E3: Coronavirus news: Ohio primary polls ordered to close as French told to stay inside - live updates

Ohio governor says voting won’t happen due to ‘health emergency’; NZ launches historic spending package; WHO urges widespread testing. Follow the latest updates

Britain got the timing of its new measures “about right”, Prof Ferguson has said in the last few minutes on BBC Radio4

There can be a need to escalate still further, he adds, citing the case of France.

There is much discussion today of the shift in UK strategy to one of “total containment,” which involves new quarantine and social distancing based on modelling by Imperial College.

Explaining what cause that switch, the Guardian’s Health Editor Sarah Boseley writes that just last week Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his advisers had announced that anyone with symptoms of a cold should stay at home for seven days but otherwise live life as normal.

Related: New data, new policy: why UK's coronavirus strategy changed

Advice on whether schools should close in the UK may change before Easter, according to London’s mayor Sadiq Khan, who attended a meeting of the government’s Cobra emergency committee for the first time yesterday.

Khan, who said he had been frustrated for some time there was not a London presence at the meeting but was glad to be invited, said that the British government policy of allowing schools to remain open was challenged during the discussions. They were briefed on the how the current policy was in line with scientific advice that there was no reason for closing them at present.

#Coronavirus: Today I attended COBRA where the Government’s medical and scientific experts laid out the next set of measures to protect Londoners. Good to speak to @ITVLondon about what this means for our city. #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/PHp0Etautx

A familiar face on British morning television, Susanna Reid, has told viewers this morning that she is self-isolating after one of her children developed a “persistent cough”.

Appearing on Good Morning Britain via video link, she said: “That means that immediately I thought ‘I can’t go into work’ and work with you guys for 14 days.

Will now be broadcasting from home on a regular basis.... https://t.co/UqIMoGr7Om

As people in France wake up to their first day under lockdown this morning following an order by their president to “severely restrict” their movements for the next 15 days at least, the country’s finance minister has announced a €45bn package in crisis measure to bolster the economy

, which is expected to contract 1% this year. Bruno Le Maire told French RTL radio: “We don’t want bankruptcies.”

Israel’s government has approved emergency measures to track people suspected or confirmed to have been infected with the coronavirus by monitoring their mobile phones, immediately raising privacy concerns in the country.

The cabinet unanimously approved the use of the technology, developed initially for counter-terrorism purposes, in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Supermarkets in Britain are ramping up contingency plans to help tackle demand from shoppers for essential provisions, with more sections of the population – including vulnerable and elderly people – preparing for self-isolation during the coronavirus outbreak.

The discounter Aldi has become the first supermarket to introduce across-the-board rationing, which means customers can buy no more than four of any single grocery line when they visit a store.

Everyone is learning as the outbreak evolves and it means we have to find ways of adapting and changing circumstances, the World Health Organisation envoy David Nabarro has said.

Nabarro declined to criticise the UK government when asked about the change in British strategy which was unveiled last night but said he was “really pleased” by the shift.

Related: PM tells Britons to avoid non-essential travel and contact

That’s it from me for today – a special thank you to our readers for the tips and messages.

I’m now handing over to my colleague Ben Quinn, who will take you through the next few hours of coronavirus pandemic news.

Here is the very fresh Coronavirus latest: at a glance:

Related: Coronavirus latest: at a glance

Tom Hanks and his wife, Rita Wilson, have now both been released from an Australian hospital, five days after they were diagnosed with the new coronavirus, media reported.

Queensland state’s health department would not comment on media reports that the 63-year-old celebrities had been discharged from the Gold Coast University to self-isolate in a rented house.

Hanks management did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Hi all! Added some new songs to my Quarantunes @spotify playlist. I keep getting great suggestions from you all. https://t.co/Jo0zSpRhiE

South Korea reported 84 new coronavirus cases as of Tuesday, marking a third day in a row that the county has reported fewer than 100 new infections.

South Korea said it plans to tighten border checks for all arrivals from overseas to prevent new virus cases coming into the country.

