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. Thai PM in hand-washing demonstrationpublished at 06:33 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2020

    Washing your hands regularly and thoroughly is one of the best ways to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

    Here's the Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha giving a demonstration before a government meeting in Bangkok this morning.

    Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha  washing handsImage source, AFP / Getty
  2. Deaths top 4,000published at 06:28 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2020

    If you're just joining us here is the global picture:

    The number of deaths worldwide has passed 4,000 on Tuesday as China reported 17 more people had passed away from the virus.

    It has spread to over 100 countries with more than 110,000 cases.

    Aside from the human toll, it has caused major disruption to global travel, work, schools and an astounding number of sporting and entertainment events.

  3. First death in Canadapublished at 06:19 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2020

    Canada has recorded its first death from Covid-19, health officials in the westernmost province of British Columbia have said.

    The victim, whose age has not been released, was a man who lived in an elderly care home in north Vancouver.

    Canada has recorded more than 70 infections, nearly all in British Columbia or Ontario.

  4. Collapsed hotel death toll rises to 20published at 06:13 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2020

    The number of people killed when a Chinese hotel collapsed on Saturday has risen to 20, with another 10 still feared to be trapped.

    The hotel, in the city of Quanzhou, was being used as a virus quarantine centre. Another 41 people are injured, the authorities said on Tuesday.

    Here's footage of the rescue effort at the weekend.

    Media caption,

    Coronavirus: China quarantine hotel collapses

  5. Call centre workers tested in Seoulpublished at 06:07 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2020

    Further to Laura Bicker's post earlier, here's a picture from the call centre in Seoul where dozens of workers have caught the virus.

    At least 38 are infected, with more than 200 being tested.

    A picture of virus tests from the call centre in Seoul where dozens of workers have caught the virus and hundreds are being tested.Image source, AFP / Getty
  6. Another nine cases in Pakistanpublished at 05:59 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2020

    Another nine people have been diagnosed in Pakistan, increasing the nationwide count to 16.

    All nine are from Sindh province, which now has 13 cases.

    Aaj TV reported that five of the nine had recently travelled from Syria via Doha. Four travelled from London to Karachi via Dubai.

  7. South Korea reports lowest number of cases in two weekspublished at 05:54 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2020

    Laura Bicker
    BBC News

    South Korea has reported its lowest number of infections in two weeks, with 131 cases confirmed in the past 24 hours.

    The pace of daily infections has shown signs of slowing in recent days as health authorities finished testing 210,000 followers of religious sect the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, who were at the centre of the outbreak.

    But health officials say they are still on high alert after new clusters of infections sprung up around the country.

    Workers at a call centre in the capital Seoul were confirmed to have the virus - 38 people in the building were infected. 207 people have yet to be tested, and could contribute to a rise in figures.

    There are currently 7,513 confirmed cases in South Korea.

  8. Vietnam's 32nd patient arrives from London on private jetpublished at 05:53 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2020

    The country's health ministry says a 24-year-old Vietnamese woman who caught the virus in London is the their 32nd and latest case.

    The woman, who lives in London, was reportedly at a party last month with Vietnamese socialite Nguyen Hong Nhung, who has also tested positive.

    Her family brought her back to Vietnam in a private jet, external, says local media.

  9. US gameshows to be filmed without audiencepublished at 05:47 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2020

    Iconic gameshows "Jeopardy!" and "Wheel of Fortune" will be filmed without a studio audience, reports the Associated Press quoting a source.

    Both shows are filmed in California, which declared a state of emergency earlier last week.

    "Wheel Of Fortune"Image source, Getty Images
  10. What does a lockdown look like in Italy?published at 05:44 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2020

    All of Italy has been put under "lockdown". But what does it mean?

    • Travel has been restricted but exemptions will be given to those with valid reasons
    • Bars and restaurants can remain open from 06:00 to 18:00, but must put a distance of at least one metre between customers
    • Shops also have to make sure customers remain at least a metre apart
    • Cinemas, theatres and museums have been ordered to close
    • All ski resorts will be closed until further notice
    • All sporting events - including football matches - are suspended nationwide
    • Schools and universities will remain closed until 3 April
    • All public gatherings will be forbidden, including weddings, funerals and baptisms
  11. Crisis hits airline industrypublished at 05:42 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2020

    Virgin Atlantic says it is flying near-empty planes; while Qantas has cut another quarter of its flights.

    UK airline Flybe - which had many other problems - has already gone into administration, partly because of the virus impact.

    This picture showing widespread cancellations was taken at Haneda airport in Tokyo this morning.

