Coronavirus world live updates: Los Angeles mayor orders full lockdown of city of 10 million
One of the world's most famous cities will go into full lock down mode at midnight with coronavirus cases rising in the metropolis of 10 million.
Alle McMahon
less than 2 min read
March 19, 2020 - 9:33PM
The entire city of Los Angeles will go into enforced lockdown within hours as the city of 10 million struggles to put a lid on the rising number of coronavirus cases.
California has 1000 of the US's 13,000 cases of COVID-19, however city officials said there was "no need for fear" and the extra precautions would be "temporary" and "will end".
It comes as Italy has now surpassed China's virus death toll - making it the deadliest outbreak in the world. A total of 3,405 people have died in Italy so far, while 3,249 deaths have been reported in China since the outbreak first began in late December.
More than 235,000 cases of COVID-19 have now been confirmed across 160 countries, and more than 9,350 people have died. The worst outbreaks are in China, Italy, Iran, Spain and Germany.
Our live coverage has finished for the day, here's how it played out.
Updates
California orders 40m to isolate; says 25m could get virus
The US' most populous state has ordered its residents into lockdown. California Governor Gavin Newsom ordered the move soon after the County of Los Angeles did the same.
Residents will have to remain home but can leave the house for shopping and exercise.
Supermarkets and convenience stores, restaurants that home deliver, petrol stations, chemists, banks and launderettes can remain open
California has some 39 million residents and includes major cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego.
Of the US' 13,000 positive COVID-19 cases, 1000 are in the state. Sixteen people have died.
The numbers in the west coast state are still far below those in New York where 4000 people have been affected.
CA is issuing a statewide, mandatory STAY AT HOME order.
Those that work in critical sectors should go to work. Grocery stores, pharmacies, banks and more will stay open.
We need to meet this moment and flatten the curve together.
Governor Newsom gave some startling figures as to how the virus could spread, reported NBC News.
"We project that roughly 56 percent of our population – 25.5 million people – will be infected with the virus over an eight week period," Newsom said.
He has asked President Trump to station a floating hospital off the coast near LA to shoulder the burden on hospitals.
"This is an order": Los Angeles in lockdown
The Mayor of Los Angeles has ordered the city's residents to go into lockdown.
On Thursday evening, Mayor Eric Garcetti said people should "stay inside their homes and immediately limit all nonessential movement".
The order applies to the entire county of Los Angeles which contains 10 million people and included the cities of Pasedena and Long Beach.
"We need to be painfully honest that we are about to start living in a new way in Los Angeles," Mayor Garcetti said.
It said it was a "matter of love" to their fellow citizens that they follow the new diktats.
LA will soon be in lockdown mode. Picture: Thomas Wolf/Wikimedia Commons.
The order comes into effect at 11:59 p.m, Thursday tonight (local time), until April 19.
"This is not a request. This is an order," Mayor Garcetti said.
LA has a quarter of California's 1000 cases and has seen two people die.
All bars, shopping centres and non-essential retailers will shut.
I’m issuing a Safer at Home emergency order — ordering all residents of @LACity to stay inside their homes and immediately limit all nonessential movement. We’re taking this urgent action to limit the spread of COVID-19 and save lives. https://t.co/4yVdjXMEJ0pic.twitter.com/QscQUbqkaC
The city stressed people could still leave the house, go for a walk, could gather in groups of 10 or fewer if in an open space. Supermarkets, hardware stores and other essential retailers would stay open. Restaurants will stay open but for delivery and takeaway only.
City officials said there was "no need for fear" and the extra precautions would be "temporary" and "will end".
The move is similar to New York City where bars, shops and clubs have closed. Although supermarkets and other essential retailers and other services remain open.
Chilling image of Italy's pain
Italian reporter Tancredi Palmeri has shared this chilling photo from the city of Bergamo.
He says the line of military trucks is transporting coffins to other parts of the country's Lombardy region, because Bergamo is too overwhelmed to complete the cremation process for all of them itself.
It doesn’t exist a word to define this image.
Those military trucks across Bergamo are carrying coffins to other cities of Lombardy region so to proceed with cremation process, as the city and cemetery morgue can’t take the overload.
It's the latest symbol of Italy's thoroughly overwhelmed medical system. Well over 10,000 coronavirus have been hospitalised with symptoms from the virus, and 2000 are in intensive care.
