COUNTRIES MOVE TO FIGHT VIRUS
Lockdowns, self-isolation and entry bans imposed to curb spread of Covid-19
FRANCE and Spain joined Italy in imposing lockdowns on tens of millions of people, and Australia ordered self-isolation of arriving foreigners.
Panic buying in Australia, the United States and Britain saw leaders appeal for calm over the virus that has infected more than 138,000 people globally and killed more than 5,000.
Several countries imposed bans on mass gathering, shuttered sporting, cultural and religious events, while medical experts urged people to practise “social distancing” to curb the spread.
All of Pope Francis’ Easter services next month will be held without the faithful attending, the Vatican said yesterday, in a step believed to be unprecedented in modern times.
The services, four days of major events from Holy Thursday to Easter Sunday, usually draw tens of thousands of people to sites in Rome and in the Vatican.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said from midnight yesterday, international travellers arriving in the country would need to isolate themselves for 14 days, and foreign cruise ships would be banned for 30 days, given a rise in imported cases.
“What we’ve seen in recent weeks is more countries having issues with the virus and that means the source of some of those transmissions are coming from more and more countries,” Morrison said.
Australia’s restrictions mirror those announced by New Zealand on Saturday. Australia has recorded more than 250 Covid-19 cases and three deaths.
TRAVEL BANS
United States President Donald Trump declared a national emergency on Friday. The US has recorded more than 2,000 cases and 50 deaths, but has been criticised for slow testing.
Travel bans and a plunge in global air travel saw further airline cut backs, with American Airlines Inc planning to cut 75 per cent of international flights through May 6 and ground nearly all its widebody fleet.
The dramatic announcement by the largest US airline came hours after the White House said the United States would widen new travel restrictions on Europeans to include travellers in the United Kingdom and Ireland, starting today.
Washington has already imposed flight restrictions on China.
LOCKDOWNS
Spain put its 47 million inhabitants under partial lockdown on Saturday as part of a 15-day state of emergency to combat the epidemic in Europe’s second worstaffected country after Italy.
Spain had 193 Covid-19 deaths and 6,250 cases, public broadcaster TVE said, up from 120 deaths reported on Friday.
France shut shops, restaurants and entertainment facilities yesterday and its 67 million people were told to stay home after infections doubled in 72 hours.
French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said the government had no other option after the public health authority said 91 people had died in France and almost 4,500 were now infected.
Britain was preparing to ban mass gatherings, while isolating people aged over 70 for up to four months was part of its action plan to tackle coronavirus, which would be implemented in the coming weeks, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said yesterday.