news--2020-06-27--Tesla cuts prices by up to 6% in US and China to boost demand

Tesla has cut the prices of its electric vehicles by up to 6 % in the US in a bid to bolster demand hit by the coronavirus lockdown .
At the same time the firm , owned by the maverick billionaire Elon Musk , has said its quick-charging service will no longer be free to new customers of its Model S sedans and Model X sport utility vehicles ( SUVs ) .
Prices in China will also be cut which is normal practice after changes in the US market .
The move comes as the car industry globally struggles to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic , which has stalled economies around the world and devastated demand .
Car sales in the US are likely to have been halved in April from a year earlier as a result of the coronavirus crisis , according to data from the analytics firm , JD Power .
However , it said sales in May were likely to improve due to pent-up demand and incentives offered by most carmakers .
Manufacturers including General Motors , Ford and Fiat Chrysler are offering 0 % financing deals and deferred payment options for buyers .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ earlier this month , with suppliers gearing up to support the domestic car industry , which employs nearly one million people .
Tesla was briefly forced to stop work at its factory in Fremont , California , due to coronavirus restrictions .
It later restarted production after resolving a dispute over safety measures with the local health authorities .
: : Listen to Divided States on Apple podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , and Spreaker Following the price cut , Tesla 's website showed the starting price for its Model S sedan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down from $ 79,990 ( £65,225 ) .
Its Model X SUVs are now priced at $ 79,990 ( £65,225 ) , compared with $ 84,990 ( £69,302 ) previously , and the lowest-priced Model 3 sedan is $ 2,000 ( £1,630 ) cheaper at $ 37,990 ( £30,978 ) .
Prices in China will fall by around 4 % for the Model X and Model S , which are imported , while the cost of the firm 's locally made Model 3 cars will remain unchanged .

Tesla has cut the prices of its electric vehicles by up to 6% in the US in a bid to bolster demand hit by the coronavirus lockdown.
At the same time the firm, owned by the maverick billionaire Elon Musk, has said its quick-charging service will no longer be free to new customers of its Model S sedans and Model X sport utility vehicles (SUVs).
Prices in China will also be cut which is normal practice after changes in the US market.
The move comes as the car industry globally struggles to cope with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has stalled economies around the world and devastated demand.
Car sales in the US are likely to have been halved in April from a year earlier as a result of the coronavirus crisis, according to data from the analytics firm, JD Power.
However, it said sales in May were likely to improve due to pent-up demand and incentives offered by most carmakers.
Manufacturers including General Motors, Ford and Fiat Chrysler are offering 0% financing deals and deferred payment options for buyers.
Factories in the US started to reopen earlier this month, with suppliers gearing up to support the domestic car industry, which employs nearly one million people.
Tesla was briefly forced to stop work at its factory in Fremont, California, due to coronavirus restrictions.
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It later restarted production after resolving a dispute over safety measures with the local health authorities.
:: Listen to Divided States on Apple podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Spreaker
Following the price cut, Tesla's website showed the starting price for its Model S sedan was $74,990 (£61,148), down from $79,990 (£65,225).
Its Model X SUVs are now priced at $79,990 (£65,225), compared with $84,990 (£69,302) previously, and the lowest-priced Model 3 sedan is $2,000 (£1,630) cheaper at $37,990 (£30,978).
Prices in China will fall by around 4% for the Model X and Model S, which are imported, while the cost of the firm's locally made Model 3 cars will remain unchanged.


news--2020-03-12--Coronavirus: Spread of COVID-19 'much worse' than Ebola

The spread of coronavirus around the globe is `` much , much worse '' than seen with Ebola , according to the man who helped discover the earlier disease .
Professor Peter Piot , director of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine , told Sky News that the outbreak of COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus , had the potential to turn into a `` really bad situation '' .
`` This is much , much worse than Ebola , '' he told Sky 's science correspondent Thomas Moore .
`` Ebola requires very close contact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of it , but frankly it is usually very contained .
There are some exceptions .
`` But because it [ COVID-19 ] is a respiratory transmitted virus , that makes it so worrisome .
`` It 's very infectious because there 's so much virus in your throat .
`` So this is literally something you can catch by talking to somebody , which is not the case with other viruses . ''
Professor Piot co-discovered the Ebola virus in Zaire while working at the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 50 % , although in some previous outbreaks it has been as high as 90 % .
With COVID-19 , meanwhile , the true fatality rate is not known .
Experts estimate it to be around 1 % .
Professor Piot said the world is entering a `` new phase '' of the coronavirus outbreak and it is now `` truly a pandemic '' .
He criticised Donald Trump 's decision to impose a travel ban on flights to the US from mainland Europe , describing it as a `` pretty bizarre '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transmission , lots of cases , '' he said .
`` I can only think that this is a political decision .
It 's hard to imagine that this would have any impact . ''
Addressing the situation in the UK , he said Britain will `` very likely '' be in the midst of a `` serious epidemic '' of coronavirus by Easter , with `` probably well over 10,000 cases '' by then .
As it stands , there are 590 UK cases , with 10 deaths linked to COVID-19 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced it was moving to the second phase of its four-stage COVID-19 response .
The `` delay '' phase includes social distancing measures such as potentially closing schools and cancelling sporting fixtures .
Professor Piot cautioned that the `` implications of every measure '' need to be thought through .
`` In this case , for COVID-19 , children seem to be less affected , '' he said , referring to the prospect of closing schools .
`` But the question I have , since I 'm a grandfather , is who 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
`` There 'll be older people often , grandchildren , parents .
So that may indirectly make things worse for those who are at higher risk of dying .
`` We need to think through .
But the good news in this country is that all the decisions are grounded in very solid scientific advice . ''
He said the `` top priority '' as the number of cases continues to grow is protecting the elderly and those with underlying health conditions , who are most at risk from COVID-19 .
Asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Professor Piot responded : `` I think we should think carefully about who to visit , who to admit as visitors even into homes for the elderly and care and nursing homes .
`` We should really make sure that the staff there know everything about protecting the elderly .
`` We need to also think about the contacts between grandparents and children .
We do n't know how risky that is , but that is what I would do . ''
Laying out practical steps he believed would be prudent , Professor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if you 're 80 , I would n't go to a Premier League football game , where there are all the big crowds .
Or the Tube maybe also , if possible .
`` These are the types of fairly simple measures which can be taken .
But avoiding big crowds in general .
Because closing schools and working from home , that 's irrelevant for the elderly .
Because they 're not in school , they 're not in a business or in a company .
`` That 's where I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also within families .
And also making sure that we do n't isolate them and they 're lonely , because we need to make sure there 's a support system .
`` It 's a fine balance , but it 's doable . ''
: : Listen to the Daily podcast with Dermot Murnaghan on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker .
With Easter a time when several generations of the same family often gather to socialise , Professor Piot , a grandfather himself , said he would still get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he added : `` There wo n't be any hugging , handshaking .
We have to keep some distance .
`` But with children who jump on grandma 's lap , that 's going to be a bit complicated . ''
When it was put to him that some form of contact during such gatherings was `` inevitable '' , Professor Piot said : `` I would say that for elderly people who have some immune deficiencies or some serious diabetes , cardiovascular disease , I would be very careful and I would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organise that through WhatsApp or so on . ''
Looking longer term , Professor Piot said it was possible that there might be `` effective therapy '' for COVID-19 sometime next month .
Testing is taking place on patients with coronavirus , he said , using antiviral drugs that have previously been used for HIV infections and Ebola .
But he cautioned that a fully-fledged vaccine for COVID-19 would take `` much longer '' .

