Summary

  • Latest figures from Italy show 631 deaths and 10,149 cases

  • Travel restricted across Italy and public gatherings are forbidden

  • World Trade Organization suspends all meetings until 20 March after staff member infected

  • Iran reports 54 deaths, its highest figure yet over a 24-hour period

  • Shares in Europe lose ground after initially recovering from Monday's sharp fall

  • A sixth person dies in the UK where there are now 373 cases

  • Chinese President Xi Jinping visits Wuhan for first time since outbreak began

  1. How are people responding to coronavirus in the UK?published at 15:51 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2020

    Woman coughingImage source, Getty Images

    Handwashing. Self-isolating. Stockpiling.

    Life in the UK has certainly changed in recent weeks as the number of coronavirus cases continues to rise.

    But how are the British public responding?

    Read our round-up of reaction here.

  2. Is coronavirus coming between people and their faith?published at 15:48 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2020

    Lebo Diseko
    BBC News

    Worshippers, some of them wearing protective masks, take part in the Friday prayers in front of Mecca's Grand MosqueImage source, Getty Images

    As concern over the spread of coronavirus grows, people around the world are changing the way they do things.

    Some have cut back on travel plans and are avoiding crowded spaces. Others have dropped greetings like handshakes and hugs, in favour of elbow bumps and foot shakes.

    Churches, mosques, temples and synagogues are also changing rituals in an effort to contain the spread of the virus.

    So how easy is it to maintain the sense of spiritual connection when the way you worship has to change?

    Read on here.

  3. New York prison inmates making hand sanitiserpublished at 15:45 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2020

    New York state has faced a hand sanitiser shortage as coronavirus cases surge. In New York City, prices for any available sanitiser have also soared.

    In response, Governor Andrew Cuomo has said the state will begin making 100,000 gallons per week of its own "floral bouquet" scented hand sanitiser for government authorities and other facilities, like schools - by using inmate labour.

    Today, a spokesman for the New York prison system told local journalist Daniel Gross that, external inmate wages start at around $0.16 per hour and can go up to $0.65 per hour, which is "among the highest wages in New York State facilities".

    According to the spokesman, there are 98 inmates currently making sanitiser at the Great Meadow Correctional Facility.

    Critics have pointed out that incarcerated people are often banned from using hand sanitiser due to its high alcohol content.

    While Cuomo has said the sanitiser would be used in prisons, he has not specified whether the inmates making the product will have permission to use it.

  4. What's the risk of flying or taking the train?published at 15:41 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2020

    Reality Check

    As coronavirus continues to spread, some governments have restricted travel while, elsewhere, individual travellers have been taking their own precautions.

    The BBC has been receiving questions about whether it is safe to fly, go on a cruise or take public transport.

    Those questions have been answered here.

  5. Arcade owner takes advantage of panic-buyingpublished at 15:37 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2020

    With toilet paper seemingly a favourite of panic-buyers, the owner of Bridlington amusements arcade in northern England decided to replace some of the prizes his business was offering.

    Media caption,

    Bridlington amusements owner replaces grabber prizes with toilet paper

    Arcade grabber prizes replaced with loo roll

    Bridlington amusements owner replaces grabber prizes with toilet paper

    Read More
  6. What life looks like under Italy’s lockdownpublished at 15:29 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2020

    Travel bans, empty streets and prison riots, as 60 million people have their movements restricted.

    Media caption,

    Coronavirus: Life under Italy's lockdown

    How life looks under Italy’s coronavirus lockdown

    Travel bans, empty streets and prison riots, as 60 million people have their movements restricted.

    Read More
  7. Foreign nationals test positive in Maldivespublished at 15:26 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2020

    Coronavirus has now reached the Maldives in the Indian Ocean.

    Six foreign nationals have tested posited for the virus in the archipelago, which is popular with tourists.

    The identity of those infected has not been confirmed, but two of them are reported to be from Italy.

    The Maldives government has put two resorts under lockdown. A quarantine facility has also been set up near the capital Male.

    The facility is based on the uninhabited island of Kaafu Atoll, and each of the 30 air conditioned rooms contains:

    • A fully stocked minibar
    • Flat-screen television with worldwide entertainment centre
    • All-inclusive room-service including breakfast, lunch and dinner
    • On-site mobile medical centre with full-time doctors
  8. 'Behave normally and don't panic buy,' Scots toldpublished at 15:22 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2020

    Shelves for toilet roll sit bareImage source, Getty Images

    Scotland's national clinical director has advised against the public taking panic measures to cope with the arrival of coronavirus.

    Prof Jason Leitch advised against stockpiling items like soap and urged anyone with chronic health conditions to "behave sensibly and normally".

    He told BBC Scotland: "Just know the advice for those people is to go about their business as usual. Don't panic buy. Make sure you've got your medicines in place. Make sure you have got friends and family who can look after you and know where you are."

    Read the full story here.

  9. Greece closes schools and universities for two weekspublished at 15:20 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2020

    Greece has announced it will shut schools and universities for a two-week period as a precaution against the spread of coronavirus, the country's health minister has said, according to Reuters news agency.

