Coronavirus

Elderly people in UK told to self-isolate by Health Secretary

Elderly people in the UK will be told to self-isolate "within the coming weeks" the UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock told British channel Sky News on Sunday. Hancock also called…

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Austria limits people’s movement nationwide

The Austrian government is limiting people’s movement nationwide. Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said on Sunday that there should be only three reasons for people to leave home: essential work, essential purchases such…

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Entrepreneur calls for an urgent emergency social and solidarity pact

Entrepreneur Alec Mizzi, called for an emergency social and solidarity pact, in the wake of the extraordinary times Malta is living, due to the CoVid 19 pandemic outbreak. In a…

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CoVid 19 Malta Bulletin – Sunday 15th March 2020

Update: 18:58 Air Malta is organising a repatriation flight on Monday to transport critical medical supplies and repatriate passengers from Rome to Malta. Maltese Nationals and residents affected from this…

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Pope Francis thanks those guaranteeing public service at this time

Pope Francis began his Sunday morning liturgy at the Casa Santa Marta by recalling those who are sick and suffering. Then he asked us all to pray with him especially…

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ISIS tells supporters to steer away from Europe

The Isis terrorist group is steering clear of Europe because of the coronavirus. Having previously urged its supporters to attack European cities, the group is now advising members to “stay…

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France votes in municipal elections despite CoVid-19 fears

Voters in France are taking to the polls on today despite fears over the spread of the coronavirus. President Emmanuel Macron, for whom the two-round polls are a crucial mid-term…

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Spanish PM’s wife tests positive for CoVid19

Spain’s government said Saturday that the wife of wife of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has tested positive for the new coronavirus. Begoña Gómez and the prime minister are in good…

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Norway to shut ports and airports from Monday

Norway is to shut its ports and airports from Monday in an attempt to curb the spread of coronavirus, although exemptions will be made for Norwegians returning from abroad as…

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Cristiano Ronaldo’s hotels to be transformed into hospitals story denied by player’s entourage

Cristiano Ronaldo's entourage issued a statement saying that the hotel story news was "fake news". Ronaldo has left on social media a message of support for medical staff and patients,…

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Australia imposes self isolation, bans cruise ships

Australia will impose a 14-day self isolation on all international passenger arrivals from midnight Sunday to try and contain the spread of coronavirus, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said. Australia will…

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Trump tests negative for CoVid-19

President Trump tested negative for the coronavirus, the White House physician said on Saturday, a week after having contact with multiple people who days later tested positive for the virus.…

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How are European countries responding to CoVid-19 pandemic?

In an extensive review of the current situation around Europe, news website POLITICO has provided a detailed assessment of measures taken so far. Directives issued by Governments around the continent include…

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Libya declares state of emergency and closes all sea, land and air ports

The Chairman of Libya’s Presidential Council Fayez Sarraj declares a state of emergency in Libya and announces closure of the country’s sea, land and air ports starting from Monday, March…

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The shutting down of Europe

Countries around the world on Saturday continued to close borders, impose strict entry and quarantine requirements and restrict large gatherings in efforts to contain the spread of the new coronavirus, France…

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French Prime Minister announces closure of cafes, shops, restaurants and cinemas

France is closing its bars, restaurants and other non-essential outlets as it joins other European countries introducing stricter controls to stop the spread of COVID-19. Euronews reports that the Prime Minister…

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Co-Vid 19 – Italy update

There are 17,750 coronavirus patients in Italy, 2,795 more than yesterday, while the total number of infected people - including the victims and the recovered - reached 21,157. This is…

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US to add UK and Ireland to travel ban

The UK and Ireland are to be added to America's European travel ban over the coronavirus pandemic, government sources have told the Reuters news agency. The new restrictions are expected…

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Staythef***home movement aims to stop coronavirus

A new 'non-movement movement' which aims to stop the coronavirus in its tracks has been started online. The StayTheF***Home manifesto encourages everyone to stay at home, avoid going out if…

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Covid-19 Malta Bulletin – Saturday 14th March 2020