The spread of coronavirus around the globe is "much, much worse" than seen with Ebola, according to the man who helped discover the earlier disease.
Professor Peter Piot, director of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, told Sky News that the outbreak of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, had the potential to turn into a "really bad situation".
"This is much, much worse than Ebola," he told Sky's science correspondent Thomas Moore.
Image: A medical official outside an emergency tent installed for patients infected by COVID-19 in Poland
"Ebola requires very close contact for transmission. People are very scared of it, but frankly it is usually very contained. There are some exceptions.
"But because it [COVID-19] is a respiratory transmitted virus, that makes it so worrisome.
"It's very infectious because there's so much virus in your throat.
"So this is literally something you can catch by talking to somebody, which is not the case with other viruses."
Professor Piot co-discovered the Ebola virus in Zaire while working at the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp, Belgium.
Its average fatality rate is 50%, although in some previous outbreaks it has been as high as 90%.
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With COVID-19, meanwhile, the true fatality rate is not known. Experts estimate it to be around 1%.
Professor Piot said the world is entering a "new phase" of the coronavirus outbreak and it is now "truly a pandemic".
He criticised Donald Trump's decision to impose a travel ban on flights to the US from mainland Europe, describing it as a "pretty bizarre" move.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:42 Trump's new anti-coronavirus measures
"The US has in-country transmission, lots of cases," he said.
"I can only think that this is a political decision. It's hard to imagine that this would have any impact."
Addressing the situation in the UK, he said Britain will "very likely" be in the midst of a "serious epidemic" of coronavirus by Easter, with "probably well over 10,000 cases" by then.
As it stands, there are 590 UK cases, with 10 deaths linked to COVID-19.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 3:07 PM defends efficacy of COVID-19 measures
Professor Piot was speaking before the government announced it was moving to the second phase of its four-stage COVID-19 response.
The "delay" phase includes social distancing measures such as potentially closing schools and cancelling sporting fixtures.
Professor Piot cautioned that the "implications of every measure" need to be thought through.
"In this case, for COVID-19, children seem to be less affected," he said, referring to the prospect of closing schools.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:19 This is how COVID-19 can damage your lungs
"But the question I have, since I'm a grandfather, is who's going to take care of these children?
"There'll be older people often, grandchildren, parents. So that may indirectly make things worse for those who are at higher risk of dying.
"We need to think through. But the good news in this country is that all the decisions are grounded in very solid scientific advice."
He said the "top priority" as the number of cases continues to grow is protecting the elderly and those with underlying health conditions, who are most at risk from COVID-19.
Asked how he would protect the elderly, Professor Piot responded: "I think we should think carefully about who to visit, who to admit as visitors even into homes for the elderly and care and nursing homes.
"We should really make sure that the staff there know everything about protecting the elderly.
"We need to also think about the contacts between grandparents and children. We don't know how risky that is, but that is what I would do."
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:34 Flights virtually empty across the world
Laying out practical steps he believed would be prudent, Professor Piot continued: "For example, if you're 80, I wouldn't go to a Premier League football game, where there are all the big crowds. Or the Tube maybe also, if possible.
"These are the types of fairly simple measures which can be taken. But avoiding big crowds in general. Because closing schools and working from home, that's irrelevant for the elderly. Because they're not in school, they're not in a business or in a company.
"That's where I think we need to have these discussions, also within families. And also making sure that we don't isolate them and they're lonely, because we need to make sure there's a support system.
"It's a fine balance, but it's doable."
:: Listen to the Daily podcast with Dermot Murnaghan on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker.
With Easter a time when several generations of the same family often gather to socialise, Professor Piot, a grandfather himself, said he would still get together with his loved ones.
But he added: "There won't be any hugging, handshaking. We have to keep some distance.
"But with children who jump on grandma's lap, that's going to be a bit complicated."
When it was put to him that some form of contact during such gatherings was "inevitable", Professor Piot said: "I would say that for elderly people who have some immune deficiencies or some serious diabetes, cardiovascular disease, I would be very careful and I would just have other contact, you could organise that through WhatsApp or so on."
Looking longer term, Professor Piot said it was possible that there might be "effective therapy" for COVID-19 sometime next month.
Testing is taking place on patients with coronavirus, he said, using antiviral drugs that have previously been used for HIV infections and Ebola.
But he cautioned that a fully-fledged vaccine for COVID-19 would take "much longer".


news--2020-03-11--Coronavirus: Pregnant women not at greater risk, experts say

Pregnant women do not appear to be more susceptible to coronavirus than the general population and there is no evidence the virus can pass to a baby during pregnancy , experts say .
As a precautionary measure , pregnant women going into labour with suspected or confirmed coronavirus are being advised to attend an obstetric unit for birth .
The new guidelines were issued by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists , Royal College of Midwives and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health .
It states that while data is limited , there are no reported deaths in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at higher risk of complications from flu during pregnancy because they have a weaker immune system , making them less able to fight infections .
One of the most common complications of flu is bronchitis - a chest infection that can develop into pneumonia .
The guidance covers the most up-to-date advice on how coronavirus affects pregnant women and their unborn babies .
It noted one reported case of a 30-weeks pregnant woman in China with coronavirus who required mechanical ventilation , followed by an emergency caesarean section .
She has since made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ current evidence that the virus can be carried in breast milk and it is understood that the benefits of breastfeeding outweigh any potential risks of transmission .
RCOG President , Dr Edward Morris , said the guidance was written to ensure maternity units across the country `` are providing consistent and safe care to pregnant women '' with suspected or confirmed coronavirus .
He added : `` As this is a very new virus we are just beginning to learn about it , so the guidance will be kept under regular review as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker '' Over the coming weeks and months it is likely pregnant women in the UK will test positive for coronavirus .
While the data is currently limited it is reassuring that there is no evidence that the virus can pass to a baby during pregnancy . ''
At time of writing , the number of people with the coronavirus in the UK has risen to 456 after a further 83 tested positive for the disease in the last 24 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set to `` ramp up '' facilities nationwide so 10,000 tests can be done each day .
The chancellor has told British people fearful of the coronavirus that `` we will get through this together '' .
Rishi Sunak used his budget to unveil a £30bn stimulus for the UK as it prepares to be hit by the worldwide impact of COVID-19 , the disease caused by coronavirus .

Pregnant women do not appear to be more susceptible to coronavirus than the general population and there is no evidence the virus can pass to a baby during pregnancy, experts say.
As a precautionary measure, pregnant women going into labour with suspected or confirmed coronavirus are being advised to attend an obstetric unit for birth.
The new guidelines were issued by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Royal College of Midwives and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.
It states that while data is limited, there are no reported deaths in pregnant women from COVID-19.
Women are at higher risk of complications from flu during pregnancy because they have a weaker immune system, making them less able to fight infections.
One of the most common complications of flu is bronchitis - a chest infection that can develop into pneumonia.
The guidance covers the most up-to-date advice on how coronavirus affects pregnant women and their unborn babies.
It noted one reported case of a 30-weeks pregnant woman in China with coronavirus who required mechanical ventilation, followed by an emergency caesarean section. She has since made a good recovery.
There is no current evidence that the virus can be carried in breast milk and it is understood that the benefits of breastfeeding outweigh any potential risks of transmission.
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RCOG President, Dr Edward Morris, said the guidance was written to ensure maternity units across the country "are providing consistent and safe care to pregnant women" with suspected or confirmed coronavirus.
He added: "As this is a very new virus we are just beginning to learn about it, so the guidance will be kept under regular review as new evidence emerges.
:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
"Over the coming weeks and months it is likely pregnant women in the UK will test positive for coronavirus. While the data is currently limited it is reassuring that there is no evidence that the virus can pass to a baby during pregnancy."
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 3:02 Coronavirus: Chancellor pledges unlimited funding for NHS
At time of writing, the number of people with the coronavirus in the UK has risen to 456 after a further 83 tested positive for the disease in the last 24 hours.
The NHS in England is set to "ramp up" facilities nationwide so 10,000 tests can be done each day.
The chancellor has told British people fearful of the coronavirus that "we will get through this together".
Rishi Sunak used his budget to unveil a £30bn stimulus for the UK as it prepares to be hit by the worldwide impact of COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus.


