Novel Coronavirus COVID-19 (nCoV-2019)

[tiffer24]

Canada's top doctor warns against travelling on cruise ships over COVID-19 concerns.

https://www.cp24.com/news/canada-s-...cruise-ships-over-covid-19-concerns-1.4844944

 

[Midtown Urbanist]

View attachment 235579

Just received in my e-mail box. I wonder how many other city councillors will be in isolation, as I am going to presume that Matlow isn't the only person to have come into contact with the infected individual.

Crossposting from the Mayor John Tory's Toronto thread.

 

[W. K. Lis]

Crossposting from the Mayor John Tory's Toronto thread.

How about a video-conference?

The problem would be disruptions of a different kind...

 

[W. K. Lis]

Coronavirus: Israel bans all visitors entering country unless they can self-quarantine for two weeks

From link.

Israel has barred all foreign visitors from entering the country unless they can quarantine and ordered all returning Israelis to self-isolate for 14-days to counter the spread of the coronavirus, in an unprecedented move that effectively seals off the country.

The sweeping measures come as the Palestinian authorities have effectively put the West Bank on lockdown amid a spike in cases there.

So far 39 people have been infected in Israel and 25 in the West Bank, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) prompting both Israel and the Palestinian authorities to impose strict measures.

Both sides fear that the crumbling Palestinian health systems, in particular, will not be able to cope with an extended outbreak.

On Monday Israel ratcheted up its restrictions with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announcing that entry constraints have been extended to all countries, meaning all Israelis returning from abroad must self-quarantine for 14 days.

Israel will also only admit foreigners if they can prove they have the means to self-quarantine, Israeli media added, saying that this measure would go into effect on Thursday.

It comes a day after the Palestinian authorities banned all foreign tourists from accessing the West Bank for two weeks, and after they completely sealed off Bethlehem for the foreseeable future, where 24 of the 25 cases in the OPT are located.

Among those in quarantine in the holy city for Christians were 13 American pilgrims, who tested negative and left for the US on Monday evening.

"Anyone who arrives in Israel from abroad will enter a 14-day isolation," Mr Netanyahu said in a video statement, adding that the measure would be in effect for two weeks, initially.

"This is a difficult decision. But it is essential for safeguarding public health, and public health comes first."

Over 80,000 people in Israel are already believed to be in home quarantine, this new measure is expected to affect 300,000 in total.

The Israeli military released a statement Monday saying that 1,237 of its soldiers, who had travelled abroad and returned to Israel, are also currently self-isolating.

The United Nations’ access coordination unit meanwhile confirmed that Allenby Bridge crossing between Jordan and the West Bank is closed for everyone bar Palestinians and East Jerusalem ID holders, as well as some diplomatic and UN passport holders.

In the blockaded enclave of Gaza, where no case has been registered yet, health ministry officials told The Independent that just one person infected with the deadly virus would end in “complete disaster”, as they lack 42 per cent of the essential drugs list, and have no way of isolating the ill or preventing spread of the disease.

WHO officials said that the Gaza authorities, with the help of donors, were building isolation and quarantine centres in preparation.

At Hotel Angel in Beit Jala, near Bethlehem, the epicentre of the West Bank outbreak, those under quarantine told The Independent that residents of the city were “panicking”.

“We have seen bigger governments with the most sophisticated health systems in the world crumble, how will we cope?” asked Antwan Sacha, 35, who is volunteering to help look after those six days into quarantine in Hotel Angel where seven staff members tested positive for coronavirus alongside the 13 American pilgrims.

The infected caught the virus from a visiting Greek tour group who returned home and tested positive.

The tour group’s bus driver, a resident of East Jerusalem, is in critical condition at an Israeli hospital after being diagnosed with COVID-19.

“People are really scared, there is panic, particularly when you look at the reality of how we can deal with this,” Mr Sacha added.

 

[vic]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1237101202183200768

 

[gabe]

Ted Cruz shook hands with someone at CPAC who now has coronavirus. He is in isolation now. So is Paul Gosar.

Finally some good news!! It would be even better if Ted was in isolation for the rest of his term.

 

[W. K. Lis]

Coronavirus live updates: all of Italy to be placed under lockdown conditions

From link.

All of Italy will be placed under the lockdown conditions thus far imposed upon the so-called “red zone” in the north of the country, the Italian prime minister Giuseppe Conte has said.​

​

The restrictions will include banning all public gatherings and preventing all movement other than for work and emergencies. According to the Reuters news agency, he has said the decision was necessary to protect Italy’s most vulnerable citizens and that the right course of action now is for people to stay at home.​

 

[Richard White]

Coronavirus live updates: all of Italy to be placed under lockdown conditions

From link.