Updated 16:47 The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry welcomed the Government’s first steps to support businesses at these extraordinarily challenging times. While it is understood that this is…

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MSF urges immediate evacuation of migrant camps in Greece to contain coronavirus

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has called for the immediate evacuation of migrant camps on Greece's islands, arguing that the conditions there provide "the perfect storm" for a COVID-19 outbreak. One…

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Obuda Danubia Orchestra performs concert without audience due to coronavirus crisis

Hungarian maestro Mate Hamori conducts the Obuda Danubia Orchestra's Kurtag/Haydn/Dvorak concert without audience at the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music in Budapest, Hungary, on the evening of the 13 March…

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From insomnia to victory – Tenor performs Nessun Dorma hoping that Italy ‘all’alba Vincerà’

The streets, concert hall and opera houses are deserted, but in Italy, you can still hear the music. After earlier, this week the country's government imposed unprecedented restrictions on its…

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Balkan countries close border crossings to stop coronavirus

Serbia, Albania and Romania have closed many of their border crossings in order to combat the spread of the coronavirus, leaving some parts of the Balkans practically cut off for…

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Spanish government prohibiting all journeys in Spain

The Spanish Cabinet on Saturday decided that it was going to do as much as possible to slow down coronavirus contagions in the country. Government ministers have opted to prohibit…

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Denmark closes German border as COVID-19 safety measure

The closed checkpoint 'Padborg' from Germany to Denmark, near Flensburg, northern Germany, 14 March 2020. The Danish government is closing all Danish borders for tourists and foreigners traveling without a…

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UK’s risk level raised to high after 10 new deaths and 342 new cases registered in 24hrs

Ten more patients diagnosed with the coronavirus have died, NHS England has announced - almost doubling the total number of fatalities in the UK. 1,140 coronavirus cases have now been…

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Concerns rise over mental health impact of isolation over coronavirus

Several countries across continents are closing borders and major cities with millions of people are under lockdown. Governments around the world are promoting "social distancing" as one of the ways…

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Photo story: Life in Brussels amid the coronavirus outbreak

A view of Rue Neuve, the main shopping street in Brussels City Center with its shops closed due to the Coronavirus outbreak, in Brussels, Belgium,14 March 2020. Belgian government announced…

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Libya closes schools over coronavirus fears

Libya's rival governments on Friday both announced a two-week closure of schools and universities over fears of the novel coronavirus arriving in the country. The education ministries of the Tripoli-based…

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Cases in Spain surpass 5,000

People protect themselves with masks as they shop at a supermarket in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, 14 February 2020, a day after access to the town was closed by the Catalan…

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‘Ndrangheta head is captured thanks to coronavirus quarantine in Italy

A head of the Italian criminal group 'Ndrangheta has been captured thanks to the country's coronavirus quarantine, after empty streets enabled police to spot cigarette smoke coming from his hideout.…

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Movies ‘Contagion’ and ‘Outbreak’ peak in popularity amid coronavirus pandemic

Two movies from the past years “Contagion” and “Outbreak” are registering a resurgence in popularity in the last days amid the coronavirus pandemic. According to Warner Bros., the film 'Contagion' …

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Queen Elizabeth postpones engagements amid coronavirus pandemic

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II is postponing engagements in response to the coronavirus pandemic, Buckingham Palace said in a statement Friday. The 93-year-old monarch's diary is being rearranged "as a sensible…

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Kosovo confirms its first cases of coronavirus

Medical staff wear face masks to protect against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at the state hospital University Clinical Center in Pristina, Kosovo, 14 March 2020. The government of the Republic…

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Iran security forces take to the streets to fight coronavirus as cases continue to surge

Security forces will empty the streets of cities across Iran in the next 24 hours in a drive to fight the spread of the new coronavirus, state television reported on…

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Moscow makes school attendance optional

Moscow will make school attendance optional starting on Monday in a bid to curb the spread of the coronavirus, its mayor said on Saturday. Russia has recorded 45 cases of…

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Midday applause in Italy to honour its medical staff fighting the coronavirus