news--2020-03-12--Coronavirus: London woman describes catching COVID-19 in Italy

A London woman who contracted coronavirus during a 28th birthday trip to Italy has been self-isolating since 4 March .
But before her diagnosis she came into contact with several people , including her boyfriend and sister , who are now also in isolation .
Asking to remain anonymous , she tells Sky News about her experience - and what it feels like to have COVID-19 .
I travelled to northern Italy on the 15th February and stayed until the 23rd .
I was mostly based in the Romagna region , and there were some cases of coronavirus in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carrying on as normal .
There were some security checks at their airport - I was scanned by people dressed in suits with masks and gloves who were checking temperatures as we arrived in Bologna .
But I was n't checked again when I left and I was n't checked when I arrived back at Stansted on the 23rd .
• Mass gatherings in the UK will be banned from next week under plans being drawn up by ministers • The London Marathon is among a number of sporting events cancelled • Anyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for 14 days • US President Donald Trump has declared the outbreak a national emergency • More than 145,000 cases and almost 5,500 deaths have been declared worldwide , according to Johns Hopkins University : : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker .
I was staying with friends for part of my trip , and I think I may have got the virus from them because when I left them on the 19th the little girl , who was three , developed a very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days .
She went to the hospital and they sent her home with medication and told her that she did n't need to get tested for coronavirus .
Her mother 's also sick at the moment .
When I came back on Sunday 23rd the region was n't locked down , and I felt fine , so I just carried on as normal .
Then on Monday when I was at work - I work in a school - my boyfriend sent me a news article and said people coming back from northern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I told my employer and they told me to go home immediately , so I phoned NHS 111 and told them where I 'd been .
The advice at that time was that people should only self-isolate if they 'd been to the quarantined areas ( which I had n't ) or had symptoms .
So the next day I went back to work and just made sure I did n't hug or touch anyone as NHS 111 had said I should bear in mind I was in the incubation period and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ developed symptoms .
But I felt fine so that evening I went out for dinner with my boyfriend and my sister .
It took nearly a week before I noticed anything and when I did it nearly went unnoticed because my symptoms were so mild .
If I had n't travelled to Italy I would n't have called 111 , I would have just passed it off as a cold .
The first thing I noticed was sore legs like someone was squeezing my calf muscles , which I thought was odd because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Then I had a sore throat , which lasted for three days , and then disappeared .
And then on the 4th of March I really struggled to wake up in the morning .
I was so tired .
I was n't coughing , I was just really tired and I thought it was due to me having a lot of work on .
That afternoon when I came home I fell asleep and when I woke up I had a fever .
I rang 111 again and they told me to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ isolation until you 're tested , so on the 6th March they said it would be fine for my boyfriend to collect me and take me to hospital because we 'd already been in contact .
We drove to the coronavirus testing place at St George 's Hospital .
When we got there we stayed in the car .
We rolled down the window and a nurse came out fully covered in gloves and a mask .
She took a long cotton swab , moved it around the back of my mouth and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and that was it .
That was the test .
Not even two minutes .
And then we drove off .
My boyfriend was n't allowed to return to work after he drove me to my testing appointment , but he has n't been tested yet because he does n't have symptoms .
He also was n't told to self-isolate until I found out I definitely had it , and it took five days for my results to come through .
So once I got my results he rang 111 and they told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But he still has n't been tested because he does n't have symptoms .
My sister might have it , she 's also in self-isolation at the moment because she has flu-like symptoms .
But none of my flatmates have symptoms so they do n't have to self-isolate .
Public Health England says you have to stay in isolation for 14 days after the symptoms start , so I 'm going to be allowed out on the 18th .
I think the first thing I 'm going to do is just go to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It 's clearly a virus that can spread very easily but I do n't want people to be too afraid of it as the symptoms differ so much from person to person .
I 'm young , I 'm 28 , I live a healthy lifestyle , I got off very lightly .
But I live in shared accommodation with four other people , so I had to use the kitchen after them and had to use the bathroom after everyone else had used it .
And I had to clean the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ touched in the kitchen and had to stay a minimum of two metres away from my flatmates .
It became really lonely .
It makes you realise how social human beings are and how much we need physical contact .
If I could have my sister or anyone close to me right now I would just want to give them the biggest bear hug because it 's just so hard .
I always left my curtains open and the windows open just to get some fresh air and by about day five I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just fly out the window !
I do n't know anyone else who 's definitely got coronavirus , but I imagine a lot more people will get it and it will differ from person to person .

A London woman who contracted coronavirus during a 28th birthday trip to Italy has been self-isolating since 4 March.
But before her diagnosis she came into contact with several people, including her boyfriend and sister, who are now also in isolation.
Asking to remain anonymous, she tells Sky News about her experience - and what it feels like to have COVID-19.
I travelled to northern Italy on the 15th February and stayed until the 23rd. I was mostly based in the Romagna region, and there were some cases of coronavirus in the neighbouring Lombardy region, but life was carrying on as normal.
There were some security checks at their airport - I was scanned by people dressed in suits with masks and gloves who were checking temperatures as we arrived in Bologna. But I wasn't checked again when I left and I wasn't checked when I arrived back at Stansted on the 23rd.
Key Points
Mass gatherings in the UK will be banned from next week under plans being drawn up by ministers
in the UK will be banned from next week under plans being drawn up by ministers The London Marathon is among a number of sporting events cancelled
is among a number of sporting events cancelled Anyone entering New Zealand will have to self-isolate for 14 days
will have to self-isolate for 14 days US President Donald Trump has declared the outbreak a national emergency
has declared the outbreak a More than 145,000 cases and almost 5,500 deaths have been declared worldwide, according to Johns Hopkins University
:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker.
I was staying with friends for part of my trip, and I think I may have got the virus from them because when I left them on the 19th the little girl, who was three, developed a very high fever and was sick for four days.
She went to the hospital and they sent her home with medication and told her that she didn't need to get tested for coronavirus. Her mother's also sick at the moment.
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When I came back on Sunday 23rd the region wasn't locked down, and I felt fine, so I just carried on as normal.
Image: Italy is now in complete lockdown
Then on Monday when I was at work - I work in a school - my boyfriend sent me a news article and said people coming back from northern Italy had been told to self-isolate.
I told my employer and they told me to go home immediately, so I phoned NHS 111 and told them where I'd been.
The advice at that time was that people should only self-isolate if they'd been to the quarantined areas (which I hadn't) or had symptoms.
So the next day I went back to work and just made sure I didn't hug or touch anyone as NHS 111 had said I should bear in mind I was in the incubation period and that I should ring them again if I developed symptoms.
Image: A drive through coronavirus testing site, set up in a car park in Wolverhampton
But I felt fine so that evening I went out for dinner with my boyfriend and my sister.
It took nearly a week before I noticed anything and when I did it nearly went unnoticed because my symptoms were so mild. If I hadn't travelled to Italy I wouldn't have called 111, I would have just passed it off as a cold.
The first thing I noticed was sore legs like someone was squeezing my calf muscles, which I thought was odd because I hadn't been to the gym.
Then I had a sore throat, which lasted for three days, and then disappeared.
And then on the 4th of March I really struggled to wake up in the morning.
I was so tired. I wasn't coughing, I was just really tired and I thought it was due to me having a lot of work on.
That afternoon when I came home I fell asleep and when I woke up I had a fever. I rang 111 again and they told me to self-isolate.
You have to stay in isolation until you're tested, so on the 6th March they said it would be fine for my boyfriend to collect me and take me to hospital because we'd already been in contact.
We drove to the coronavirus testing place at St George's Hospital. When we got there we stayed in the car.
We rolled down the window and a nurse came out fully covered in gloves and a mask.
She took a long cotton swab, moved it around the back of my mouth and through to the back of my nose and that was it.
That was the test. Not even two minutes. And then we drove off.
Image: Restaurants and bars have all closed in Italy's busiest cities
My boyfriend wasn't allowed to return to work after he drove me to my testing appointment, but he hasn't been tested yet because he doesn't have symptoms.
He also wasn't told to self-isolate until I found out I definitely had it, and it took five days for my results to come through.
So once I got my results he rang 111 and they told him to self-isolate for 10 days. But he still hasn't been tested because he doesn't have symptoms.
My sister might have it, she's also in self-isolation at the moment because she has flu-like symptoms. But none of my flatmates have symptoms so they don't have to self-isolate.
Public Health England says you have to stay in isolation for 14 days after the symptoms start, so I'm going to be allowed out on the 18th.
I think the first thing I'm going to do is just go to a park and go for a walk.
It's clearly a virus that can spread very easily but I don't want people to be too afraid of it as the symptoms differ so much from person to person. I'm young, I'm 28, I live a healthy lifestyle, I got off very lightly.
But I live in shared accommodation with four other people, so I had to use the kitchen after them and had to use the bathroom after everyone else had used it.
And I had to clean the bathroom and all the surfaces I had touched in the kitchen and had to stay a minimum of two metres away from my flatmates.
It became really lonely. It makes you realise how social human beings are and how much we need physical contact.
If I could have my sister or anyone close to me right now I would just want to give them the biggest bear hug because it's just so hard.
I always left my curtains open and the windows open just to get some fresh air and by about day five I wished I was a bird that could just fly out the window!
I don't know anyone else who's definitely got coronavirus, but I imagine a lot more people will get it and it will differ from person to person.


