COVID-19: >134,636 Cases Globally, Italy Deaths Rise 23%..& more

Source: People's Daily, Xinhua, China Daily, Global Times, CBS, iFeng, Baidu, Global  News Agencies, Majdi

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Italy Deaths Jump 23%

Italian daily coronavirus deaths jump 23 percent to 1,016

The death toll from an outbreak of coronavirus in Italy has jumped in the last 24 hours by 189 to 1,016, a rise of 23 percent, the country's Civil Protection Agency said.

The total number of cases in Italy, the European country hardest hit by the virus, rose to 15,113 from a previous 12,462, an increase of 21.7 percent. That marked the biggest daily rise in absolute terms since the contagion first came to light on February 21.

The agency said that, of those originally infected, 1,258 had fully recovered compared to 1,045 the day before. Some 1,153 people were in intensive care versus a previous 1,028.

Chinese, U.S. experts Discuss Treatment of Severe COVID-19 Patients

A team of Chinese experts, led by China's top respiratory expert Zhong Nanshan, on Thursday held a video conference with medical experts from Harvard University and intensive care specialists from the United States on the treatment of serious COVID-19 patients. The U.S. experts included George Q Daley, dean of Harvard Medical School (HMS). 

The Chinese experts shared their experience in rapid testing of the virus and how to deal with community transmission. The participants also discussed mutual cooperation on clinic research.

RUMOR: Beijing Schools Starting in April

According to the Beijing Municipal Education Commission, the rumors that "Beijing University, Elementary and Middle School start in April" is incorrect, the reopening time of schools and educational institutions still depends on the development of the epidemic. 

A Rush of News Just Happened from Europe

Portugal's government ordered the shutdown all schools nationwide starting on Monday until further evaluation on April 9. 

Belgium's government ordered schools, cafes, restaurants and some shops to close due to the coronavirus starting from Friday at midnight and until April 3. 

Bulgaria to declare state of emergency over coronavirus. 

Turkish schools will be closed for one week and universities for three weeks from March 16, and all sports events will be played without spectators until the end of April in response to the coronavirus outbreak. 

Germany has seen a sharp rise in coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours rising by 802 to 2,369 cases, the Koch Institute for Infectious Diseases said on Thursday.

 India Reports First Death

India reported its first coronavirus death as authorities ordered schools, theatres and cinemas closed in New Delhi for the rest of the month in a bid to keep the pandemic at bay.

The government in the southern state of Karnataka said that a 76-year-old man who died on Tuesday had been confirmed as a coronavirus carrier and that it was trying to trace those who had been in contact with him.f

COVID-19 Global Mortality: 3.68% 

According to latest late from John Hopkins University for COVID-19 cases worldwide, until March 12 15:00 GMT; the mortality rate of COVID-19 is 3.68% while the recovery rate is 53.4%. 

Deaths Toll Jumps In Spain

Spain's coronavirus outbreak death toll jumps to 84 Spain's death toll from coronavirus has risen to 84 on Thursday from 47 on Wednesday, the health ministry said. The ministry reported the number of cases rose to 2,968 up from 2,140 on Wednesday.

Olympic Torch lit Without Audience

The iconic Olympic Torch lighting ceremony in Greece was closed to the public Thursday morning amid fears over the coronavirus. With the games less than four months away, some are concerned about what the global pandemic could mean for the fate of the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. 

First death in: Austria, Algeria, Poland, Norway and Greece

Austria: A 69-year-old man has died in Vienna after contracting the new coronavirus, Austria's first death, city authorities said.

Algeria has registered its first death from the novel coronavirus, the health ministry announced without providing further details. 

Poland has reported its first death from coronavirus, local authorities in the city of Poznan said, as reported by private broadcaster TVN24.

Norway: An elderly patient in Norway has died from coronavirus, Oslo University Hospital said.

Greece has reported its first fatality from COVID-19. The health ministry said the man who died was 67 and had recently returned from a religious pilgrimage to Israel and Egypt. He also had underlying health issues.

Spanish Minister Tests Positive

Spanish Minister of Equality Irene Montero has tested positive for the new coronavirus, a government statement said on Thursday. She has been quarantined along with her partner, Deputy Prime Minister and Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias.

Canadian Prime Minister is Self-Isolating at Home

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is self-isolating at home after his wife exhibited flu-like symptoms. 

Trudeau's office said Sophie Grégoire Trudeau returned from a speaking engagement in the United Kingdom and began exhibiting mild flu-like symptoms including a low fever late Wednesday night. She is being tested for COVID-19 and is awaiting results.

Philippine Announces Manila Travel Restrictions

The Philippine government placed the country's capital, Manila, and its outlying cities on partial lockdown Thursday. 