Italians took to their balconies at midday to honour their doctors, nurses and healthcare workers battling the country's Coronavirus emergency. Italy's impromptu singalongs are making world headlines as quarantined Italians rally together…

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Six new cases, a total of 41 people infected with coronavirus in Serbia

According to the latest data from the Serbian Ministry of Health, six new cases of coronavirus infection have been registered in our country. "From the last report until 6…

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Tunisia imposes compulsory 14-day Coronavirus isolation period on all arrivals

Tunisia has imposed a 14-day self-isolation policy on travellers arriving from all countries – without exception. It also closed its maritime borders and suspended all flights from Italy and reduced…

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US travel ban on 26 European countries comes into force

President Donald Trump's travel ban on 26 European nations has come into force in the US, as part of a contingency plan to tackle the coronavirus crisis. The ban applies…

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China’s imported coronavirus cases rise as local infections drop again, South Korea reports more recoveries

The number of new coronavirus cases imported into mainland China from overseas surpassed the number of locally transmitted new infections for the first time on Friday, data released by the…

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Everyone entering New Zealand must self-isolate, cruise ships banned

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Saturday that everyone entering the country from midnight Sunday must self isolate for 14 days in an effort to contain the spread…

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KLM to cut up to 2,000 jobs

KLM, the Dutch subsidiary of Air France-KLM, plans to slash up to 2,000 jobs and ask for government support as it cuts working hours by one-third for its entire staff…

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Royal Caribbean, NCL, Costa Cruises suspend operations due to coronavirus pandemic

Royal Caribbean Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Lines are both suspending all cruises for the next 30 days. The decision comes as officials recommend people forgo taking cruises during the coronavirus…

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Saudi Arabia suspends international flights for two weeks

Saudi Arabia has suspended all international flights for two weeks, starting Sunday, to prevent the spread of coronavirus, state news agency SPA said on Saturday, citing an official source at…

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Universal halts production of ‘Jurassic World’ that was to be filmed in Malta

Universal has decided to halt production on all live-action films including “Jurassic World: Dominion”. The studio continues to monitor the situation closely and will make a determination on when to…

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Italy prepares for new Maxi-Decreto to support country

The Italian government is considering allocating 3.8 billion euros to help support families and businesses through the banking system as a result of the coronavirus emergency, in a draft text…

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GO With Free Entertained For All At Home

As the Covid-19 outbreak continues to cause disruption across the Maltese islands, forcing many people to work from home, schools to close and pushing many people in isolation to the…

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Attention turns to Trump as second person he met tests positive for coronavirus

U.S. President Donald Trump encountered a second individual last weekend who later tested positive for coronavirus, but the president did not require testing for the virus or quarantining, the White…

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Coronavirus cases increase in Latin America

Countries across Central America have taken drastic steps to brace for a potential public health crisis from coronavirus even as the region has confirmed a number of cases. Leaders and…

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UN secretary General calls for ‘prudence, not panic’, WHO launches solidarity fund

In a video message recorded on Friday afternoon, UN chief António Guterres assured the world that the COVID-19 virus will peak, and the global economy will recover but, until…

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Coronavirus cases in Africa register increase, experts voice concern about health systems

Cases of the new coronavirus are ramping up in Africa, with six new countries announcing confirmed infections in the past 24 hours. Across Africa, at least 17 of the continent's…

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Concern in Italy for expected spike in cases in south of the country

There are 14,955 coronavirus patients in Italy, 2,116 more than the last official count, while the total number of infected people - including victims and those recovered - reached 17,660.…

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New-born believed to be youngest coronavirus patient in the UK

A new-born is believed to be the youngest person in the UK to have caught coronavirus. North Middlesex University Hospital said two patients had tested positive for COVID-19, the disease…

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Turkey closes border to passengers from 9 countries

Turkey announced late Friday it will close all border gates to passengers coming from nine European countries to fight the coronavirus outbreak. An authorization letter signed by Turkish Interior Minister…

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Coronavirus – USA declares national emergency

“I am officially declaring a national emergency,” Trump announced on Friday, which he said would unleash the full power of the federal government to combat the coronavirus.President Trump said he…

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