news--2020-03-12--Coronavirus: Tenth patient dies after contracting COVID-19 as UK cases hit 590

Ten people have now died in the UK after contracting coronavirus as the country experienced its largest daily increase in cases .
Two deaths were announced on Thursday after the patients tested positive for COVID-19 , the prevalent strain of coronavirus .
They were both in London and had underlying health issues .
An 89-year-old who was `` very unwell with underlying health conditions '' died at Charing Cross Hospital in west London , Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust confirmed .
And a woman in her 60s who had been `` very unwell with significant other health conditions '' died @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Barking , Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust said .
The number of confirmed cases in the UK reached 590 on Thursday - up by 134 in the last 24 hours .
The 29 % increase in confirmed cases is the largest day-on-day rise in the UK since the outbreak began in late December in Wuhan , central China .
The day after the World Health Organisation ( WHO ) declared the virus a pandemic , Thursday was also the first time the day-on-day increase reached three figures in the UK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Government 's chief scientific adviser , said the actual number of people infected in the UK at the moment could be between 5,000 and 10,000. : : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker A week ago , on 5 March , the total number of cases was 115 , making Thursday 's total of 590 more than five times greater than that .
The increase in numbers came as Boris Johnson hosted a COBRA meeting , after which he confirmed the UK has now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the `` delay '' stage of tackling the spread of coronavirus in the country .
• A UK paramedic has tested positive for the coronavirus • Greece , Austria , Bulgaria , Ireland , Sweden and Indonesia have reported their first deaths from the illness • Iran has said there have been 75 more deaths in the country , bringing the total to 429 • There are now 2,078 cases of the virus in Germany • Spain 's parliament has extended its suspension for 15 days and all La Liga football games @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is in quarantine after a member of its basketball team , who trains at the same location , tested positive for the virus • The NBA basketball season has been suspended because of the pandemic • Norway is considering closing several of its airports , according to airport operator Avinor • Mass gatherings of 250 people or more have been banned in California • Denmark has shut all schools and universities after a 10-fold rise in cases since Monday • China 's coronavirus adviser has said he expects the global pandemic to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Adhanom has said he fears some countries are not taking the virus seriously enough The announcement of the two further UK deaths came as Ireland shut down schools and tourist attractions until the end of the month .
The Republic has had 43 confirmed coronavirus cases and one death , as of Thursday afternoon .
Taking action against the high number of cases in Europe , US president Donald Trump announced a ban on people travelling to the US from 26 European countries - except Ireland and the UK .
He said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which starts on Friday , because it is `` doing a good job on coronavirus '' .
The president added that he could not consult with European officials before implementing the travel ban because he `` had to move quickly '' .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker Italy has been the hardest hit nation outside China , with the entire country placed on lockdown this week as the government tries to control the outbreak which has infected nearly 12,500 people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world 's financial markets have also been hit hard , with the FTSE 100 losing more than 10 % of its value on Thursday , the biggest fall since the 1987 financial crash .
Nearly £150bn was wiped off London 's top index as concern over the global spread of coronavirus heightened .

Ten people have now died in the UK after contracting coronavirus as the country experienced its largest daily increase in cases.
Two deaths were announced on Thursday after the patients tested positive for COVID-19, the prevalent strain of coronavirus.
They were both in London and had underlying health issues.
An 89-year-old who was "very unwell with underlying health conditions" died at Charing Cross Hospital in west London, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust confirmed.
And a woman in her 60s who had been "very unwell with significant other health conditions" died at Queen's Hospital in east London, Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust said.
The number of confirmed cases in the UK reached 590 on Thursday - up by 134 in the last 24 hours.
The 29% increase in confirmed cases is the largest day-on-day rise in the UK since the outbreak began in late December in Wuhan, central China.
The day after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the virus a pandemic, Thursday was also the first time the day-on-day increase reached three figures in the UK.
But Sir Patrick Vallance, the Government's chief scientific adviser, said the actual number of people infected in the UK at the moment could be between 5,000 and 10,000.
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:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
A week ago, on 5 March, the total number of cases was 115, making Thursday's total of 590 more than five times greater than that.
The increase in numbers came as Boris Johnson hosted a COBRA meeting, after which he confirmed the UK has now moved from the "contain" stage to the "delay" stage of tackling the spread of coronavirus in the country.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:00 Prince Charles avoids handshakes
Other key coronavirus developments include:
A UK paramedic has tested positive for the coronavirus
Greece, Austria, Bulgaria, Ireland, Sweden and Indonesia have reported their first deaths from the illness
Iran has said there have been 75 more deaths in the country, bringing the total to 429
There are now 2,078 cases of the virus in Germany
Spain's parliament has extended its suspension for 15 days and all La Liga football games are suspended
Real Madrid football team is in quarantine after a member of its basketball team, who trains at the same location, tested positive for the virus
The NBA basketball season has been suspended because of the pandemic
Norway is considering closing several of its airports, according to airport operator Avinor
Mass gatherings of 250 people or more have been banned in California
Denmark has shut all schools and universities after a 10-fold rise in cases since Monday
China's coronavirus adviser has said he expects the global pandemic to be over by June
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom has said he fears some countries are not taking the virus seriously enough
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:29 Shoppers empty shelves at Lidl
The announcement of the two further UK deaths came as Ireland shut down schools and tourist attractions until the end of the month.
The Republic has had 43 confirmed coronavirus cases and one death, as of Thursday afternoon.
Taking action against the high number of cases in Europe, US president Donald Trump announced a ban on people travelling to the US from 26 European countries - except Ireland and the UK.
He said he excluded the UK from the 30-day ban, which starts on Friday, because it is "doing a good job on coronavirus".
The president added that he could not consult with European officials before implementing the travel ban because he "had to move quickly".
:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
Italy has been the hardest hit nation outside China, with the entire country placed on lockdown this week as the government tries to control the outbreak which has infected nearly 12,500 people in Italy and killed 827.
The world's financial markets have also been hit hard, with the FTSE 100 losing more than 10% of its value on Thursday, the biggest fall since the 1987 financial crash.
Nearly £150bn was wiped off London's top index as concern over the global spread of coronavirus heightened.