Britain has not joined its European neighbours by shutting schools, closing borders or rolling out mass testing. So why not? Health editor Sarah Boseley looks at the arguments the government is making for its approach.

Related: Is the government moving fast enough on coronavirus? – podcast

The US president, Donald Trump, has referred to the global coronavirus outbreak as “the Chinese virus,” escalating a deepening US-China diplomatic spat over the disease.

Trump, after giving an address on Monday warning of a possible recession, posted on Twitter: “The United States will be powerfully supporting those industries, like Airlines and others, that are particularly affected by the Chinese Virus. We will be stronger than ever before!”

The United States will be powerfully supporting those industries, like Airlines and others, that are particularly affected by the Chinese Virus. We will be stronger than ever before!

Related: Trump sparks anger by calling coronavirus the 'Chinese virus'

In case you missed this earlier, two penguins have been allowed to tour the exhibits at the Chicago aquarium they call home.

The Shedd aquarium in Chicago has let its penguins wander around freely after closing to visitors indefinitely due to the coronavirus outbreak. The aquarium said on social media: ‘While this may be a strange time for us, these days feel normal for animals at Shedd’.

Unprecedented measures to fight the spread of coronavirus in the UK reverberate across the front pages today, with many newspapers giving prominence to a picture of Boris Johnson’s “your country needs you” gesture:

Related: 'Life put on hold': what the papers say about the UK coronavirus crisis

A further 30 people have tested positive for coronavirus in Thailand, bringing its total number of cases to 177, as countries across Southeast Asian witness a fresh wave of infections.

A spike in patient numbers across the region – which initially recorded relatively few cases - has increased doubts over a theory that warmer weather may prevent the spread of the virus, Reuters reported last night.

WATCH: Commuters rush to ride trucks in Philcoa, Quezon City on March 17, as mass public transpo is suspended due to the Luzon-wide #COVID19quarantine. | via @jaegermaraester pic.twitter.com/RnISKU71nS

More than 100 Australian doctors and dentists are trapped on board a cruise ship that is currently stuck off the coast of Chile after the country banned cruise ships from docking in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Related: Coronavirus ban: more than 100 Australian doctors and dentists stuck on cruise ship off Chile

In the US, legendary comedian Mel Brooks has made a video with his son Max warning of the dangers posed to the elderly by young people who don’t practice social distancing:

A message from me and my dad, @Melbrooks. #coronavirus #DontBeASpreader pic.twitter.com/Hqhc4fFXbe

More on India’s response to the coronavirus pandemic now – and in particular its tourism sector.

Tourism has all but ground to a complete halt in India as the country attempts to contain the spread of Covid-19. Most reported cases in India so far have been those who have been abroad or come into contact with people who recently travelled and in response the country has locked its borders.

Here are the latest figures worldwide, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Global infections have passed 180,000. They currently stand at 182,406

The Australian sharemarket has surged back to close up 5.8% for the day, bouncing back after its worst fall since 1987 on Monday.

Futures markets are pointing to a strong day ahead for US markets, but they have become a less reliable indicator than usual amid intense volatility on global bourses.

The Australian market’s extraordinary rebound on Tuesday was led by mining stocks that have been battered by the Covid-19 outbreak, but banks, other financial stocks, and supermarkets also soared.

Grocery wholesaler Metcash was the biggest gainer, skyrocketing by 27%.
Airline stocks were smashed as flag carrier Qantas slashed its flights. Qantas dropped 5.3% while rival Virgin Australia plummeted 8.7%.

Tuesday’s gains aren’t enough to claw back many of the extraordinary losses experienced by the market over the past three weeks, including Monday’s extraordinary 9.7% tumble.

The coronavirus rout means gains since October 2016 have been wiped out.

Singaporeans rushed to stock up on food on Tuesday amid fears of a disruption in supplies after Malaysia announced the closure of its borders to combat the coronavirus spread, though Singapore’s government said there would be no shortages.

