Coronavirus: summary of Covid-19 news on Monday 23 March
Coronavirus live: latest Covid-19 updates - Mon 23 March
Coronavirus live: latest news and updates on Covid-19 pandemic
You can follow Tuesday's rolling coverage of the coronavirus crisis here:
That's all for our live coverage of the latest coronavirus news for the day. Thanks for following. We'll leave you with our front page for Tuesday: They deserve one last medal. Them being Spain's retiring Olympic generation. The IOC confirmed earlier that the Games will be postponed though they are still hopeful they can be held this summer. Stay safe and we'll be back with a new live blog early on so you can stay up to date with all the latest news.
AC Monaco player Cesc Fabregas speaking on Spanish radio: "I don't think it will be possible to play this season, unless games are played in July and August"
Former AC Milan player Paolo Maldini took to Facebook to thank everyone for their concern after the Italian ((and his son Daniel) were diagnosed with coronavirus last weekend:
"I want to thank everyone who has taken an interest for our condition. We are well and we will succeed in getting rid of this virus in the next week. Thank you for your all your kindness",
More on the speculation surrounding the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games with IOC member Dick Pound stating:
"The parameters going forward have not been determined, but the Games are not going to start on July 24, that much I know."
"It will come in stages,” the Canadian said. "We will postpone this and begin to deal with all the ramifications of moving this, which are immense."
From a wall to Juan Mata
One of the most widely shared videos today was posted on Twitter by Sarah-Jayne Tobin of her son, an only child, practicing his goalkeeping skills while in self-isolation, using a wall to create shots. The original video had been seen nearly 3 million times and liked nearly 140, 000 times by 23:00 CET. And then one Juan Mata replied...
Britain's coronavirus lockdown: What you can and can't do
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson ramped up the nation's coronavirus measures on Monday, enforcing a nationwide lockdown after chairing an emergency Cobra committee
The UK will follow Italy, Spain, France and Germany as PM Boris Johnson announces mandatory lockdown. "If you don’t follow the rules the police will have the powers to enforce them, including through fines and dispersing gatherings," said Johnson in his address to the nation.
"To ensure compliance with the government’s instruction to stay at home, we will immediately close all shops selling non-essential goods, including clothing and electronic stores and other premises including libraries, playgrounds and outdoor gyms, and places of worship. We will stop all gatherings of more than two people in public – excluding people you live with. And we’ll stop all social events, including weddings, baptisms and other ceremonies, but excluding funerals."
Breaking: UK on lockdown
Boris Johnson, the British PM, has just confirmed that UK citizens are now being ordered to stay in their homes in a bid to stop the spread of coronavirus and adds that people will only be allowed to leave their home for the following “very limited purposes”:
New York State, hardest hit in US.
New York Governor. Andrew Cuomo issued an emergency order Monday directing hospitals to increase their capacity by 50% as coronavirus cases across the state surged 38% overnight to 20,875.
New York is the hardest-hit state in the country, ahead of New Jersey, California and Washington state, Cuomo said. New York City, alone, accounts for 12,305 confirmed infections, he said.
Our sister site AS Arabia report how Galatasaray manager Fatih Terim has also been diagnosed as positive with the Covid-19 virus
FC Barcelona are working towards April 27 as return date for first team training.The club's backroom staff consider that this date is the most realistic at present with at least two weeks needed to re-condition the first team squad after the lockdown period.
Italy: more than 6,000 deaths and over 60,000 cases
Italy registered another 602 deaths in the past 24 hours, taking the total death toll from Covid-19 to over 6,000. The number of cases also increased, to hit 63,927. Italy has been hardest hit of all countries. There are 20,692 patients in hospital due to the disease with 3,204 in intensive care.
The good news: 408 more people in Italy have fully recovered from the coronavirus in the past day, with a total 7,423 people now having recovered.
UN calls for global ceasefire
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has issued an appeal for warring parties across the globeto put down their weapons and focus on the battle humanity is fighting with Covid-19: a common enemy threatening us all.
“The fury of the virus illustrates the folly of war”, he said. “That is why today, I am calling for an immediate global ceasefire in all corners of the world. It is time to put armed conflict on lockdown and focus together on the true fight of our lives.”
With the German domestic on hold, it came somewhat as a surprise yesterday that Wolfsburg announced that they would return to training on Monday. Today, the Bundesliga outfit posted pictures of the special protective measures in place for the session.
UEFA confirm postponement of Champions & Europa League finals. The governing body have confirmed they will 'examine the calendar and make an announcement in due course'.
Coronavirus pandemic accelerating
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said the spread of the coronavirus is accelerating. In total there have now been more than 300,000 confirmed infections. What’s particularly worrying is the rate of increase. From the first case it took 67 days to reach 100,000 cases, the next 100,000 only took 11 days, the last 100,000 just four days.
WHO director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called for action from governments around the world to halt the pandemic: “Asking people to stay at home and other social distancing measures are an important way of slowing down the spread of the virus and buying time, but they are defensive measures.
To win we need to attack the virus with aggressive and targeted tactics - testing every suspect case, isolating and caring for every confirmed cases and tracing and quarantining every close contact.”
