid-19Coronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageWhen China announced plans to lock down Wuhan and most of the surrounding Hubei province, the news was greeted with astonishment around the world. Experts warned that it was an unprecedented and risky attempt to control the virus that might not work.Nearly two months later, with the daily number of new cases in China down to single digits last week, Wuhan is starting to emerge from two months of isolation, and this approach has become the model for other countries with outbreaks that appear to be sliding out of control.Now there is speculation the British government is preparing to implem...

UK coronavirus live: BBC stops filming EastEnders and other dramas; new measures on supermarket stockpiling and elderly access Rolling coverage of the latest coronavirus news from the UKCoronavirus - latest global updatesGlastonbury festival postponed due to coronavirusBBC suspends filming of EastEnders due to coronavirusTesting for coronavirus: what is being done in the UK?See all our coronavirus coverage 11.47am GMTSupermarket chains Asda and the Co-operative have this morning been the latest retailers to tackle soaring demand from shoppers by announcing restrictions on what they can buy. As well as limiting shoppers to three items on all food, toiletries and cleaning products, Asda is - like Sainsbury’s - closing its cafes and pizza counters in order to better deploy staff. We ...

Coronavirus live news: global infections creep towards 200,000 as WHO urges aggressive action in south-east Asia EU implements strictest travel ban in history; outbreak reaches every US state; Australian PM declares ‘human biosecurity emergency’. Follow the latest updates. Coronavirus latest: at a glanceUK: £330bn of guaranteed loans to be made available for businessesNazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe freed temporarily from Iranian prisonHow to look after yourself and others in self-isolationShare your experiences 5.46am GMTKatharine Murphy, Guardian Australia’s political editor here: There needs to be an overt caveat placed on all political commentary at the moment. Given how rapidly events are changing, and given we are all enduring circumstances well outside any recen...

Coronavirus news: trials longer than three days to be put on hold in UK – live updates UK measures to last at least ‘several months’; Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe freed temporarily; Saudi Arabia to stage virtual G20 summit. Follow the latest updatesCoronavirus latest: at a glanceUK: £330bn of guaranteed loans to be made available for businessesNazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe freed temporarily from Iranian prisonHow to look after yourself and others in self-isolationShare your experiences 12.01am GMTArgentina registered its highest single-day rise in reported coronavirus cases so far Tuesday, with 14 new cases – 12 corresponding to recent arrivals from abroad – bringing the total to 79. Two deaths have been reported so far. 11.54pm GMTA bit more on the first case in ...

'Whatever it takes': chancellor announces £350bn aid for UK businesses Sunak’s huge loan and grant package is intended to avert a severe recessionCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageThe chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced a £350bn package of loans and grants to help Britain cope with the lockdown of large parts of the economy, as he warned the country was facing a threat to its prosperity unmatched in peacetime.Less than a week after pledging £12bn in his budget to soften the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the chancellor admitted that the measures were insufficient to tackle the savage blow to growth and stressed he would do “whatever it takes” to see the UK through the crisis. Continue reading... Go to Source

‘There is a policy of surrender’: doctor on UK’s Covid-19 failures Consultant Mark Gallagher can’t understand why the NHS is not testing its staff for coronavirus Coronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageMark Gallagher, a consultant cardiologist, is at home with a temperature of 38 and is pretty certain he has Covid-19. But the NHS will not test him for it. Instead, he has paid for a test kit from a private UK clinic and a colleague in China is sending him another.Gallagher has been in and out of his London hospital every day for the last 28 in a row. In the past couple of weeks he saw maybe 70 people in outpatients, he said. Continue reading... Go to Source

Testing for coronavirus: what is being done in the UK? Tests are mostly taking place in hospitals but there are calls to massively scale up effortsCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageAs of last week, when the prime minister announced Britain was no longer in the “contain” phase of the pandemic, most testing outside of hospitals stopped. People with symptoms are expected to self-isolate but will not know whether they have Covid-19. That means they will not know if they are immune or still at risk – and a risk to other people. Continue reading... Go to Source

The UK's new coronavirus measures in numbers Crunching the data behind the government’s new approach to tackling the crisisCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageOn Monday the government ramped up its coronavirus measures, advising greater social distancing and warning the disease was “approaching the fast growth part of the upward curve”.The new measures included advice to avoid pubs, clubs, cinemas and theatres. The prime minister also said avoiding unnecessary social contact was particularly important for pregnant women, the over-70s, and those with underlying health conditions that could make them more vulnerable to the virus. Continue reading... Go to Source

Coronavirus UK: £330bn of business loans made available as PM says school closures 'under continuous review' – politics live Chancellor Rishi Sunak says he will do whatever it takes to protect jobs and incomes and is offering mortgage holidays and business grants. The day’s political developments as they happenFull story: Sunak promises to guarantee £330bn loans to businessCoronavirus - latest updatesRaab advises UK public to avoid all non-essential travelSee all our coronavirus coverage 5.49pm GMTJohnson is winding up now.He says the more thoroughly people can follow the advice they have been given, the more they will be able to save lives and protect the NHS, and the more quickly they will get through this. 5.48pm GMTQ: Will you level with people about how bad this will be...