India has closed the Taj Mahal, its top tourist site. The financial hub of Mumbai has also ordered offices providing non-essential services to function at 50% staffing levels as efforts to control the spread of coronavirus in South Asia ramped up.

Related: 'This is like a war': view from Italy's coronavirus frontline

Brazil’s largest favela, Rocinha, has asked that foreigners to be banned from entering the area, AP reports. Rocinha was home to about 70,000 people as of the latest census.

Wallace Pereira da Silva, president of Rocinhas residents’ association, says he delivered the official request to the state tourism secretariat on 13 March.

Ukraine late on Monday announced shutdowns of public transport, bars, restaurants and shopping malls to stem the spread of the coronavirus after President Volodymyr Zelensky promised to act “harshly, urgently, perhaps unpopularly”, AFP reports.

Meanwhile in Australia:

The ‘beef-free’ sausages still aren’t fooling anybody.. #COVID19au pic.twitter.com/I02eYmPVwD

Asian markets sank Tuesday as investors struggled to pick themselves off the floor following the previous day’s global bloodbath, the AFP writes, which saw Wall Street suffer its worst day in more than three decades as coronavirus sweeps the planet.

Thousands of Australian doctors have called on the government to ramp up its coronavirus response.

Almost 2,500 doctors have urged the health minister, Greg Hunt, to take immediate action on containment measures around the country to curb coronavirus.

Related: Thousands of Australian doctors call on government to ramp up coronavirus response

In the US, San Francisco and five other counties in California issued a shelter-in-place order in an effort to curb the spread of coronavirus.

The order, which goes into effect at midnight Tuesday until 7 April, is similar to the drastic lockdown measures taken in places like Italy, Spain, France and China, but it’s the first of its kind in the United States.

Related: What does 'shelter in place' mean? California's coronavirus order, explained

New Zealand on Tuesday deported its first unruly traveller flouting the country’s mandatory 14-day self-isolation rule for almost all arrivals, the health ministry said. The tourist, who had checked into a backpackers hostel in the city of Christchurch, was removed from the accommodation by the police after officials learned she did not have clear self-isolation plans.

But on the second day of the country’s strict travel restrictions, the new rules appeared to have sunk in for many others. The mood on Wellington airport on Tuesday was subdued and compliant as a handful of travellers arrived on flights from Sydney and Melbourne.

Here is the most recent Coronavirus latest: at a glance.

Related: Coronavirus latest: at a glance

The latest venture into the brave new world of live-streaming-in-the-age-of-coronavirus-shutdown is none other than Chris Martin – the frontman of Coldplay, who had already put a hold on all touring until they could find a sustainable way to do it.

Martin is the curator – and inaugural act – of new online festival the Solidarity Sessions: Together, At Home, in which artists will be performing for their fans, over Instagram, from home.

My friend Chris Martin did a lovely little concert from home today. I'll be doing one tomorrow at 1pm Pacific time. See you soon. We'll try to get through this together! #TogetherAtHome https://t.co/YZ8Y1W8esc

A strong contender for cutest coronavirus-induced lockdown news today (and perhaps ever) is penguins Annie and Edward being allowed out of their enclosure to explore some if the exhibits at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago:

oh my god, the chicago aquarium closed due to coronavirus, so they let the penguins run around and check out the other exhibits. (staff was present.) pic.twitter.com/YGa8CugymE

The adventure continues!
This morning, Edward and Annie explored Shedd’s rotunda. They are a bonded pair of rockhopper penguins, which means they are together for nesting season. Springtime is nesting season for penguins at Shedd, and this year is no different! (1/3) pic.twitter.com/VdxN3oQAfe

Penguins in the Amazon?!

Some of the penguins went on a field trip to meet other animals at Shedd. Wellington seemed most interested in the fishes in Amazon Rising! The black-barred silver dollars also seemed interested in their unusual visitor. pic.twitter.com/KgYWsp5VQD

While this may be a strange time for us, these days feel normal for animals at Shedd. Our caregivers are constantly providing new experiences for the animals to explore and express their natural behaviors with. Let us know what penguin activities you would like to see! (3/3) pic.twitter.com/ftlow7iPHl

Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau is currently working from home, prompting a senior government official who has participated in calls with the prime minister to tell Reuters, “You can run a G7 country from home.”

