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. Iranians die of alcohol poisoning after virus rumourpublished at 11:00 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2020

    BBC Monitoring
    The world through its media

    A total of 36 Iranians have died of alcohol poisoning after consuming doctored alcohol in Ahvaz, the capital of south-western Khuzestan province, the official Irna news agency reports.

    The report said that "consuming fake alcohol has occurred due to the spread of rumours that drinking alcohol would prevent the coronavirus infection".

    In an interview with Irna, Dr Ali Ehsanpour, spokesman of Ahvaz Jondi Shapur University of Medical Sciences, said: "Some people in Ahvaz suffered alcohol poisoning after drinking fake alcohol [either local moonshine or methanol]. So far 270 have been admitted to the county's hospitals for treatment."

    Irna went on to quote Ali Biranvand, deputy public prosecutor of the province, as saying seven individuals had been arrested for selling fake alcoholic drinks.

  2. Visualising a complex storypublished at 10:55 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2020

    Visualisation helps to digest this complicated and fast-moving story. So, here are the latest infographs to do just that.

    In this post, it's all about China.

    New cases in China
    Daily confirmed coronavirus cases in China
    Daily coronavirus deaths in China
  3. Special permission to travel - BBC correspondent's experiencepublished at 10:39 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2020

    As of Sunday, special permissions are now needed to travel across Italy.

    The BBC's Mark Lowen says he had to fill out this form to return from northern Italy to the capital Rome.

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  4. Lockdown over for Tenerife hotel guestspublished at 10:35 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2020

    Tourists who have been in quarantine at a hotel in Tenerife in Spain's Canary Islands celebrated in the early hours of Tuesday morning, when their two-week lockdown came to an end.

    The holidaymakers weren't allowed to leave the H10 Costa Adeje Palace Hotel, after a visiting Italian doctor and his wife tested positive for coronavirus.

    Media caption,

    Coronavirus: Tenerife tourists celebrate end of hotel lockdown

  5. Poland cancels all mass eventspublished at 10:22 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2020

    Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. Photo: 10 March 2020Image source, EPA
    Image caption,

    Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki

    The Polish government has decided to cancel all mass events due to the coronavirus outbreak, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has said.

    Polish health officials have so far confirmed 17 cases of the virus, and some patients are in a serious condition.

    On Monday, Mr Morawiecki announced that there would be health checks on the borders with Germany and the Czech Republic.

    Meanwhile, Polish President Andrzej Duda - who is seeking re-election in polls scheduled for May - has said his campaign was cancelling all planned mass events.

  6. China's leader sends reassuring message in Wuhanpublished at 10:14 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2020

    Chinese President Xi Jinping (centre) visits WuhanImage source, CCTV via EVN
    Image caption,

    Chinese President Xi Jinping (centre) visits Wuhan

    As we reported earlier (see our 07:26 post), Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a visit to Wuhan, the city were the outbreak is believed to have started late last year.

    Mr Xi was seen going to local hospitals and greeting medical personnel.

    By going to Wuhan, the Chinese leader wanted to send a message that the government in Beijing has the situation under control, analysts say.

    On Tuesday, China recorded its lowest number of infections, all in Wuhan apart from two who had arrived from overseas.

    There have been 80,754 confirmed cases in mainland China and 3,136 people have died.

    The visit was Mr Xi's first trip to Wuhan since the outbreak began.

    Read our full story here.

  7. Lebanon records first coronavirus deathpublished at 10:10 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2020

    Lebanon has recorded its first death from coronavirus, according to the health ministry.

    Local broadcasters said the patient had been in quarantine since returning from Egypt.

    The total number of cases in the country rose to 41 this week.

  8. British Airways cancels all day's flights to Italypublished at 10:08 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2020

    British Airways has cancelled all flights to and from Italy on Tuesday.

    The airline cancelled its flights from the UK to northern Italy on Monday.

    The airline said in a statement: "In light of the Italian government's announcement and the UK Government's official travel advice, we have contacted all customers who are due to travel today.

    "We have updated our policy to give customers more options and flexibility. Any travellers due to fly to or from Italy between now and April 4 can rebook to a later date up until the end of May, move their destination to Geneva or Zurich or receive a full refund."

  9. Madonna and Miley Cyrus among musicians cancelling showspublished at 10:03 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2020

    Eddie Vedder from Pearl Jam, Miley Cyrus and MadonnaImage source, GETTY IMAGES/REUTERS/RICARDO GOMES/LIVE NATION

    A number of musicians have called off concerts due to the coronavirus outbreak.

    Miley Cyrus has cancelled a trip to Australia. She said she had decided to stay at home due to advice from authorities.

    Madonna has been forced to cancel her two shows in Paris after authorities in France banned large gatherings of more than 1,000 people.

    Pearl Jam have cancelled their entire North America tour. The band wrote in a statement on their website: "We are being told that being part of large gatherings is high on the list of things to avoid as this global health crisis is now beginning to affect all of our lives."

