Steve Holland
Leaders in Europe, the Middle East and the Americas
rolled out bans on big gatherings, and stricter travel restrictions as
cases of the new coronavirus spread around the world.
The United
States on Saturday reported its first death from the disease, a
Washington state man in his 50s. Two of the state’s three cases have
links to a nursing home, state officials said, where dozens of residents
have symptoms of the disease.
U.S. President Donald Trump and
top officials said in a White House press briefing that travelers from
South Korea and Italy would be subject to additional screening, and
warned Americans against traveling to coronavirus-affected regions in
both countries.
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said a ban on
travelers from Iran entering the country would be expanded to include
any foreign nationals who have visited Iran in the last 14 days. The
United States may also restrict travel on its southern border with
Mexico, officials said.
However they encouraged Americans to
travel around the country, including to states where some of the
country’s more than 60 cases of the disease have been recorded.
The
outbreak is disrupting demand for flights and many airlines have
suspended or modified services in response. After Saturday’s press
conference, the White House held a call with airlines to discuss new
travel restrictions.
American Airlines Inc said late on Saturday it was suspending all U.S. flights to Milan.
NEW CASES
Ecuador
on Saturday reported its first case, in a woman who had traveled from
Madrid, while Mexico reported four cases, all in people who had visited
Italy.
Brazilian officials confirmed that country’s second case, a patient in São Paulo who recently visited Italy.
As
governments worldwide stepped up efforts to halt the spread of the
virus, France announced a temporary ban on public gatherings with more
than 5,000 people in confined spaces. It reported 16 new cases for a
total of 73, and canceled a half-marathon of 40,000 runners scheduled
for Sunday.
Switzerland said it is banning events expected to draw more than 1,000 people.
More
than 700 tourists remain quarantined at a hotel in the Canary Islands,
after several Italian guests there tested positive for coronavirus.
Schools
and universities in Italy, which is experiencing Europe’s worst
outbreak of the disease, will stay closed for a second consecutive week
in three northern regions. The country has reported more than 1,100
cases and 29 deaths.
Analysts have warned that the outbreak looks
set to shunt Italy’s fragile economy into its fourth recession in 12
years, with many businesses in the wealthy north close to a standstill
and hotels reporting a wave of cancellations.
FOCUS ON IRAN
Iraq
reported five new cases of the disease, bringing its total to 13, and
Qatar reported its first Saturday, leaving Saudi Arabia as the only Gulf
state not to have signaled any coronavirus cases.
The majority
of infections in other Gulf countries have been linked to visits to Iran
or involve people who have come into contact with people who had been
there.
Tehran
has ordered schools shut until Tuesday and extended the closure of
universities and a ban on concerts and sports events for a week.
Authorities have also banned visits to hospitals and nursing homes as
the country’s case load hit nearly 600.
One Iranian lawmaker,
elected in Feb. 21 polls, has died from the disease along with more than
40 other Iranians, and several high-ranking officials have tested
positive for the virus.
Azerbaijan said on Saturday it had
closed its border with Iran for two weeks to prevent the spread of
coronavirus. Two Azerbaijanis who traveled to Iran have tested positive
for the disease and quarantined.
Mainland China reported 573 new
confirmed coronavirus cases on Feb. 29, up from 427 on the previous day,
the country’s health authority said on Sunday morning in China. The
number of deaths stood at 35, down from 47 on the previous day, and
bringing the total death toll in mainland China to 2,870.
The epidemic, which began in China, has killed almost 3,000 people worldwide, the ministry said.
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