An update now on Canada, which closed its borders to all foreign nationals except US citizens and permanent residents on Monday.

Several other countries have taken the same step. The 27-nation European Union proposed shutting its external borders for 30 days on Monday.

“We will be denying entry into Canada to people who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents ... it is a significant step that we take in exceptional circumstances,” Trudeau told reporters outside his home, where he is under quarantine after his wife, Sophie, tested positive for the respiratory virus.

As former Australian prime minister Julia Gillard self-isolates after embracing Sophie Trudeau a week before Trudeau tested positive for coronavirus, now is a helpful time to remind you to please wash your hands, this time to Gillard’s famous misogyny speech:

A worthy alternative to singing happy birthday: pic.twitter.com/a5G5LQzyp1

The Philippine Stock Exchange was closed with no trading Tuesday after the president placed the northern part of the country including Manila in quarantine.

The exchange’s CEO said the end of trading activity would be “until further notice.”

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte placed the northern third of the country under an “enhanced community quarantine” that requires millions of people to stay mostly at home in an attempt to contain the coronavirus.

Still in Australia, in what appears to be a severe escalation of the supermarket wars, a man has been airlifted to hospital from the Victorian town of Rosebud after he was reportedly stabbed at a Woolworths.

Ambulance Victoria said paramedics were called to an incident in Rosebud, which is 88km from Melbourne on the Mornington Peninsula, at 12.55pm and treated a man for “an injury to the lower body.”

Australia’s health minister, Greg Hunt, says the country now has 375 confirmed cases of coronavirus.

He also says the country is looking at developing a mass testing process.

China’s economy will return to normal in the second quarter as government support measures to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus epidemic take effect, the state planner said on Tuesday.

New Zealand has recorded three more confirmed cases of coronavirus, all from New Zealanders recently returned from overseas. Two are in Wellington, having returned from the US, and one is in Dunedin, recently returned from Germany. The total of infected persons is now 11.

The Dunedin man only began showing symptoms five days after arriving home. The man and two family members are in self-isolation, including a student from Logan Park High School.

The UN Security Council called off its remaining two remaining meetings for the week, Agence France-Presse reports.

“Council members will maintain communication and consultation on issues on the agenda with a view to taking necessary actions as needed to fulfil the Council’s mandate,” a spokesperson for the mission said in a statement.

Hong Kong has issued a red travel alert covering all foreign, requiring anyone entering the country to self-quarantine for 14 days.

The chief executive, Carrie Lam, said in the previous two weeks, Hong Kong had recorded 57 new infections, 50 of them imported.

Japan’s prime minister, Shinzo Abe, has said that other Group of Seven leaders had agreed to support a “complete” Olympics in Tokyo, as speculation mounts that the coronavirus pandemic could force the Games to be postponed.

Abe said he had told other G7 leaders during their video conference on Monday night: “We are doing everything in our power to prepare, and we want to aim for a complete event as proof that mankind can defeat the new coronavirus.”

He said other leaders had backed his plan, but he would not be drawn on whether their discussions had touched on a possible postponement.

Abe was speaking after the head of the French Olympic committee, Denis Masseglia, said the Olympics would not be able to open as scheduled on 24 July unless the coronavirus outbreak had peaked by the end of May.

“My feeling is that if we’re still in the crisis by the end of May, I can’t see how the Games can happen (on time),” Masseglia told Reuters in Paris. “If we are beyond the peak and the situation is getting better questions will arise about who qualifies, but we will find the least worst solution.”

The International Olympic Committee, which has publicly supported Japan’s insistence that the Games will go ahead as planned, is due to talk to international sports federations on Tuesday, and national Olympic committees the following day.