news--2020-03-12--Coronavirus: What X-rays and CT scans reveal about how COVID-19 kills

X-ray images and CT scans of coronavirus patients reveal how their lungs are being ravaged by the virus and filled with a sticky mucus that prevents them from inhaling because there is no space for air .
Medical professionals around the world , from front-line staff to research scientists , are beginning to develop a solid understanding of how the novel coronavirus spreads and affects the body .
There have now been more than 4,600 deaths from the COVID-19 disease worldwide as the coronavirus outbreak continues to spread , with 126,000 confirmed cases globally .
An international effort to share @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a growing body of evidence which doctors can use to diagnose those most seriously affected .
The CT scans of COVID-19 patients have revealed white patches in the lungs - which radiologists have called ground-glass opacities - so-called because they show up on the scans similar to ground-glass windows .
These white patches on the CT scan indicate pneumonia , as the spaces which are normally filled by air are being filled with something else instead .
Post-mortem examinations in China of individuals who have died after contracting COVID-19 have revealed that these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mucus that literally prevents the patient from inhaling as there is no space for the air to enter .
Images produced from scans of a 41-year-old woman who had a fever and a cough , as well as tested positive for the virus , show this mucus filling large tracts of her lungs .
According to an article published in the Radiological Society of North America 's ( RSNA ) journal Radiology , there is no specific treatment available for laboratory confirmed cases .
It said when scans reveal coronavirus-induced pneumonia , care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supportive with appropriate precautions to stop person-to-person transmission '' - in other words , hoping the body manages to beat the virus itself .
In some cases this can happen , although for many people with symptoms there is simply no access to a simple test during the early days of a fever and a cough .
It is the most severe cases which are likely to be diagnosed with these scans , and these cases are the most likely to lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome and potentially death .
This could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who have contracted coronavirus are at their most contagious early after becoming infected and potentially before even displaying symptoms and self-isolating , according to a new study .
Research from the scientists at the Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology found that transmissions are likely being driven by the coronavirus ' high rate of viral shedding .
This refers to the process of the virus replicating itself and then spreading into other parts of the host 's body or the environment where they could continue the process , early on in infection .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the throats of patients in the earliest stages of infection and before they feel unwell , which is when they are most likely to be walking about and coughing , spreading the virus .

X-ray images and CT scans of coronavirus patients reveal how their lungs are being ravaged by the virus and filled with a sticky mucus that prevents them from inhaling because there is no space for air.
Medical professionals around the world, from front-line staff to research scientists, are beginning to develop a solid understanding of how the novel coronavirus spreads and affects the body.
There have now been more than 4,600 deaths from the COVID-19 disease worldwide as the coronavirus outbreak continues to spread, with 126,000 confirmed cases globally.
An international effort to share X-ray and CT scans has helped produce a growing body of evidence which doctors can use to diagnose those most seriously affected.
The CT scans of COVID-19 patients have revealed white patches in the lungs - which radiologists have called ground-glass opacities - so-called because they show up on the scans similar to ground-glass windows.
These white patches on the CT scan indicate pneumonia, as the spaces which are normally filled by air are being filled with something else instead.
Image: A large section of lung reveals what are called ground-glass opacities in the lungs. Pic: RNAS
Post-mortem examinations in China of individuals who have died after contracting COVID-19 have revealed that these areas are being filled with a sticky mucus that literally prevents the patient from inhaling as there is no space for the air to enter.
Images produced from scans of a 41-year-old woman who had a fever and a cough, as well as tested positive for the virus, show this mucus filling large tracts of her lungs.
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According to an article published in the Radiological Society of North America's (RSNA) journal Radiology, there is no specific treatment available for laboratory confirmed cases.
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It said when scans reveal coronavirus-induced pneumonia, care for patients has to be "primarily supportive with appropriate precautions to stop person-to-person transmission" - in other words, hoping the body manages to beat the virus itself.
In some cases this can happen, although for many people with symptoms there is simply no access to a simple test during the early days of a fever and a cough.
It is the most severe cases which are likely to be diagnosed with these scans, and these cases are the most likely to lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome and potentially death.
This could prove to be a significant issue as people who have contracted coronavirus are at their most contagious early after becoming infected and potentially before even displaying symptoms and self-isolating, according to a new study.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:42 'Thousands will be infected in UK'
Research from the scientists at the Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology found that transmissions are likely being driven by the coronavirus' high rate of viral shedding.
This refers to the process of the virus replicating itself and then spreading into other parts of the host's body or the environment where they could continue the process, early on in infection.
The highest levels of virus were found in the throats of patients in the earliest stages of infection and before they feel unwell, which is when they are most likely to be walking about and coughing, spreading the virus.


news--2020-03-12--Coronavirus: Italy closes shops and restaurants to limit spread of COVID-19

Italy has shut all shops except food stores , pharmacies and stores selling `` essential '' items , to try and stop the spread of COVID-19 .
All restaurants and bars have also been closed as have hairdressers and beauty salons , although restaurants can still make home deliveries .
There have been more than 800 deaths in Italy and on Wednesday there were more than 2,000 new cases reported , bringing the total number of people infected with COVID-19 to 12,462 .
The Italian prime minister announced the new restrictions in an address on Facebook Live on Wednesday evening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thanked the public for following the restrictions already in place but said Italy must `` go another step '' to try and stop the spread of the virus .
He said essential public services such as transport , utilities , agriculture , finance , mail and banking would remain operational .
But he encouraged businesses to implement `` smart working methods as much as possible '' .
`` Time off should be encouraged as well as paid leave for employees , '' said Mr Conte .
`` Company departments that are not essential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was already under lockdown but the new measures led to empty streets in normally busy areas of major cities such as Rome and Milan , as people followed the government 's advice and stayed at home .
Sky 's Sally Lockwood is in the Italian capital and says the mood has shifted following the announcement of the new measures .
She said : `` As we move about the city the only small queue we encounter is outside a pharmacy where they 're being served through a hatch in the window .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one metre apart , some with their faces covered with scarves .
They 're almost all from the older generation .
`` I ask one 75-year-old man how he 's feeling .
If he 's scared .
He 's barely begun speaking when his eyes fill with tears and he starts to cry . ''
`` Scared ? ''
says Aurelio Fragapanni , then he pauses .
`` People are n't prepared , '' he says as his voice breaks .
Sally added : `` The sense of anxiety has stepped up today @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There is virtually no one in the streets as they take these new tough measures seriously .
`` One business owner tells me they 're `` prepared to do whatever it takes to get through this nightmare . ''
Italy is the centre of the virus outbreak in Europe , and worldwide only China has reported more cases of the disease .
It also has an unusually high death rate , with 6.6 % of recorded cases proving fatal .
Experts say this may be because the country has the oldest population @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people aged 65 or over , and this is one of the groups proving most susceptible to the virus .
In the Lombardy region , which has been particularly badly affected by COVID-19 , some hospitals are now at saturation point , with no more intensive care beds available .
The number of serious cases has stretched the Italian health service with doctors and nurses likening fighting the coronavirus to being in a war zone .
Virus Outbreak : Global Emergency - Watch a special Sky News programme on coronavirus at 6pm on @