Coronavirus live news: Ohio primary polls ordered to close as French told to stay inside Ohio governor says voting won’t happen due to ‘health emergency’; NZ launches historic spending package; WHO urges widespread testing. Follow the latest updatesCalifornia: millions told to ‘shelter-in-place’Ohio primary vote halted at last minute EU calls for 30-day ban on foreigners entering blocCoronavirus latest: at a glanceShare your experiences 5.42am GMTThe Australian sharemarket has surged back to close up 5.8% for the day, bouncing back after its worst fall since 1987 on Monday.Futures markets are pointing to a strong day ahead for US markets, but they have become a less reliable indicator than usual amid intense volatility on global bourses.The Australian marke...

'Life put on hold': what the papers say about the UK coronavirus crisis Sobering plea from prime minister dominates front pages as UK comes to terms with wholesale change to daily lifeCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageUnprecedented measures to fight the spread of coronavirus in the UK reverberate across the front pages today, with many newspapers giving prominence to a picture of Boris Johnson’s “your country needs you” gesture.The Telegraph says simply: “Life put on hold” above a stormy looking prime minister. It highlights the latest quarantine measures and says a third of the population has been warned to avoid social contact this weekend. Every news in brief item relates to the virus too. The Matt cartoon makes a grim ref...

'This is like a war': view from Italy's coronavirus frontline Friends and relatives of those killed by Covid-19 tell of the virus’s devastating impactCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageThere are the elderly couples who died hours apart and without their families around them. There is the 47-year-old woman who died at home, and who remained there for almost two days because funeral companies refused to collect her body. There are the doctors who lost their lives after assisting their infected patients.Among the 2,158 people to have been killed by the coronavirus pandemic in Italy as of Monday, the oldest was 95 and the two youngest were 39. Continue reading... Go to Source

PM tells Britons to avoid non-essential travel and contact Boris Johnson announces series of new measures including 14-day isolation for households with symptoms Coronavirus - latest newsAll our coronavirus coverageBoris Johnson has urged the British public to take unprecedented peacetime measures, including avoiding all unnecessary contact and travel and staying away from pubs and theatres, following expert modelling which suggests the approach could cut the estimated coronavirus death toll from 260,000 to 20,000.The prime minister said the disease was now “approaching the fast growth part of the upward curve,” with London in the vanguard. Deaths in the UK rose from 35 to 55 on Monday, with half of diagnosed cases in the capital. Continue reading... Go to Source

'Not fit for purpose': UK medics condemn Covid-19 protection Doctors and nurses warn shortages of appropriate equipment may put lives of NHS staff lives at riskFrontline NHS staff are at risk of dying from Covid-19 after the protective gear requirements for health workers treating those infected were downgraded last week, doctors and nurses have warned.Hospital staff caring for the growing number of those seriously ill with the disease also fear that they could pass the infection on to other patients after catching it at work because of poor protection. Continue reading... Go to Source

Coronavirus updates: French citizens ordered to stay in their homes, as Canada closes borders to foreigners – live news WHO urges governments to ‘test, test, test’; US measures ramped up; Germany closes shops. Follow the latest newsCoronavirus latest: at a glanceBoris Johnson warns UK population to avoid non-essential contactEU calls for 30-day ban on foreigners entering blocHealth experts criticise NHS advice to take ibuprofenShare your experiences 11.44pm GMTA British cruise ship that was turned away from several Caribbean ports after passengers fell ill with novel coronavirus is scheduled to dock in on Cuba Tuesday after the island agreed to help transfer those aboard to planes bound for the United Kingdom, AP reports. 11.40pm GMTZimbabwe’s defence minister has des...

US sales of guns and ammunition soar amid coronavirus panic buying Long lines and ‘massive rush’ reported at gun stores across AmericaCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageSales of guns and ammunition are soaring across the US as fears of possible social unrest amid the coronavirus crisis are prompting some Americans to turn to firearms as a form of self-protection.On the west coast, long lines of customers were queueing up outside gun stores to stock up on deadly materials. At the Martin B Retting gun shop in Culver City, California, the queues stretched round the block throughout the weekend. Continue reading... Go to Source

The big question over coronavirus – can a person get it twice? Definitive answer not yet known, but experts say reinfection seems unlikelyCoronavirus – latest updatesFollow all our coronavirus coverage hereOne of the most concerning issues since the emergence of the Covid-19 virus has been whether those who have had it can get it a second time – and what that means for immunity.On Monday, both Sir Patrick Vallance, the government’s chief scientific adviser, and Prof Chris Whitty, Boris Johnson’s chief medical adviser, sought to reassure the public. Those who have had the virus once will develop some immunity, they said – and it is rare to get an infectious disease again. Continue reading... Go to Source

Boris Johnson warns UK population to avoid non-essential contact with others as coronavirus cases rise – politics live PM tells Britons to avoid pubs, restaurants and non-essential travel but school stay open for now as chief medical officer says ‘next few months are going to be extraordinarily difficult for NHS’Coronavirus – latest updatesPM tells Britons to avoid non-essential contact with othersWhich countries have restrictions and FCO warnings in place?Downing Street lobby briefing - Summary 5.45pm GMTJohnson is wrapping up now.He says he does not remember government announcing a change like this in his lifetime. He does not think there has been one since wartime, he says. 5.43pm GMTQ: Are you saying elderly MPs and peers must stay away from parliament?Johnson says...