Tokyo 2020 preparations suffered more disruption this week after organisers said spectators would be asked not to turn out to watch the first part of the Japan leg of the Olympic torch relay, which is due to begin on 26 March. Organisers are expected to ask people not to line the route as the torch passes through the first three of the country’s 47 prefectures, the Kyodo news agency said.

The flame was lit last week in Olympia in a low-key ceremony that was closed to members of the public. The Greek leg of the relay was called off the following day over coronavirus fears, and restrictions will be in place when the flame arrives in Japan at the end of this week.

While Japan has reported comparatively few cases of the virus, some Tokyo residents said they were worried by the prospect of people arriving from overseas to watch the Games.

“To be honest, even if Japan overcomes this crisis, we wouldn’t (want to) receive visitors from the world. I think we’d better not hold it,” Koki Miura, an employee at an internet company, told Agence France-Presse. “We cannot sacrifice people’s lives” for the sake of the Olympics, Miura added.

Public opinion in Japan appears to be hardening against holding the Olympics in the capital in less than four months’ time. In a poll by public broadcaster NHK conducted March 6-9, 45% were opposed to going ahead as planned, with 40% in favour. In a Kyodo survey released on Monday, 69.9% of respondents said they did not believe the Games would be held on schedule.

We are just hearing that the Ohio primary has been postponed, according to Reuters.

The state’s governor, Mike DeWine, had recommended on Monday that in-person voting during Tuesday’s primary elections be postponed.

As such, @DrAmyActon will order the polls closed as a health emergency. While the polls will be closed tomorrow, Secretary of State @FrankLaRose will seek a remedy through the courts to extend voting options so that every voter who wants to vote will be granted that opportunity.

China has begun using Xiaotangshan Hospital in Beijing to screen and test people arriving from overseas for Covid-19 . It was originally built to combat Sars in 2003 and has more than 1,000 beds.

Beijing's Xiaotangshan Hospital, originally built in 2003 to treat patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, began new operations on Monday to screen and treat people entering China from overseas with #COVID_19. https://t.co/b8hlFu2wca #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/sOj7zc3r6X

Researchers at the University of Queensland could begin clinical trials on coronavirus sufferers - using HIV and malaria tablets - in Australian hospitals by the end of March.

The trials would be based on test tube results that showed the drugs had effectively treated infections of the COVID-19 virus.

As we continue to report on the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, we’re looking for stories of how this unprecedented crisis has affected couples, families, friends and communities.

If you’ve been separated from a loved one by lockdowns, have had to cancel your wedding or miss an important family event, we’d like to hear from you. We’re always interested in hearing what you may have done in response, too, or how you and your loved ones (and neighbours) are supporting each other in these trying times.

There’s a new social media challenge in town, the #stayhomechallenge, in which members of society reflect soberly on the difficulties of social distancing and self-isolation:

Me going to the kitchen to eat the last of the quarantine food #stayhomechallenge pic.twitter.com/lw4d7PdYOq

From Spain with love

Yes, we can!!!#stayhomechallenge pic.twitter.com/u9MADTtsH1

#stayhomechallenge
Rationing Toilet Paper pic.twitter.com/17YjVj6ehE

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has updated its advice for pregnant women.

In Australia, only 90 MPs will come to the capital, Canberra, next week for parliamentary sittings.

Ahead of an expected further crack-down on large group gatherings aimed at slowing the spread of the disease, the Coalition and Labor have agreed to limit the number of MPs coming to Canberra.

“Game of Thrones” actor Kristofer Hivju, who played the beloved character Tormund Giantsbane on the HBO series, announced on his Instagram page that he has tested positive for coronavirus and will be isolating himself at his home in his native Norway.

In Australia, the Sydney Opera House has announced it will cancel all public performances starting today, March 17, until March 29th, after which it “will reevaluate based on the latest health advice and developments in the evolving Covid-19 situation.”

“At this stage, public areas of the site including precinct food and beverage outlets, tours and retail will continue to operate.”

San Francisco and five other Bay Area counties in California have ordered all residents to shelter-in-place to curb the spread of coronavirus, in a drastic move similar to ones taken in Italy, Spain and China, but the first of its kind in the US.

