Cases surge in Italy as world battles to contain virus

Cleaners disinfect the Thai parliament in Bangkok – after a lawmaker had been in the building following a trip to Japan.

North Korea has delayed the new school term, according to state media.

It’s not known when the schools will reopen. The measure will also apply to nurseries and universities.

The country has not confirmed any cases of Covid-19 – but has made extensive efforts to try to stop the virus entering.

Read more about North Korea’s response here.

Denmark has confirmed its first
Covid-19 case – a man who recently returned from a ski holiday
in northern Italy.

The man is in isolation in his own home.

If you’re just joining our live coverage now, here’s all you need to know to bring you up to speed:

• Saudi Arabia has banned foreigners from visiting the country’s most holy sites – Mecca and Medina
• A Japanese woman has tested positive for the virus – again. She had earlier contracted it, recovered and was discharged from hospital
• Australia has extended a travel ban on foreigners arriving from mainland China
• The number of cases in Italy has jumped to 400 – marking a 25% surge in just 24 hours
• Romania has confirmed its first case of coronavirus. The patient had been in contact with an Italian citizen
• And it’s “not impossible” that this year’s Olympics – set to take place in Japan this July – could be postponed
• South Korea has postponed joint military drills with the US, as soldiers from both countries have come down with the virus

China is investigating how a woman known to have the coronavirus managed to leave Hubei province which has been under lockdown for weeks.

Hubei is where the virus was first discovered and officials have shut transport links in and out to try and contain the spread.

The woman is believed to be an ex-convict who was just released from a women’s prison in Wuhan. Her family members reportedly then drove her to Beijing.

A Global Times report said she had been suffering from intermittent fever and pain in her throat since 18 February. She arrived in Beijing last Saturday and was found to be sick after her arrival

She is currently in quarantine, along with three family members, Reuters quoted health authorities in Beijing as saying.

But many online questioned how she managed to leave the province.

“We healthy people get stuck in Wuhan and she can escape the strictest lockdown there with a fever?” one person on Weibo said, according to a Reuters report.

“She must have really good connections,” another said.

Saudi Arabia hosts the two holiest sites of Islam in
Mecca and Medina.

The country welcomes millions of Muslim visitors
throughout the year – with a peak for the Hajj pilgrimage, due to begin this year in July.

Unlike the Hajj, the “Umrah” can take place at any time of the year – but those journeys have now been stopped for foreigners. Entry is also suspended for visits to Medina.

Mecca, birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad, is home to Islam’s holiest shrine. Medina is where he is buried.

The ministry of foreign affairs said the
suspensions were temporary – but did not say when they would end.

Non-religious tourists from countries with reported coronavirus infections will also be denied entry officials said, but without specifying which countries.

Saudi Arabia said this week that 400,000
tourist visas had been issued since October.

The usual practice of rubbing ash on foreheads for Ash Wednesday was eschewed by the Philippines this year.

Leaders of the Philippine Catholic church instead recommended for ash to be sprinkled on people’s heads to avoid physical contact as a precaution against the virus.

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, the run-up to Easter.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has extended a travel ban on foreigners arriving from mainland China for at least one more week.

The Chinese travel ban has been in force since 1 February.

Mr Morrison, speaking at a press briefing on Thursday, said he believed there was “every indication that the world will soon enter a pandemic”.

He added that there was no community transmission of the virus in Australia, but said there would be “challenging” months ahead.

The death of a Chinese doctor who treated more than 3,000 patients within a month has triggered a debate on Chinese social media.

Liu Zhixiong, who worked in a hospital in Hubei province, died from a heart attack last week after working more than a month without a break, reported the Global Times.

But his death was not reported as a work-related injury because he was not infected with the coronavirus.

It is not clear what compensation his family would have been able to claim if his death was recognised as a work-related injury.

Many online were outraged that he had “risked” his life for his work – but still failed to meet the criteria.

“He obviously suffered from work exhaustion. Why isn’t it considered a work injury? Who decided this?” said one person on Weibo.

“He risked his life [to fight the virus]. You can’t always follow the rules in every circumstances. Have some flexibility,” another said.

From sterilising train stations to cancelling football matches – this is how different countries are responding to the growing virus outbreak.

South Korea’s central bank kept its key interest rate steady
on Thursday – using social media to announce the news, in order to limit the attendance of journalists in order to fight the virus spread.

The
Bank of Korea said on Facebook and Youtube that it kept its benchmark interest
rate at 1.25%, against some expectations for a cut.

McDonald’s workers wear protective suits as they deliver food in Wuhan – the city where the virus emerged late last year.

Iran has reported 139 cases and 19 deaths – the highest number of deaths outside China.

But with an apparent death rate of 14% – far higher than the global rate – some epidemiologists say the number of cases could be far higher.

Microsoft is the latest major company to warn of disruption as China grapples with the coronavirus outbreak.

The tech giant said because its Chinese suppliers were shut down, manufacturing operations have been affected.

This delay could hit sales of its personal computing business including Surface laptops and tablets, Microsoft warned.

Microsoft said factories are re-opening across China, but this was happening slower than expected.

The Microsoft announcement highlights a growing problem for tech firms that rely on a complex network of suppliers in China for real-time deliveries of crucial parts.

Read more

It is “not impossible” for the Olympics to be postponed until a year later, International Olympic Committee member Dick Pound has told Reuters.

Mr Pound implied this would only happen if “it becomes a real pandemic or world health is at stake, then we reluctantly have to say well, that’s more important than the Olympics”.

However, he told athletes that the IOC would “do our very best to make sure you get your Olympic opportunity”.

The Games are scheduled to take place in Tokyo this July.

That’s what they’re doing over in South Korea, says our correspondent.

The aim of the global response should be to “flatten the epidemic curve”, says World Health Organization expert Prof Dale Fisher, who has recently returned from China.

Female medical workers getting their heads shaved, thousands of medics arriving in Wuhan and dancing medics.

This is how China is using doctors and nurses in its latest “propaganda push” – as our correspondent Stephen McDonell explains.

Taiwan has raised its epidemic response to the highest level, its Central News Agency says.

There are currently 32 cases of the virus on the island.

The latest case is reportedly an Indonesian woman who was working in the country illegally. She had been hired to care for an elderly man who was later diagnosed with the virus.