And we're not talking about a bad system here. Before the outbreak, Italy's health system was widely lauded – the World Health Organisation ranked it the second-best on the planet.
As of today though, more people have died from the virus in Italy than in China – the original epicentre of the outbreak.
The Italian death toll rose by 427 yesterday, and now stands at 3405. At the same time China, with a total of 3245 deaths, reported its first day with no new locally transmitted cases.
Italy's death toll surpasses China
Italy has surpassed China's coronavirus death toll, making it the world's deadliest outbreak.
The gruesome milestone is being blamed on the country’s large elderly population, its overwhelmed health care system and the delayed imposition of complete lockdown measures across the epicentre of its outbreak, Lombardy.
Italy registered 3,405 deaths on Thursday after another 427 people died. China has reported 3,249 dead since the outbreak first began in late December.
UN and Italian health authorities have cited a variety of reasons for Italy’s high toll. The key among them is its large elderly population, who are particularly susceptible to developing serious complications from the virus.
Italy has the world’s second oldest population after Japan’s and the vast majority of Italy’s dead – 87 per cent – were over age 70.
In addition, virtually all of Italy’s dead had one or more underlying medical conditions, such as diabetes, cancer, hypertension or renal insufficiency.
Italy and France are now looking at extending their respective lockdown periods.
Italy went into lockdown on March 12, but Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said on Thursday its strict measures "must be extended beyond their original deadline".
France began its 15-day lockdown on Tuesday, but French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said it may be renewed.
"If necessary, the government will renew it," he told Europe 1 radio.
Meanwhile, Spain has registered a 20 per cent increase in new cases of coronavirus.
The total in the country is up by 3,431 to 17,147. The number of deaths from the virus were up by 179 to 767.
-With wires
Trump considering "repercussions" for China's handling of virus
US President Donald Trump said he is considering “repercussions” for the Chinese government’s handling of coronavirus, after days of placing the blame for the spread of the virus on the country.
“It would have been much better if we had known about this a number of months earlier,” he said at a news conference Thursday.
“It could have been contained to that one area in China where it started. And certainly the world is paying a big price for what they did.”
Queen issues message before isolating
The Queen has issued a heartfelt message to all those affected by the coronavirus across the world, thanking experts and health workers for their tireless efforts and communities for banding together during such uncertain times.
The Queen has urged everyone to do their "vitally important part" during the pandemic. Picture: AP/Aaron Chown
"As Philip and I arrive at Windsor today, we know that many individuals and families across the United Kingdom, and around the world, are entering a period of great concern and uncertainty," she said.
"We are all being advised to change our normal routines and regular patterns of life for the greater good of the communities we live in and, in particular, to protect the most vulnerable within them.
"At times such as these, I am reminded that our nation’s history has been forged by people and communities coming together to work as one, concentrating our combined efforts with a focus on the common goal.
"We are enormously thankful for the expertise and commitment of our scientists, medical practitioners and emergency and public services; but now more than any time in our recent past, we all have a vitally important part to play as individuals – today and in the coming days, weeks and months.
"Many of us will need to find new ways of staying in touch with each other and making sure that loved ones are safe. I am certain we are up to that challenge. You can be assured that my family and I stand ready to play our part."
The Queen left Buckingham Palace for Windsor Castle on Thursday to socially distance herself amid the coronavirus pandemic.
She is heading to her Berkshire home a week earlier than she normally would at this time of year, and is expected to remain there beyond the Easter period.
US to warn citizens not to travel
The US State Department is reportedly preparing to raise its worldwide travel advisory to its highest level.
All Americans will be warned not to travel overseas and all those already abroad will be urged to come home, according to Politico.
It comes just days after the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) issued similar advice to Aussies at home and abroad.
About 10,750 cases of the coronavirus have now been confirmed in the United States, and 154 people have died.
At a press conference at the White House on Thursday, US President Donald Trump revealed two drugs could be “gamechangers” in treating COVID-19 and would be made available “almost immediately” by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
He said the antimalarial drugs — hydroxychloroquine and Cloroquine— would soon be available for “prescribed use".
“It’s been around for a long time, so we know if things don’t go as planned, it’s not going to kill anybody,” he said.