Related: California: millions told to 'shelter-in-place' to stop spread of coronavirus

A bit more on New Zealand’s massive stimulus package in response to the coronavirus pandemic now. Just to give you an idea of how this compares to packages announced in other wealthy countries around the world, Grant Robertson, the NZ finance minister described it in the below terms.

He said the stimulus package totalling 4% of New Zealand’s GDP was bigger than:

New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern has urged New Zealanders to adopt the “east coast wave” instead of the traditional handshake, and has demonstrated the greeting on national television to ensure citizens are onboard.

#WATCH The Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was asked to demonstrate the East Coast wave.

The PM, while announcing tough new border restrictions on Saturday asked people to, “Stop handshakes, hugs, and hongi ... the best thing we can do ... is to switch to the East Coast wave." pic.twitter.com/kUXW6AQ30H

Related: 'East coast wave' should replace handshakes and hongi amid coronavirus, says Jacinda Ardern

New Zealand’s government has announced a spending package equivalent to 4% of the country’s GDP in an attempt to fight the effects of Covid-19 on the country’s economy, in what ministers called the most significant peace-time economic plan in the country’s modern history.

“This package is one of the largest in the world on a per capita basis,” Grant Robertson, the finance minister, told reporters at New Zealand’s parliament on Tuesday.

Related: New Zealand launches massive spending package to combat Covid-19

Mainland China had 21 new confirmed cases of coronavirus infections on Monday, the National Health Commission said on Tuesday, up from 16 a day earlier.

The death toll from the outbreak was up by 13 from the previous day. Hubei province accounted for twelve pf these deaths, with 11 of these in Wuhan, the provincial capital.

The number of imported cases of the virus in mainland China reached 143 as of Monday, up 20 from a day earlier.

The official China Daily said in an editorial on Tuesday that the rest of the world should learn from China and follow the principles of early detection, early quarantine and early treatment in order to halt the global spread of the coronavirus, Reuters reports.

The United States will be powerfully supporting those industries, like Airlines and others, that are particularly affected by the Chinese Virus. We will be stronger than ever before!

In less exasperating US news, an LA-based songwriter has launched an online Social Distancing Festival “made to celebrate and showcase the work of the many artists around the world who have been affected by the need for social distancing.”

The founder of the project, Nick Green, writes of his reasons for launching the project, which will live stream events and alert people to other live streams, including tonight’s performance of the opera Carmen at the Metropolitan Opera in New York (starting now, 7:30pm ET, for the opera fans among you):

Personally, a production of a new musical of mine was cancelled on March 13, 2020. Yeah, Friday the 13th. Like, come on right? It’s such a weird mix of feelings. Yes it was absolutely the right decision. 100%. But so, so, SO disappointing. That production was years in the making, and my co-creator and artistic team had a lot invested. We didn’t just lose a chance to develop the work, but also to share it, celebrate it, and potentially connect with further opportunities. Instead, I went home, where I was alone, disappointed, and facing a whole lot of free time.

US president Donald Trump has posted a tweet referring to Covid-19 as “the Chinese Virus”:

The United States will be powerfully supporting those industries, like Airlines and others, that are particularly affected by the Chinese Virus. We will be stronger than ever before!

The Costa Rican president says predictive models on the virus are “not that precise”.

We are following the situation regionally. I believe it is too soon to assess what the movement of it is going to be. That’s why I believe that all the region has to take extreme measures of social distancing. And yes, we are concerned about what can happen in the weeks to follow but we’re keeping track of how this is developing.”

It’s hard to say. When you look at other countries, many of them have had the exponential peaks and you’ve seen the cases that people are following the most are the ones like South Korea, which they say have been handled in the best manner.

But one of the more complicated things is that it is still not that precise to predict. The models are not that precise to predict [the spread of the virus]. I believe all the countries are hoping for the best but planning for the worst and taking the measures necessary to decrease the effects.”

All cricket in Australia has been cancelled, including the Sheffield Shield final, with NSW declared champions.