    Read more about how coronavirus is affecting the music industry

  10. 'We're staying at home'published at 09:58 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2020

    Many Italian tweeters are accepting the lockdown with grim good humour, using the trending hashtag #restiamoacasa, meaning “we’re staying at home”.

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    The trend appears to have started with a song titled Restiamo a Casa by popular singer-songwriter Giuliano Sangiorgi, which he posted on Instagram.

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  11. Japan cracks down on mask profiteeringpublished at 09:51 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2020

    A woman wears a mask in Tokyo, Japan. Photo: 10 March 2020Image source, AFP/Getty Images

    The Japanese government has announced that the reselling of masks for profit will become a crime punishable by a one-year jail term or a 1m-yen fine ((£7,320; $9,560) - or both.

    It said the measure - aimed at halting a surging demand for masks amid coronavirus fears - would take effect on 15 March.

    “We want to ensure that the average consumer can get their hands on masks,” a Japanese trade ministry official was quoted as saying by local media.

    Japan currently has more than 1,200 confirmed coronavirus cases and 16 people have died of the disease.

  12. European Parliament president self-isolatingpublished at 09:45 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2020

    David SassoliImage source, Reuters

    David Sassoli, president of the European Parliament has confirmed he will self-isolate following a trip to Italy last weekend.

    He will carry out his work from his home in Brussels for the next 14 days.

    Mr Sassoli, who is Italian, said he took the decision as a precautionary measure.

  13. Coronavirus 'fake news' Twitter accounts shut downpublished at 09:39 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2020

    Andover War Memorial HospitalImage source, Chris Talbot

    In Britain, the National Health Service has removed false Twitter accounts that have been spreading "misleading" information about the coronavirus outbreak.

    One account, falsely set up in the name of a hospital in Andover, urged the Hampshire town to "move into lockdown" amid an "influx of patients".

    The NHS said it had intervened to have the account shut down.

  14. Long queues at supermarkets in Romepublished at 09:34 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2020

    Italians queued at night to stock up with essential goods after a nationwide lockdown was announced to curb the spread of coronavirus.

    Some 60 million people are under lockdown across Italy.

    Shoppers at a Carrefour supermarket in Rome kept their distance from each other.

    Italy has the highest number of cases outside of China.

    Media caption,

    Coronavirus: Long queues at Rome supermarket

  15. Birthday cruise turns to nightmare for Welsh passengerspublished at 09:29 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2020

    Media caption,

    Coronavirus: 'We didn't see daylight for days' on ship

    A birthday cruise turned into a nightmare for Welsh passengers confined to their cabins because of coronavirus fears.

    Nineteen crew members and two passengers on the cruise shiop Grand Princess in California have tested positive.

    Howard Lewis, who went on the cruise with his wife Anne to celebrate his 65th birthday, said they have only been outside their windowless cabin for one hour since Thursday.

    He described information as being "sporadic" and he believes food is running out.

    The vessel with 3,500 people from 54 countries has now docked in Oakland, and passengers have begun disembarking.

  16. Dutch PM tells the nation not to shake hands, then instantly forgetspublished at 09:19 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2020

    Dutch PM Mark Rutte got into a spot of bother when he reminded members of the public not to shake hands. Soon after he was forced to apologise for... shaking hands - the BBC's Anna Holligan reports.

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  17. A quick round-uppublished at 08:56 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2020

    If you're just tuning in to our coronavirus coverage, welcome. Here's a quick glance at what you need to know:

    • Some 60 million Italians woke up today to a complete lockdown of the country, with people told to stay at home. Italy has the highest number of cases outside China
    • China on the other hand, has reported no new locally transmitted cases outside the virus epicentre of Hubei - where Chinese President Xi Jinping is visiting today
    • The number of deaths worldwide has passed 4,000 as the virus spreads to more than 100 countries
    • Cyprus' largest hospital has suspended most services after a doctor tested positive
    • Canada has had its first Covid-19 death, an elderly man in Vancouver
  18. Moldova bans foreigners arriving by airpublished at 08:39 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2020

    Moldova has banned all foreigners from entering by plane from any country affected by the coronavirus.

    The ban took effect on Tuesday, three days after the eastern European state reported its first case.

    Prime Minister Ion Chicu said the country could not completely ban flights, but that only Moldovans would be allowed to board planes departing for Moldova from affected countries.

  19. And the scene in Rome...published at 08:33 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2020

    Following on from the pictures of Milan, here is Rome this morning - as the nationwide Italian lockdown begins.

    Deserted RomeImage source, AFP
    Deserted RomeImage source, AFP
    Deserted RomeImage source, AFP
  20. Korean Air fighting for 'survival'published at 08:24 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2020

    The coronavirus outbreak could threaten the survival of Korean Air, it said in a memo to employees.

    The national carrier has been hit hard by travel restrictions, and has cut more than 80% of its international capacity.

    "But if the situation continues for a longer period, we may reach the threshold where we cannot guarantee the company's survival," said president Woo Kee-hong in a memo, which was seen by Reuters.

    Flight crew Korean AirImage source, Getty Images