  10. French football matches to be played without fanspublished at 15:13 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2020

    All matches in France's top two football leagues will be played behind closed doors until 15 April, it has been announced.

    On Sunday, France banned gatherings of more than 1,000 in a bid to contain the spread of the virus, which has infected over 1,400 and killed 30 in the country.

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  11. Second highest daily rise in UK virus casespublished at 15:09 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2020

    There are now 373 cases of coronavirus in the UK, a rise of 54 from Monday.

    Chart
  12. Where are the cases in the UK?published at 15:07 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2020

    Map of UK
  13. Easyjet cancels UK-Italy flightspublished at 15:06 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2020

    Tom Burridge
    Transport correspondent, BBC News

    Easyjet has confirmed that it has cancelled all of its flights to and from Italy for the next two days.

    The airline is in the process of reworking its schedule.

    It’s likely that Easyjet will follow other airlines and cancel the vast bulk of flights for the coming weeks.

    However it’s probable that a handful of flights will be kept to ensure that British nationals in Italy who need to travel back to the UK, can do.

  14. What are the coronavirus symptoms?published at 15:02 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2020

    Coronavirus infects the lungs. The symptoms start with a fever followed by a dry cough, which can lead to breathing problems.

    It takes five days on average to start showing the symptoms, scientists have said.

    People will be most infectious when they have symptoms, but there have been suggestions some can spread the virus even before they are sick.

    The early symptoms can easily be confused with other winter bugs including colds and flu.

    Graphic
  15. 'Enhanced cleaning' on London Undergroundpublished at 14:55 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2020

    London UndergroundImage source, EPA

    Transport for London has unveiled an "enhanced cleaning regime" to improve the "already-high hygiene levels on the capital's public transport".

    It said: "Cleaning across the Tube and bus network now includes additional substances that kill viruses and bacteria on contact in order to reduce the risk of coronavirus spreading."

    Mayor of London Sadiq Khan added: "I'm doing all I can to work with Public Health England and other experts to keep Londoners safe so I'm pleased that TfL is stepping up enhanced cleaning across the transport network.

    "Along with trialling new longer lasting cleaning fluid, this will help reduce the risk of coronavirus spreading. I want to reassure Londoners and visitors that the advice from experts is to continue with our daily lives as normal, including using public transport."

  16. Venice stands emptypublished at 14:51 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2020

    With the whole of Italy on lockdown, a city usually bustling with tourists has fallen silent.

    St Mark's SquareImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    A virtually deserted St Mark's Square

    VeniceImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    A gondolier waits for non-existent tourists

    A canal in VeniceImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Pavements usually packed with tourists now stand empty

  17. Rise in Scottish virus casespublished at 14:48 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2020

    NHS 111 officeImage source, PA Me

    The number of Scots diagnosed with coronavirus has increased to 27, the Scottish government confirmed.

    The total number of positive tests for the disease, known as Covid-19, has risen by four from Monday.

    So far there have been 2,234 tests for the virus carried out in Scotland, of which 2,207 were negative.

  18. Sweden raises virus risk assessmentpublished at 14:46 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2020

    Sweden is the latest country to raise its risk assessment for the new coronavirus spreading from "moderate" to "very high", the highest level of risk on a five-point scale.

    The move came after it was revealed on Monday that the virus appeared to be spreading between people who have not been in contact with known victims or travelled abroad.

    Public Health Agency director-general Johan Carlson told a press conference on Tuesday afternoon that a “handful” of people being treated for the virus now fitted into this category.

    Swedes have been advised to stay at home if they experience any symptoms and avoid unnecessary visits to older relatives in hospitals and care homes.

    The agency said it was having ongoing conversations with the Swedish government about whether or not to impose a ban on major events. The Nordic country has a population of around 10 million and has confirmed 320 cases of the virus.

  19. Trump attacks Federal Reservepublished at 14:41 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2020

    With US stock markets hit hard by coronavirus - the main financial indexes in the US closed down by more than 7% on Monday - President Trump has launched another attack on the Federal Reserve and its chair.

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  20. How a fake rumour emptied a storepublished at 14:39 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2020

    Sam Farzaneh
    BBC Persian

    Soheil Fayaz says customers abandoned the store due to fears of Corona
    Image caption,

    Soheil Fayaz told the BBC customers have abandoned his store due to fears of Covid-19

    Soheil Fayaz, co-owner of an Iranian supermarket in Canada, says they lost almost 50% of their business after a bogus Facebook post circled in the Iranian community connecting the store with coronavirus.

    According to the false rumour, a patient with the virus who recently visited Iran had supposedly shopped at this store and because of that, whoever shopped there should be tested for the virus.

    That was enough for the community to abandon the North York, Ontario, supermarket and its popular hot bar.

    Iranians celebrate the first day of spring as Nowruz - their new year. But with less than 10 days to the date, they have decided not to visit places usually packed with fellow Iranian-Canadians. That’s a huge loss for businesses counting on the Nowruz cashflow.

    To make up for the loss, Fayaz has set up a sanitizing station at the store entrance and is launching a home delivery service.