“Cricket Australia has today announced the cancellation of the Marsh Sheffield Shield final and recommended that all cricket played within the community is ceased for the remainder of the 2019-20 season in response to the global coronavirus pandemic,” a statement read.

See anything you think other readers would like to know? Send it through to me on Twitter @helenrsullivan, or tag me in posts. I’m unlikely to be able to can’t respond to very message, but I do try to read them all.

In a rare bit of good news for the US jobs market, supermarket chains – and Amazon.com – are hiring more workers to meet an increase in demand sparked by consumer response to the coronavirus crisis. US supermarket chains Albertsons, Kroger and Raley’s have sought new hires to staff busy sections and fulfil online orders. They are turning to people in the restaurant, travel and entertainment businesses who are suddenly looking for work.

Moving away from that press conference now, in other Australia news – in case you missed it – actor Tom Hanks has been released from a Gold Coast Queensland hospital after being quarantined with coronavirus, AAP reports.

His wife Rita Wilson remains in isolation after also testing positive to the virus last week.

And the winner for the quarantine playlist naming is QUARANTUNES! Head to @Spotify to listen https://t.co/vue00ncheT

Still in New South Wales, Australia for the moment, where state chief economist Stephen Walters says:

There can be no doubt that the next 3 to 4 months are going to be a very difficult time for business in New SouthWales. We’ve had 8 years of drought in this state. We’ve had catastrophic bushfires and we’re facing a large economic slowdown for the winter months ahead of us. There are a lot of worried business people out there. As you would know, small business people tend to view their staff as family and they will do everything in their power to keep those staff employed and not have to lay them off but I think we have to be honest and say some of the small businesses are probably not going to make it through to the other side of this.

New South Wales, Australia treasurer Dominic Perrottet says of the state government’s AU$2.3bn package, AU$700 million of which will be invested into health care:

This is an unprecedented response to an unprecedented situation. This is a package today that protects the people of New South Wales. It is targeted. It is timely and it’s temporary, because New South Wales will come through this situation stronger than ever before.

The Australian stockmarket rose more than 1.6% at the opening bell on Tuesday morning, defying the strong lead set by a crash overnight in the US.

The ASX is still down by about 30% since the coronavirus crisis started hitting markets about a month ago, and the extreme volatility we’ve seen in recent days means there’s no guarantee the relief will last.

Australian companies rushed out waves of bad news before the market opened, with the flagship carrier Qantas saying it would cut international flights by 90% and domestic ones by 60%.

In Australia, New South Wales state premier Gladys Berejiklian is addressing media now on a AU$2.3bn (US$1.4) package the state government is announcing.

Against a backdrop of incredulity and consternation, the Greek Orthodox church has, if reluctantly, decided to suspend daily services after a marathon session of its Holy Synod, citing the need to prevent the spread of Coronavirus.

Hundreds of prisoners escaped from prisons in São Paulo state in the South East of Brazil on Monday. The G1 news site reported that the prison rebellions and escapes happened after temporary exits for Easter due to start on Tuesday were cancelled because of the risk of prisoners infecting other inmates with coronavirus when they returned to prison. Prisoners escaped in Tremembé and Mirandópolis and G1 reported a rebellion was reported at a prison in Porto Feliz.

And in a widely-shared video, hordes of prisoners could be seen running away from the semi-open Dr Rubens Aleixo Sendin at Mongaguá on the São Paulo coast while a man shouts: “Come back Monday, ok?”

Rebelião na penitenciária de Mongaguá, litoral de SP. Até o momento, 8 agentes estão sendo feitos de refém. Presos fugiram pela orla da praia sentido Praia Grande. PM em atuação no local. pic.twitter.com/26JVlAg2IJ

Litoral de São Paulo pic.twitter.com/sIbFqU1wBr

Hello and welcome to today’s coronavirus liveblog, where we’ll be giving you up-to-the-minute news on the pandemic around the world.

‘Test, test, test,’ is the message of the day from the World Health Organization. The question is: How?

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