Italy has shut all shops except food stores, pharmacies and stores selling "essential" items, to try and stop the spread of COVID-19.
All restaurants and bars have also been closed as have hairdressers and beauty salons, although restaurants can still make home deliveries.
There have been more than 800 deaths in Italy and on Wednesday there were more than 2,000 new cases reported, bringing the total number of people infected with COVID-19 to 12,462.
The Italian prime minister announced the new restrictions in an address on Facebook Live on Wednesday evening.
Image: A closed bar next to the Pantheon on Thursday
In his broadcast, Giuseppe Conte thanked the public for following the restrictions already in place but said Italy must "go another step" to try and stop the spread of the virus.
He said essential public services such as transport, utilities, agriculture, finance, mail and banking would remain operational.
But he encouraged businesses to implement "smart working methods as much as possible".
"Time off should be encouraged as well as paid leave for employees," said Mr Conte. "Company departments that are not essential for production should close."
Italy was already under lockdown but the new measures led to empty streets in normally busy areas of major cities such as Rome and Milan, as people followed the government's advice and stayed at home.
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Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:12 'Italy has abandoned us' over coronavirus
Sky's Sally Lockwood is in the Italian capital and says the mood has shifted following the announcement of the new measures.
She said: "As we move about the city the only small queue we encounter is outside a pharmacy where they're being served through a hatch in the window.
"The people waiting are standing at least one metre apart, some with their faces covered with scarves. They're almost all from the older generation.
"I ask one 75-year-old man how he's feeling. If he's scared. He's barely begun speaking when his eyes fill with tears and he starts to cry."
Image: Supermarkets will be allowed to remain open
"Scared?" says Aurelio Fragapanni, then he pauses. "People aren't prepared," he says as his voice breaks.
Sally added: "The sense of anxiety has stepped up today. But it seems Italians have too. There is virtually no one in the streets as they take these new tough measures seriously.
"One business owner tells me they're "prepared to do whatever it takes to get through this nightmare."
Italy is the centre of the virus outbreak in Europe, and worldwide only China has reported more cases of the disease.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:00 Inside Italy's coronavirus hospital
It also has an unusually high death rate, with 6.6% of recorded cases proving fatal.
Experts say this may be because the country has the oldest population in Europe, with 23% of people aged 65 or over, and this is one of the groups proving most susceptible to the virus.
In the Lombardy region, which has been particularly badly affected by COVID-19, some hospitals are now at saturation point, with no more intensive care beds available.
The number of serious cases has stretched the Italian health service with doctors and nurses likening fighting the coronavirus to being in a war zone.
Virus Outbreak: Global Emergency - Watch a special Sky News programme on coronavirus at 6pm on weekdays


news--2020-03-11--Coronavirus: Gyms 'high-risk' locations for spreading COVID-19, experts warn

Gyms have been identified as `` high risk '' locations for catching coronavirus due to sweat and dampness heightening the spread of germs .
Public Health England has not yet offered advice to gym-goers , however medical experts are voicing their concerns over the potential hazard of sharing workout spaces and equipment as the coronavirus outbreak escalates .
Speaking to Sky News , immunologist Dr Jenna Macciochi said : `` I think people should be extra vigilant in any area where there may be lots of people close together and sharing equipment such as gyms as this may increase transmission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ABC 's Coronacast , physician and journalist Dr Norman Swan explained that gyms are the perfect place for COVID-19 to spread because they are typically humid .
He said : `` Dampness is a bad thing for spreading germs .
You 've got these big blokes pumping away and you never know , one of them might be a super spreader .
`` It does n't mean you stop going to the gym , you 've got to be super careful at the gym .
He said that despite there being no evidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transmission can occur if someone with the virus coughs or sneezes onto their hands and then touches surfaces such as gym equipment .
Dr Swan noted that gyms were among the `` high prevalence areas '' from some of the Chinese data on coronavirus .
He put an emphasis on increased hygiene for those continuing to go to the gym .
`` You 've got to make sure you wipe down ( the equipment ) before and after use .
Do n't take any chances in the gym , '' he continued .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as steam rooms as the coronavirus outbreak escalates in the UK .
He said : `` Do n't go in the steam room .
I would n't go near any humid area to be honest .
`` Is your life going to change by going in the steam room ?
No .
I 'd avoid them for the moment . ''
Dr Steve Mowle said that keeping healthy and looking after yourself will help your immune system .
He told Sky News : `` For the general population , it is trying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be - eating healthily , keep exercising , keep moving and try and keep as well as you can '' .
Behavioural psychologist Jo Hemmings advised people to `` get exercise at home '' if they are self-isolating .
She said : `` Take those tins you are stockpiling and use them as weights !
Do something to feel that you are not completely cut off from exercise '' .
Scientists have been studying the transmission of flu for years , including going into homes and schools , swabbing remote controls , door @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how the illness sustains itself .
It tends to survive best on hard metal and plastic surfaces , and COVID-19 is thought to behave similarly .
Dr Ben Killingley , consultant in acute medicine and infection at University College London , said the key to the virus ' lifespan is that it stays at a reasonable temperature and remains quite moist .
He told Sky News : `` It can depend on the nature of the surface , the temperature , the humidity .
It could be hours , certainly enough time for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infected . ''
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker Gym chains have been offering their words of warning as the coronavirus crisis continues to gather pace .
Nuffield Health reassured customers in an email that it was `` monitoring the developing situation very closely '' and that there had been no suspected or confirmed cases of coronavirus at any of their clubs .
It added that Sport England 's current advice is that staying active is an important part of good health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gym also issued a statement to customers via email , saying it was taking `` all necessary steps to ensure that we protect against the risk of coronavirus '' .
Its advice included washing hands regularly to using cleaning sprays and paper towels to wipe down and clean equipment after use .
PureGym published a notice on its website informing customers that it has `` increased the level of cleaning and hygiene '' in all gyms .
It ensured customers that hand sanitiser and soap dispensers were filled , and encouraged good personal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a pandemic by the World Health Organisation ( WHO ) on Wednesday .
The number of people with the coronavirus in the UK has risen to 456 .
There were 54 new cases recorded in the 24 hours leading up to 9am on Tuesday , and 46 new cases were identified in the 24 hours up to 9am on Monday .
More than 4,300 people have died globally after contracting COVID-19 , the prevalent strain of coronavirus , and there have been more than 121,500 confirmed infections .
The chancellor has told British @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we will get through this together '' .
Rishi Sunak used his budget to unveil a £30bn stimulus for the UK as it prepares to be hit by the worldwide impact of COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus .

Gyms have been identified as "high risk" locations for catching coronavirus due to sweat and dampness heightening the spread of germs.
Public Health England has not yet offered advice to gym-goers, however medical experts are voicing their concerns over the potential hazard of sharing workout spaces and equipment as the coronavirus outbreak escalates.
Speaking to Sky News, immunologist Dr Jenna Macciochi said: "I think people should be extra vigilant in any area where there may be lots of people close together and sharing equipment such as gyms as this may increase transmission of infection."
Speaking on the ABC's Coronacast, physician and journalist Dr Norman Swan explained that gyms are the perfect place for COVID-19 to spread because they are typically humid.
He said: "Dampness is a bad thing for spreading germs. You've got these big blokes pumping away and you never know, one of them might be a super spreader.
"It doesn't mean you stop going to the gym, you've got to be super careful at the gym.
He said that despite there being no evidence of COVID-19 being spread through sweat, transmission can occur if someone with the virus coughs or sneezes onto their hands and then touches surfaces such as gym equipment.
Dr Swan noted that gyms were among the "high prevalence areas" from some of the Chinese data on coronavirus.
Twitter Twitter , which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Twitter cookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the This content is provided by, which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enablecookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Twitter cookies. To view this content you can use the button below to allow Twitter cookies for this session only. Enable Cookies Allow Cookies Once
He put an emphasis on increased hygiene for those continuing to go to the gym.
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"You've got to make sure you wipe down (the equipment) before and after use. Don't take any chances in the gym," he continued.
He also advised to avoid using areas such as steam rooms as the coronavirus outbreak escalates in the UK.
He said: "Don't go in the steam room. I wouldn't go near any humid area to be honest.
"Is your life going to change by going in the steam room? No. I'd avoid them for the moment."
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:19 This is how COVID-19 can damage your lungs
Dr Steve Mowle said that keeping healthy and looking after yourself will help your immune system.
He told Sky News: "For the general population, it is trying to stay as healthy as you can be - eating healthily, keep exercising, keep moving and try and keep as well as you can".
Behavioural psychologist Jo Hemmings advised people to "get exercise at home" if they are self-isolating.
She said: "Take those tins you are stockpiling and use them as weights! Do something to feel that you are not completely cut off from exercise".
Scientists have been studying the transmission of flu for years, including going into homes and schools, swabbing remote controls, door knobs and other hard objects to examine how the illness sustains itself.
It tends to survive best on hard metal and plastic surfaces, and COVID-19 is thought to behave similarly.
Dr Ben Killingley, consultant in acute medicine and infection at University College London, said the key to the virus' lifespan is that it stays at a reasonable temperature and remains quite moist.
He told Sky News: "It can depend on the nature of the surface, the temperature, the humidity. It could be hours, certainly enough time for people to touch it and potentially become infected."
:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
Gym chains have been offering their words of warning as the coronavirus crisis continues to gather pace.
Nuffield Health reassured customers in an email that it was "monitoring the developing situation very closely" and that there had been no suspected or confirmed cases of coronavirus at any of their clubs.
It added that Sport England's current advice is that staying active is an important part of good health and protecting against the virus.
Better Gym also issued a statement to customers via email, saying it was taking "all necessary steps to ensure that we protect against the risk of coronavirus".
Its advice included washing hands regularly to using cleaning sprays and paper towels to wipe down and clean equipment after use.
PureGym published a notice on its website informing customers that it has "increased the level of cleaning and hygiene" in all gyms. It ensured customers that hand sanitiser and soap dispensers were filled, and encouraged good personal hygiene.
The coronavirus outbreak was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Wednesday.
The number of people with the coronavirus in the UK has risen to 456.
There were 54 new cases recorded in the 24 hours leading up to 9am on Tuesday, and 46 new cases were identified in the 24 hours up to 9am on Monday.
More than 4,300 people have died globally after contracting COVID-19, the prevalent strain of coronavirus, and there have been more than 121,500 confirmed infections.
The chancellor has told British people fearful of the coronavirus that "we will get through this together".
Rishi Sunak used his budget to unveil a £30bn stimulus for the UK as it prepares to be hit by the worldwide impact of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.


news--2020-03-12--Coronavirus: Donald Trump defends his European travel ban amid virus outbreak

Donald Trump has defended his decision to suspend all flights from mainland Europe to the US for 30 days , following criticism from the European Union .
The European Union said the move to close US borders to European was a `` unilateral decision '' taken `` without consultation '' .
EU Council president Charles Michel and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said in a joint statement that the coronavirus pandemic is a `` global crisis , not limited to any continent and it requires co-operation rather than unilateral action '' .
`` The European Union disapproves of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impose a travel ban was taken unilaterally and without consultation , '' they said .
In response to the EU , Mr Trump said at a press conference with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar , that he did not consult the bloc because he had to `` move quickly '' .
He also said that he excluded the UK because he feels the country is doing a `` good job '' on the outbreak .
The commander-in-chief added that the ban may need to be extended , while accepting it could also be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States on Apple podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , and Spreaker Late on Wednesday night , the US president said the sanctions will come into effect from midnight on Friday , Eastern Standard Time - but will not apply to flights from the UK .
He blamed the European Union for not acting quickly enough to address the outbreak of the virus and said US clusters were `` seeded '' by European travellers .
Mr Trump said : `` We made a lifesaving move with early action on China .
Now we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
The president said the US would monitor the situation to determine if travel could be reopened earlier .
A Homeland Security spokesman said : `` These countries , known as the Schengen Area , include : Austria , Belgium , Czech Republic , Denmark , Estonia , Finland , France , Germany , Greece , Hungary , Iceland , Italy , Latvia , Liechtenstein , Lithuania , Luxembourg , Malta , Netherlands , Norway , Poland , Portugal , Slovakia , Slovenia , Spain , Sweden , and Switzerland . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the ban would also apply to goods and cargo , but the White House later clarified that only people were affected .
• A UK paramedic has tested positive for the coronavirus • The manager of Leicester City FC has said some of his players are showing coronavirus symptoms • Greece has reported its first death from the illness - a 66-year-old man with underlying health problems • Austria has recorded its first coronavirus fatality after a 69-year-old man died in Vienna • Iran has said there have been 75 more deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 429 • Poland has reported its first death from the coronavirus , authorities in the country have said • South Africa , where there are 17 cases , has reported its first case of locally transmitted coronavirus • There are now 2,078 cases of the virus in Germany • Slovakia will close all schools for 14 days • Spain 's parliament has extended its suspension for 15 days • All schools , universities and nurseries will close for two weeks in Lithuania • The NBA basketball season has been suspended because of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all its La Liga football games , according to reports in the country • Norway is considering closing several of its airports , according to airport operator Avinor • Mass gatherings of 250 people or more have been banned in California • Kazakhstan has suspended all public events in a bid to stop the spread of the virus Mr Trump also announced the US will defer tax payments for some individuals and businesses for three months to lessen the impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak .
He said the Small Business Administration will also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help them weather the storm .
`` This is not a financial crisis , '' he said .
`` This just a temporary moment of time that we will overcome together as a nation and as a world . ''
On Thursday morning , stock markets reacted to Mr Trump 's announcement with panic , setting them up for another day of heavy losses .
After days of playing down the threat , Mr Trump changed gears with his Oval Office address .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The mounting effort to contain the virus and financial fall-out intensified on a gruelling day .
Communities cancelled public events nationwide , universities moved to cancel in-person classes , and families grappled with the impact of disruptions to public schools .
The number of confirmed cases of the infection topped 1,000 in the US and the World Health Organisation declared the global crisis was now a pandemic .