    This picture showing widespread cancellations was taken at Haneda airport in Tokyo this morning.Image source, AFP / Getty
  12. Indian military evacuates citizens from Iranpublished at 05:34 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2020

    The Indian airforce has evacuated 58 citizens from coronavirus-hit Iran using a military transport aircraft.

    Local media reported that the craft landed at the Hindon airbase - the largest in Asia - in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh early on Tuesday morning.

    The 58 people, mostly comprising pilgrims and students, will be quarantined in a special facility set up at the base for 14 days before being allowed to travel home.

    India has 44 confirmed cases of the virus according to the health ministry, external.

  13. The scene in Vietnampublished at 05:34 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2020

    Vietnam has had 31 cases, 16 of whom have been cured and released from hospital. Schools have been closed and visa-free travel restricted.

    This picture shows food being delivered to the quarantined area of Truc Bach Street in Hanoi.

    The street has been sealed since Friday, after one resident, a 26-year-old Vietnamese woman recently back from Europe, detected the virus.

    This picture shows food being delivered to the quarantined area of Truc Bach Street in Hanoi.Image source, Getty Images
  14. Making masks in prisonpublished at 05:27 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2020

    As demand for face masks surges worldwide, this picture from AFP / Getty shows inmates making them at the Taipei Prison in Taoyuan City, northern Taiwan, on Tuesday.

    As demand for face masks surges worldwide, this picture from AFP / Getty shows inmates making them at the Taipei Prison in Taoyuan City, northern Taiwan.Image source, AFP / Getty
  15. Risk of virus on public transport?published at 05:20 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2020

    It's not yet known exactly how coronavirus spreads, but similar viruses are caught from either breathing in droplets from an infected person's coughs or sneezes, or touching surfaces with them on.

    So how possible is it to catch the virus from taking public transport? Find out here.

  16. Mongolia confirms its first casepublished at 05:16 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2020

    The country's first patient is said to be a 57-year old French man who traveled to Mongolia from France, transiting through Moscow.

    The government has since identified 42 people he met and 120 people who had close contact with him.

    The man, who works for a local firm, is said to be in stable condition.

  17. Drive-through testing!published at 05:14 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2020

    Such a clinic has been set up in the state of South Australia, and if it's successful more could be opened reports Australian media.

    You can't just roll up out of nowhere though. Patients need the green light from a doctor.

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  18. Coronavirus expected to dampen Holi celebrationspublished at 05:10 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2020

    It's Holi - the festival of colours that marks the beginning of spring - in India today. That means that people would usually be walking around with bright orange, pink and green skin, and public spaces would be stained with coloured powder.

    This year however, celebrations could be a lot milder. Fears over the spread of coronavirus have already prompted several high profile figures including Prime Minister Narendra Modi to say that they would not participate in any public Holi gatherings.

    Several planned celebrations for the festival were subsequently cancelled.

    Warnings about coronavirus in the country are everywhere. It's on radio, television, public hoardings and even your mobile phone - a recorded message that tells you to wash your hands and visit a doctor at the first sign of a symptom plays every time you try to make a call.

    Students seen playing with colours on the eve of Holi festival at Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Institute, ITO, on March 9, 2020 in New Delhi, India.Image source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Holi celebrations in 2019

  19. Italy's 'darkest hour'published at 05:08 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2020

    The whole of Italy has been told to stay at home in an unprecedented move aimed at containing the coronavirus.

    The lockdown was originally confined to northern Italy but as the death toll began to climb, Italy's Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said "strong and severe measures" were needed.

    People will be forbidden to gather in public and all schools and universities will be closed until 3 April.

    All sporting events have been suspended nationwide.

    Only those with a valid work or family reason that cannot be postponed will be allowed to travel.

    Mr Conte has described the outbreak as Italy's "darkest hour", but added that "we will make it".

    People walk by Palazzo Reale in Turin on March 9, 2020Image source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Empty streets in Italy

  20. Chinese President Xi makes first appearance in Wuhanpublished at 05:04 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2020

    Chinese President Xi JinpingImage source, Getty Images

    This is Mr Xi's first trip to the city of Wuhan since the outbreak began late last year.

    He will "visit and express regards to medical workers, military officers and soldiers, patients and residents" amongst others, said state media outlet Xinhua.

    His trip to Wuhan, in Hubei province, comes as the number of new infections in China has been steadily decreasing.

    China's National Health Commission reported 19 new virus cases on Tuesday - 17 of which were from Wuhan and two of which were imported cases.

    It's the third straight day of no new locally transmitted coronavirus cases outside of Hubei.

    "It's obvious Xi could not have visited Wuhan earlier because the risk of him contracting the virus was too high initially," Professor Zhang Ming of Renmin University told Reuters. "He is now there to reap the harvest."