Coronavirus: what’s the latest in Europe and the US?
Europe continues to shut down, with growing numbers of countries closing businesses, their borders and enforcing social distancing and self-isolation
Spain has followed Italy’s lead and imposed strict limits, with people required to stay indoors, with very few exceptions. And in France, cafés and restaurants have been ordered to close, along with most other non-essential businesses. French President Emmanuel Macron told his people: “We are at war.”
In Denmark, the Prime Minister has said that all foreigners without an essential purpose for visiting the country would be turned away.
In the US, the American travel ban has been widened to include Britain and Ireland, while in Britain and Ireland a ban on travel to the US has been imposed. President Trump said: “It’s bad.”
In the UK, the National Health Service has said that social distance is of particular importance for people who are: aged 70 or over, have a long-term condition, are pregnant or have a weakened immune system.
Advice is for people to stay at home if they experience either a high temperature or a new, continuous cough. They should not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital and testing is not needed if they are staying at home. People with symptoms should stay at home for seven days and if they live with other people, they should stay at home for 14 days from the day the first person got symptoms.
Additionally, the government has advised against non-essential global travel for at least 30 days (from 17 March).
Around the world, 180,000 cases have been reported – though there could conceivably be many more that have not been identified so far – and more than 7,000 deaths. But it is also important to keep in mind that more than 80,000 people have recovered.