“We have to remove every barrier or a lot of barriers that were unnecessary and they’ve done that to get the rapid deployment of safe, effective treatments and we think we have some good answers.
Prince Albert of Monaco has tested positive for the coronavirus, according to the palace.
The 62-year-old ruler – who is the second child of Princess Grace, formerly Grace Kelly, and Prince Rainier of Monaco – is now being treated by doctors while working from his home office in the palace, a statement said.
He is still in constant contact with members of his government, it added.
The palace said his health was not worrying. Picture: AP/Kamil Zihnioglu
It comes as the European Union’s chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, has also confirmed he is ill.
The 69-year-old French politician announced the news on Twitter, saying he was "doing well" and in "good spirits".
"I am following all the necessary instructions, as is my team," he said.
"For all those affected already, and for all those currently in isolation, we will get through this together."
I would like to inform you that I have tested positive for #COVID19. I am doing well and in good spirits. I am following all the necessary instructions, as is my team.
For all those affected already, and for all those currently in isolation, we will get through this together.
There are now nearly 71,000 cases of the COVID-19 virus in Europe, and 7,876 people have died, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC).
The worst outbreaks are in Italy, Spain, Germany, France and Switzerland.
Tokyo 2020 officials receive Olympic flame
Tokyo Olympics organisers have received the Olympic flame in Greece, despite calls for the Japanese Games to be cancelled or postponed amid the coronavirus outbreak.
The Flame Handover Ceremony was held at an empty 50,000 seat stadium in Athens where the first modern Olympics were held in 1896.
“Tokyo 2020 commits to be in readiness for the games as planned,” organising committee president, Yoshiro Mori, said.
“I hereby pledge that on 24 July this flame will be lit at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo.”
Check out these eerie pictures:
Pictures: Getty Images
The flame will now be flown to northern Japan, where it will touch down at the Matsushima air base on Friday. But everything about the arrival ceremony will be subdued.
The flame will be greeted by a few dignitaries, saluted by a flyover from an aerial acrobatic team and then used to ignite a cauldron.
The burning vessel will be displayed in three northern prefectures before the official relay begins on March 26 from Fukushima prefecture.
Getting the flame to Japan represents a small victory for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and local organisers, who maintain the Olympics will open as scheduled in July and be followed by the Paralympics on August 25.
But IOC president Thomas Bach is getting push back from athletes who can’t train, are confused about the qualification process, and worry about their health.
“I think the IOC insisting this will move ahead, with such conviction, is insensitive and irresponsible given the state of humanity,” IOC member and four-time Olympic hockey gold medalist, Hayley Wickenheiser, said.
With a population of nine million and nearly 1,000 confirmed cases so far, the city currently has the highest rate of coronavirus infections in England.
Now British media reports say it could be locked down this week, with residents given just 12 hours notice.
It could mean police guarding supermarkets, air dropped rations and more restrictions on shops being asked to close.
Though Downing Street has quashed the rumour it will only allow one person to leave each home at once.
Supermarket shelves have been stripped of essentials while corner shops have been forced to close their doors in order for queues to subside as locals stock up on pasta, vegetables and toilet paper.
Many have been confused at government advice so far, which has not expressly forbidden people going out but asked them to avoid it.
Speaking to the London assembly, mayor Sadiq Khan said the city was not yet at Paris-level bans but he wanted people to follow expert advice.
“The advice from the government is just advice. I think that provides a mixed message. It’s clearly not been clear enough. We may move to a situation where we move from advice to bans,” he said.
“We are nowhere near the peak.”
Several London Underground stations were also closed on Thursday.
UK LOOKING AT ANTIBODY TESTS
A total 137 people have now died from the virus across the UK.
At a press conference on Thursday, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson promised the country could "turn the tide" on the epidemic in 12 weeks.
"I'm absolutely confident we can send the virus packing in this country," he said. "But it depends on collective, resolute action," he added.
Mr Johnson says the UK can get on top of the virus within 12 weeks. Picture: Getty Images/Leon Neal
Mr Johnson also said the UK was looking at buying antibody test kits, which could tell people if they have had the disease.
"It is early days but if it works we will buy hundreds and thousands as soon as practicable," he said.
The government's chief medical adviser, Professor Chris Whitty, said the tests could be vital for helping Britain return to normality, with workers able to return to the office after taking the test.