All of Italy will be placed under the lockdown conditions thus far imposed upon the so-called “red zone” in the north of the country, the Italian prime minister Giuseppe Conte has said.​

​

The restrictions will include banning all public gatherings and preventing all movement other than for work and emergencies. According to the Reuters news agency, he has said the decision was necessary to protect Italy’s most vulnerable citizens and that the right course of action now is for people to stay at home.​

Does this include Vatican City which is technically its own country?

 

[W. K. Lis]

Does this include Vatican City which is technically its own country?

Vatican City’s first coronavirus case confirmed

From link.

Vatican City’s first coronavirus (COVID-19) case has been confirmed.

A number of precautionary measures have been implemented to contain the disease, a Vatican spokesman says.

These include:

Closing some of the Vatican’s offices.

Shutting down and disinfecting the Vatican health clinic.

Putting a Vatican official into a protective quarantine after he came into contact with a priest who tested positive for the virus. (So far the official isn’t showing symptoms of COVID-19.)

Closing the Vatican Apostolic Library doors throughout this week.

Pope Francis, who lost part of one lung from a respiratory illness when he was a young man, thanked all those who are responding to the healthcare emergency.

“I wish to express again my closeness to those who are ill with the #coronavirus and to healthcare workers who are caring for them, as well as to civil authorities and all those involved in assisting patients and in containing the spread of the virus,” Francis tweeted.

Although Francis came down with a cold over a week ago, he has no symptoms of any other illness, the Vatican says.

Although recovering well, Francis has canceled several official audiences as well as his participation at a week-long spiritual retreat in the Roman countryside for the meanwhile.

It is not clear how the Vatican will alter Francis’ schedule and other events both inside the Vatican and during Holy Week activities leading up to Easter Sunday on April 12.

Francis usually presides over the Way of the Cross procession at the Colosseum on Good Friday, celebrates an Easter Vigil in St. Peter’s Basilica and delivers the “Urbi et Orbi” (“to the city and to the world”) Easter Day message in St. Peter’s Square

 

[W. K. Lis]

Pope celebrates mass on his own and prays for those infected by Covid-19

The Holy See live-streamed the mass from the Vatican hotel where the pontiff lives.

From link.

Pope Francis has celebrated morning mass all by himself in the chapel of the Vatican hotel where he lives, and has offered up prayers for those infected with Covid-19 and those caring for them.

The Holy See live-streamed Francis’ Mass on Monday, evidence of new measures the Vatican City State has taken to contain the spread of the virus in line with restrictions adopted by the Italian government.

With 7,375 people infected, Italy has the most cases outside Asia.

He came down with a cold two weeks ago, but appears to have recovered and on Monday resumed private meetings, including with bishops from France and two departing ambassadors.

The Vatican, a 108-acre city state in the heart of Rome, has confirmed one positive case.

The Vatican Museums have closed and nationwide, the Italian Catholic Church has suspended masses and other celebrations to prevent people from congregating.

 

[Videodrome]

Finally some good news!! It would be even better if Ted was in isolation for the rest of his term.

Matt Gaetz and Doug Collins are also now in self quarantine.

 

[W. K. Lis]

Meanwhile...

This book predicted 2020 coronavirus outbreak 12 years ago. Trending now

From link.

A book titled End of Days: Predictions and Prophecies about the End of the World, written by Sylvia Browne, also predicted the global outbreak of coronavirus. The book was first published in 2008. A photo of an excerpt from the book is going viral across social media platforms and is spooky enough to reach for that box of tissues to wipe your sweat.

 

[Jasmine18]

one thing i learned if we are faced with a big crisis have no faith in your fellow public XD

 

[Johnny Au]

Sylvia Browne did not live to see her 2020 prediction come true.

Alternatively, it could be that a fan of the late Sylvia Browne placed rotten flesh with the virus in the seafood market in Wuhan just before 2020 as an attempt to discredit her skeptics.

 

[AlbertC]

Don't travel, don't socialise, stay inside: Italy's coronavirus lockdown rules

Country’s prime minister has put the nation of 60 million people under special quarantine measures

Agence France-Presse
Tue 10 Mar 2020 07.16 GMT

Don't travel, don't socialise, stay inside: Italy's coronavirus lockdown rules

Country’s prime minister has put the nation of 60 million people under special quarantine measuresLatest updates

www.theguardian.com