Health experts criticise NHS advice to take ibuprofen for Covid-19 Comments come after French authorities say such drugs could aggravate conditionCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageExperts have criticised NHS advice that people self-isolating with Covid-19 should take ibuprofen, saying there is plausible evidence this could aggravate the condition.The comments came after French authorities warned against taking widely used over the counter anti-inflammatory drugs. The country’s health minister, Olivier Véran, a qualified doctor and neurologist, tweeted on Saturday: “The taking of anti-inflammatories [ibuprofen, cortisone … ] could be a factor in aggravating the infection. In case of fever, take paracetamol. If you are already taki...

IOC rules out staging Tokyo Olympic Games behind closed doors ‘No spectators is not an option for IOC,’ says sourceOlympic boxing tournament in London cancelledThe International Olympic Committee has ruled out staging the Tokyo Games behind closed doors because insiders say that would be anathema to the philosophy of a movement that seeks to bring people across the globe together in celebration of sport.Almost every major sport has shut down because of Covid-19 but the IOC and the Tokyo Organising Committee continue to maintain in public and private that the Games will go ahead in July. An IOC executive board meeting will take place on Tuesday but it is understood a postponement is not on the agenda. Continue reading... Go to Source

eBay urged to clamp down on coronavirus profiteering Household goods at vastly inflated prices, including loo roll for quadruple usual costCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageEBay has been urged to clamp down on people profiteering from the coronavirus outbreak as sellers rake in hundreds of pounds from vastly inflated prices on household goods.The Guardian found one UK-based seller who had pocketed £1,000 from selling packs of Andrex toilet roll at £50 each – more than double the retail price – on eBay since Saturday morning. Continue reading... Go to Source

Coronavirus map: how Covid-19 is spreading across the world Confirmed cases of Covid-19 have spanned the globe, and now exceed 170,000. Travel bans and closed borders have been put in place in an attempt to curtail the spreadThe coronavirus outbreak began in late 2019 in Wuhan, a city of more than 11 million people and the capital of Hubei province in China. Continue reading... Go to Source

Coronavirus live updates: global infections outstrip China cases as US ramps up response New York closes schools; CDC advises against gatherings of more than 50 people, US Fed cuts interest rates to near zero; deaths jump in Europe. Follow the latest news. Global deaths and infections overtake those inside ChinaFederal Reserve cuts interest rates to near zero New York City closes largest US public schools system 100m Europeans on lockdown as countries battle coronavirusCoronavirus latest: at a glanceSee all of our coronavirus coverage 5.54am GMTIn Australia, more now on the measures in Western Australia’s AU$607m (US$375) stimulus package: 5.47am GMTIn Australia, the state government of Western Australia has “frozen all household fees and charges including electricity, wate...

UK coronavirus crisis 'to last until spring 2021 and could see 7.9m hospitalised' Exclusive: Public Health England document seen by Guardian says four in five ‘expected’ to contract virusCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageThe coronavirus epidemic in the UK will last until next spring and could lead to 7.9 million people being hospitalised, a secret Public Health England (PHE) briefing for senior NHS officials reveals.The document, seen by the Guardian, is the first time health chiefs tackling the virus have admitted that they expect it to circulate for another 12 months and lead to huge extra strain on an already overstretched NHS. Continue reading... Go to Source

Trump tells US 'relax, we're doing great' as his virus expert says worst is yet to come Trump’s remarks contrast with lead infectious diseases expertCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageDonald Trump urged Americans to refrain from panic buying basic supplies during the Covid-19 pandemic as the administration announced plans to expand testing for the virus and health officials were preparing to release “advanced guidelines” on how to mitigate its spread.During a press briefing at the White House on Sunday evening, Trump again appeared to downplay the threat of the novel coronavirus. “Relax, we’re doing great,” he said, during short, meandering comments that focused mostly on celebrating a decision by the Federal Reserve to ...

'Not for sale': anger in Germany at report Trump seeking exclusive coronavirus vaccine deal Ministers and MPs criticise display of ‘self-interest’ and accuse US president of electioneeringCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageGerman ministers have reacted angrily following reports US president Donald Trump offered a German medical company “large sums of money” for exclusive rights to a Covid-19 vaccine.“Germany is not for sale,” economy minister Peter Altmaier told broadcaster ARD, reacting to a front page report in Welt am Sonntag newspaper headlined “Trump vs Berlin”. Continue reading... Go to Source

Coronavirus: at a glance A summary of the biggest developments in the global coronavirus outbreakFollow our latest coronavirus blog for live news and updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageKey developments in the global coronavirus outbreak include: Continue reading... Go to Source