This is the video collaboration between FIFA and the World Health Organisation featuring the likes of Lionel Messi, Mourinho, Carli Lloyd, Alisson Becker, Xavi and a host of other names from the game with tips on what every individual can do to tackle Covid-19.
El País reports that Madrid will use the Palacio de Hielo (Palace of Ice), a skating rink in the north of the city, as a temporary morgue during the coronavirus crisis. Madrid has been the epi-centre of the crisis in Spain, where the city's health services have been overwhelmed by the spiralling number of COVID-19 cases.
Swiss free-style skier and Real Madrid fan, Andri Ragettli, has found an interesting way to stave off boredom during self-isolation. Don't try this at home, especially the bit where he stands on his laptop.
Merkel's coronavirus test negative
German chancellor Angela Merkel's initial Covid-19 test has come back negative, a government spokesman told Reuters on Monday.
Merkel, who is to undergo further tests, was placed in quarantine at the weekend after coming into contact with a coronavirus-infected doctor.
LaLiga player Porro fined for breaking lockdown
LaLiga footballer Pedro Porro has been fined 600 euros for breaking lockdown measures in Spain after police found that the player had driven 15 kilometres from his home to go shopping in the centre of Valladolid.
In a since-deleted tweet, the 20-year-old - who is on loan at Real Valladolid from Manchester City - said he accepted his punishment, but denounced what he felt was heavy-handed and “rude” treatment by law-enforcement authorities.
“I’m very angry about the way some people talk to you, the way they address you in such a rude way,” Porro wrote, adding: “I don’t care about the fine, but what I won’t put up with is being disrespected.”
Coronavirus: Bear roams streets in Spain amid Covid-19 lockdown
With Spain in lockdown, this bear was caught on camera taking the opportunity to wander the deserted streets in the northern region of Asturias...
The Spanish ministry for health has published a study with data taken mostly from China, who seem to be coming out the other end of the crisis. They talk about recovery time, symptoms and how long Covid-19 can live in the human body.
You're standing there as the representative of truth and facts but things are being said that aren't true and aren't factual.
This interview in Science with Anthony Fauci, the director of US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, is an amazing read. Fauci, who went viral when he put his hand to his face in disbelief at President Trump’s “Deep State” conspiracy-theory comments during a daily coronavirus briefing, explains how the US coronavirus task force is run and how they set up the daily briefing.
He also goes into detail as to how they make Trump try and stick to statements that "comport with facts”. As he admits, "I can't jump in front of the microphone and push him down. OK, he said it. Let's try and get it corrected for the next time."
Spanish Covid-19 cases rise by 4,500
According to the latest figures provided by Spain’s health ministry, the total number of coronavirus cases in the country has now risen to 33,089 - up around 4,500 from Sunday - with the death toll now at 2,182.
Coronavirus USA in real time, 23 March: total cases and deaths
Coronavirus in US
Worst figures seen across the United States as the curve continues upwards.
LaLiga now say there is no official time-frame on a return to action for professional football in Spain. There was an initial two-week postponement but given the uncertainty, the football authorities say they will "not return until the relevant authorities say there is no risk to health."
Spanish VP admitted to hospital
According to Spanish TV station La Sexta, Carmen Calvo, one of Spain's vice presidents, has been admitted to the Clínica Ruber Internacional for respiratory problems.
Coronavirus UK in real time, 23 March: total cases and deaths
Coronavirus in UK
Live updates on the total number of Covid-19 cases, deaths and discharged patients in the UK and worldwide.
Canada, Australia won't go to Olympics in 2020
As the International Olympic Committee considers postponing Tokyo 2020 amid the coronavirus crisis, Canada and Australia have said they will not be sending teams to the Olympics or Paralympics unless the Games - which are due to begin on 24 July - are delayed by a year.
"While we recognise the inherent complexities around a postponement,” the Canadian Olympic Committee said in a statement, “nothing is more important than the health and safety of our athletes and the world community.”
In its announcement of its decision, meanwhile, the Australian Olympic Committee said: “It’s clear the Games can’t be held in July.”
As the Spanish national police say, we are in a critical phase in the fight against Covid-19.
...and they will chase those in the irresponsible minority that are putting the majority at risk.
The dynamic model
Coronavirus Covid-19 Global Cases by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University (JHU) - access here
From this morning, access for visitors into Spain has been further restricted. Only Spanish national and residents can enter, along with a few exception cases to aid the situation with Covid-19.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has asked the USA to lift sanctions in order to repatriate 200 nationals for 'humanitarian reasons'.
Covid-19 in Spain
The latest available figures from Spain show 29,909 total cases to date, with 1,813 fatalities. Thanks to the incredible efforts of the emergency services, 2,575 people have recovered fully from the virus in the last 24 hours.
AS' front page today leads with the story over the planned Olympic Games for this summer.
The IOC's executive board met on Sunday amid mounting pressure from athletes and national Olympic committees with a definitive decision to be taken 'within four weeks'.
Monday 23 March 2020
Good morning from Madrid and welcome to our rolling coverage of the coronavirus pandemic.
We aim to keep you right up to date with everything that's going on in Spain as well as across the globe as the world attempts to tackle the Covid-19 outbreak.