Beginning Sunday, all forms of domestic travel to and from Manila will be restricted.  Foreigners traveling from countries with coronavirus cases will also not be granted entry. Schools are suspended for a month, and mass gatherings are prohibited. Businesses, however, will remain open, he said.

Schools Close Across the US

The coronavirus pandemic has prompted K-12 schools and universities to close across the U.S. Each state has responded to the outbreak with unique guidance. 

All K-12 schools have closed in New Rochelle, New York, where a large cluster of the virus has emerged. 

In New York, if a student tests positive for the virus, their school will close for 24 hours so health officials can assess the situation. 

France closes all schools

French President Emmanuel Macron announced Thursday that all of the country's schools, kindergartens and universities will be closed until further notice. The closures will begin on Monday.

Macron added that "non-essential" treatment in hospitals is also postponed.

NHL "pausing" Season

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announced Thursday it is pausing its season, one day after the NBA suspended play after a player tested positive Wednesday for COVID-19.

Real Madrid Quarantines Soccer and Basketball Teams

Real Madrid's soccer and basketball teams have been put in quarantine after one of the club's basketball players tested positive for the coronavirus. 

The Spanish club says its soccer team was affected because it shares training facilities with the basketball team. 

American Airlines Pilot Tests Positive

A Dallas/Fort Worth-based American Airlines pilot has tested positive for coronavirus, the airline says, the first known case of a pilot with the illness among U.S. airlines

Google Bangalore Employee Tests Positive

A Google employee in its Bangalore, India, office has tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus and is in quarantine, according to internal documents viewed by CNBC. “We are sorry to report that we have one confirmed case of a Bangalore-Based Googler testing positive for COVID-19,” said Anand Rangarajan, director of engineering and Bangalore site lead for Google in an email to Bangalore employees Thursday. 

Disney to Shut California Park

Walt Disney Co will close its Disneyland and California Adventure theme parks in Anaheim, California in the US starting on Saturday amid the global outbreak of coronavirus, a company spokesperson said in a statement on Thursday.

No cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, have been reported at the parks, the statement said.

Meanwhile, Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Disneyland Paris Resort will close at the end of the business day Sunday through the end of the month, the company said in a statement tonight.

Disney Cruise Line will also suspend all new departures beginning Saturday through the end of the month, the company added.

NBA Utah Jazz Star Donovan Mitchell Tested Positive

Donovan Mitchell of the Utah Jazz - a National Basketball Association team in the US - confirmed that he has tested positive for the coronavirus, publicly saying that he is personally dealing with the pandemic that has temporarily shut down the NBA and other major sports leagues.

Mitchell is one of two NBA players to have tested positive: The other is his Jazz teammate Rudy Gobert, who was the first NBA player to test positive, but has not publicly confirmed his diagnosis.

Wall Street Pauses Trading After Stocks sink, Dow down 7.2%

Trading on Wall Street was halted just moments after US stocks plunged further on the deepening economic pain from the coronavirus.

Trading was suspended after the S&P 500 dropped 7 percent to 2,549.05, triggering an automatic 15-minute suspension.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged 7.2 percent to 21,856.91.

Stocks in Europe Plummet

The pan-European Stoxx 600 had plummeted 11% by the close, with travel and leisure stocks sinking 12.8% following Trump’s announcement of a ban on European travel.

The U.K.’s FTSE 100 lost 9.8%, France’s CAC 40 shed 12.3% and Germany’s DAX fell 12.2%. Italian stocks finished nearly 17% lower, which was also the worst single-day loss for the FTSE MIB. 

Singapore to Close Mosques

Singapore will close all mosques for at least five days for deep cleaning to prevent the spread of coronavirus after a number of congregants in the city-state attended an Islamic conference in neighbouring Malaysia linked to infections. 

The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore said the closures would take effect on Friday, and that authorities are trying to track down about 90 Singaporeans who attended the three-day religious event in Malaysia's capital Kuala Lumpur.

For Expats in Zhejiang and Hangzhou

Stay up to date with the latest news from Hangzhou and Zhejiang. 

Head Coach of English Football Club Tests Positive

The Arsenal Football Club of the English Premier League announced today that head coach Mikel Arteta has tested positive for coronavirus. 

Arteta discussed the diagnosis, saying, “This is really disappointing but I took the test after feeling poorly. I will be at work as soon as I’m allowed.”

Nanjing Man Sentenced to 11 Years For Posing As Prevention Worker

A man posing as an epidemic prevention worker in Nanjing with a knife and robbed at home was sentenced to 11 years in prison.

The man lied that he was an epidemic prevention and control officer, deceived the victim to open the door on the basis of information registration, and forcibly demanded RMB 8,000 from the victim by means of tape binding and threatning with a knife.  One day later, he was arrested and brought to justice by public security organs. 

The case occurred during the critical period of the prevention and control of the new crown pneumonia epidemic.

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