Marcon announced France in Lockdown

BBC News Live Report

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-51903319

15:14

France to be locked down from Tuesday

France will go into enforced lockdown from Tuesday midday, French President Emmanuel Macron has said in a national address from the Elysee Palace.

All residents have been ordered to stay at home, and can only leave for essential reasons.

Movements will be very severely limited, he said,

"We are at war," the president said numerous times.

15:21

More details on France's tough measures

President Macron is announcing a raft of measures as he puts France on a war-footing to fight the virus.

Here are the key details:

All non-essential movement to be banned from Tuesday midday for 15 days; residents must stay at home

Punishments for those flouting the regulations

Army to be used to help transport the sick to hospital

Military hospital to be used in Alsace, near German border

Borders to be closed in agreement with other European Union countries

Second round of local elections postponed

No business, regardless of size, will be allowed to fail

also on BBC News live feed:

15:51

US outbreak could continue until August - Trump

We're watching US President Donald Trump's press conference in the White House. Here are some key points:

The outbreak in the US is expected to last until "July or August, perhaps longer", Mr Trump says

US residents are advised to avoid bars, restaurants and public spaces, as well as unnecessary travel

People should avoid gathering in groups of more than 10

But Mr Trump said there were no current plans for a nationwide quarantine - suggesting that people in the US are already self-isolating

White House coronavirus response coordinator Dr Deborah Birx issued an appeal directly to millennials, asking them to limit social contact. "They are the core people that will stop this virus. We really want people to be separated," she said.

Dr Birx also warned against socialising even if people feel well. "We know that there is a large group of infected people who are asymptomatic, who continue to spread the virus," she said

CDC Covid-19 And Influenza Statistics March 16 2020

Covid-19: US At A Glance

Total Case 3487 (1629 Friday)

Total Deaths: 68 (41 Friday)

(Currently CDC updates Covid-19 statistics Mon-Fri at noon; combined presumptive and positive test results)

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-in-us.html

U.S. Virologic Surveillance - Clinical Laboratories

Week 10 (ending March 7 2020) Influenza (A&B) 9413 positive

Cumulative since September 29 2019 222,552 positive

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/index.htm

Mortality calculation:

Covid-19 current mortality 68/3487 = 1.95%

Influenza week 9 mortality 4577/213139 = 2.14%

(week 40 to week 9, lasted figure reported)

>>8440469

>>8440474

CDC Covid-19 webpage CDC Alert:

CDC recommends that for the next 8 weeks, organizers cancel or postpone in-person events that consist of 50 people or more throughout the U.S.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/large-events/index.html

Guidance as of 3/15/2020

Large events and mass gatherings can contribute to the spread of COVID-19 in the United States via travelers who attend these events and introduce the virus to new communities. Examples of large events and mass gatherings include conferences, festivals, parades, concerts, sporting events, weddings, and other types of assemblies. These events can be planned not only by organizations and communities but also by individuals.

Therefore, CDC, in accordance with its guidance for large events and mass gatherings, recommends that for the next 8 weeks, organizers (whether groups or individuals) cancel or postpone in-person events that consist of 50 people or more throughout the United States.

Events of any size should only be continued if they can be carried out with adherence to guidelines for protecting vulnerable populations, hand hygiene, and social distancing. When feasible, organizers could modify events to be virtual.

This recommendation does not apply to the day to day operation of organizations such as schools, institutes of higher learning, or businesses. This recommendation is made in an attempt to reduce introduction of the virus into new communities and to slow the spread of infection in communities already affected by the virus. This recommendation is not intended to supersede the advice of local public health officials.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/large-events/mass-gatherings-ready-for-covid-19.html

Switzerland declares emergency

BBC News Live Report

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-51903319

16.24

Our reporter Imogen Foulkes has this from Geneva:

People here expected the state of emergency - with cases of the virus rising fast, many thought the government should have declared it on Friday, when it announced that schools would close.

But now that it has happened, Switzerland, one of the richest countries in the world, is facing at least a month with everything but the bare essentials closed. There will be no bars, no cafes, no restaurants, no sports, no nightclubs, no cinemas, no museums.

This evening in Bern people are heading to the bars for a last beer. Student Nadine is disappointed that her upcoming birthday party won’t happen, but says complaining feels a bit like a "first world problem".

Actually it’s quite fascinating," she says, "we are at a pivotal moment in history". Historic it certainly is: to support hospitals the Swiss government today mobilised the army, the first time that has happened since the start of World War Two.

>>844027 Marcon announced France in Lockdown

Russia bans entry to foreigners until May

BBC News Live Report

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-51903319

Russia bans entry to foreigners until May

Russia has temporarily banned all foreigners from entering the country, following other nations worldwide in restricting travel over the coronavirus pandemic.

The ban will come into effect on 18 March and will remain in place until 1 May, the government said on Monday.

Exceptions will be made for diplomats and permanent residents. Some 93 cases of the virus have been reported so far in Russia.

Russia has been accused of spreading disinformation about the new coronavirus outbreak on social media- allegations it has flatly denied.

It has also been slow compared to other countries in starting testing. This has led to speculation that the real number of cases is much higher than reported.

Russia's government says up to 100,000 testing kits are being produced daily to start testing in large numbers.

>>8440276 Marcon announced France in Lockdown

>>8440736 Switzerland declares emergency