Donald Trump has defended his decision to suspend all flights from mainland Europe to the US for 30 days, following criticism from the European Union.
The European Union said the move to close US borders to European was a "unilateral decision" taken "without consultation".
EU Council president Charles Michel and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said in a joint statement that the coronavirus pandemic is a "global crisis, not limited to any continent and it requires co-operation rather than unilateral action".
Image: President Trump announces strict new measures to combat the spread of coronavirus
"The European Union disapproves of the fact that the US decision to impose a travel ban was taken unilaterally and without consultation," they said.
In response to the EU, Mr Trump said at a press conference with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, that he did not consult the bloc because he had to "move quickly".
He also said that he excluded the UK because he feels the country is doing a "good job" on the outbreak.
The commander-in-chief added that the ban may need to be extended, while accepting it could also be shortened.
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Late on Wednesday night, the US president said the sanctions will come into effect from midnight on Friday, Eastern Standard Time - but will not apply to flights from the UK.
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He blamed the European Union for not acting quickly enough to address the outbreak of the virus and said US clusters were "seeded" by European travellers.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:19 This is how COVID-19 can damage your lungs
Mr Trump said: "We made a lifesaving move with early action on China. Now we must take the same action with Europe."
The president said the US would monitor the situation to determine if travel could be reopened earlier.
A Homeland Security spokesman said: "These countries, known as the Schengen Area, include: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland."
At one point in the address he said the ban would also apply to goods and cargo, but the White House later clarified that only people were affected.
Other key coronavirus developments include:
A UK paramedic has tested positive for the coronavirus
The manager of Leicester City FC has said some of his players are showing coronavirus symptoms
Greece has reported its first death from the illness - a 66-year-old man with underlying health problems
Austria has recorded its first coronavirus fatality after a 69-year-old man died in Vienna
Iran has said there have been 75 more deaths in the country, bringing the total to 429
Poland has reported its first death from the coronavirus, authorities in the country have said
South Africa, where there are 17 cases, has reported its first case of locally transmitted coronavirus
There are now 2,078 cases of the virus in Germany
Slovakia will close all schools for 14 days
Spain's parliament has extended its suspension for 15 days
All schools, universities and nurseries will close for two weeks in Lithuania
The NBA basketball season has been suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic
Spain has suspended all its La Liga football games, according to reports in the country
Norway is considering closing several of its airports, according to airport operator Avinor
Mass gatherings of 250 people or more have been banned in California
Kazakhstan has suspended all public events in a bid to stop the spread of the virus
Mr Trump also announced the US will defer tax payments for some individuals and businesses for three months to lessen the impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak.
He said the Small Business Administration will also make low-interest loans available to businesses to help them weather the storm.
"This is not a financial crisis," he said. "This just a temporary moment of time that we will overcome together as a nation and as a world."
On Thursday morning, stock markets reacted to Mr Trump's announcement with panic, setting them up for another day of heavy losses.
After days of playing down the threat, Mr Trump changed gears with his Oval Office address.
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The mounting effort to contain the virus and financial fall-out intensified on a gruelling day.
Communities cancelled public events nationwide, universities moved to cancel in-person classes, and families grappled with the impact of disruptions to public schools.
The number of confirmed cases of the infection topped 1,000 in the US and the World Health Organisation declared the global crisis was now a pandemic.


news--2020-03-09--Coronavirus: BA and Ryanair to stop all Italy flights as nation goes into lockdown

British Airways and Ryanair are to suspend all flights to and from Italy after the entire nation was placed in lockdown in response to the coronavirus outbreak .
All public gatherings have been banned , sports events including football matches are suspended , and movement is being severely restricted across Italy in a bid to contain COVID-19 , the disease caused by coronavirus .
People were frantically buying up food and other essentials at supermarkets shortly after the announcement , Italian media reported .
Italy is Europe 's worst-hit nation in the outbreak with 463 virus-related deaths , an increase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and more than 9,000 confirmed infections in just over two weeks .
Until 3 April , around 60 million people will effectively be under quarantine by the strict measures which had already been introduced in northern and some central areas over the weekend .
It comes as an Italian doctor wrote in a lengthy Facebook post that his hospital was being `` overwhelmed '' by the `` tsunami '' of patients .
Dr Daniele Macchini , who works at Humanitas Gavazzeni hospital in Bergamo , northern Italy , said : `` The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are uninterrupted day and night .
`` The display boards with the names of the sick , of different colours depending on the operating unit they belong to , are now all red and instead of the surgical operation there is the diagnosis , which is always the same cursed : bilateral interstitial pneumonia .
`` The results of the swabs now come one after the other : positive , positive , positive .
Suddenly the emergency room is collapsing . ''
People arriving in the UK from anywhere in Italy have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for 14 days .
And Britons have also been warned against all but essential travel to the whole of the country .
BA and Ryanair confirmed on Tuesday they were suspending their full Italy flight schedules .
In the case of Ryanair , domestic services would cease from Thursday until 8 April with international services pausing from Saturday until 8 April .
It said passengers affected were being offered flight transfers , full refunds or travel credits .
EasyJet is still running a small number of Italy services as things stand .
Another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was responding to a collapse in demand for air travel by temporarily laying-off a `` significant '' number of staff as it prepared to slash 15 % of its total schedule from next week .
Italy 's Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte is urging the public to stay at home , saying : `` The future depends on us and everyone must do their part . ''
He said people should not move around apart from for work and emergencies , and the closure of schools and universities across the country is being extended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public transport will remain operational .
Leading politicians have accused Mr Conte of not going far enough , with former deputy PM Matteo Salvini calling on the government to `` close everything immediately , without leaving room for doubts or interpretations '' .
Lombardy president Attilio Fontana called for `` even more stringent rules '' so `` we can overcome this emergency '' .
A statement from the Foreign Office said : `` We have amended our travel advice to recommend against all but essential travel to Italy .
The safety of British @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` The advice is that anyone who arrives from Italy subsequent to Italian government decision should now self-isolate for 14 days . ''
More than 300 of Italy 's fatalities are in the Lombardy region - which includes the country 's financial capital , Milan .
About 5 % of confirmed cases in Italy have been fatal so far , making the fatality rate higher than in other parts of the world , where scientists have tentatively estimated it to be between 1-3 % .
The fatality rate in Lombardy stands at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to what extent Italy has been testing people with minor symptoms or how long the virus had been circulating in the country before it was detected , which could contribute to the apparently higher fatality rate .
Lombardy is one of five regions which already had areas in lockdown in a so-called `` red zone '' , with cinemas , theatres and museums closed and restaurant hours restricted .
The measures had affected 10 million residents in the whole of Lombardy and another six million in the provinces of Modena , Parma , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pesaro and Urbino , Alessandria , Asti , Novara , Verbano-Cusio-Ossola , Vercelli , Padua , Treviso and the tourist hotspot of Venice .
Mr Conte will sign a new decree and the nationwide limitations will be introduced in the morning .
He told reporters that restrictions introduced two days ago were no longer sufficient and they would have to be extended to the whole country .
The PM said : `` There wo n't be just a red zone , '' adding : `` There will be Italy '' as a protected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people in much of Italy who have been gathering at night to socialise during the public health emergency that started on 21 February .
`` This nightlife ... we ca n't allow this any more , '' he said .
Meanwhile , six inmates have died and several others have climbed on to the roof of a jail following protests across various prisons in Italy over limits on direct contact between inmates and their families .
In the south , Puglia , Basilicata , Calabria , Campania and Molise have seen just dozens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ handful of deaths .
In a bid to deter a mass influx , southern regions issued decrees on Sunday telling people who do arrive from northern red zones that they had to go into quarantine for two weeks .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker Earlier on Monday , Italy shut all of its ski resorts and Mr Conte said he would use `` massive shock therapy '' to battle the outbreak .
More than 3,900 people have died across the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the epicentre of the outbreak .
`` Now that the virus has a foothold in so many countries , the threat of a pandemic has become very real , '' said World Health Organisation Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus .
But he welcomed Italy 's tough measures , noting four countries - China , South Korea , Italy and Iran - accounted for 93 % of cases worldwide .
• China 's President Xi Jinping has visited Wuhan , the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak , as the country marked the third straight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases outside of Hubei • The president of the European Parliament Davide Sassoli is in self-isolation at his Brussels home as a precaution after travelling to Italy .
• Three new deaths have been recorded at the Life Care Center nursing home in Seattle , Washington state , which has been linked to 19 deaths in total • Holidaymakers have been allowed to leave a Tenerife hotel after their period of quarantine ended • Lebanon recorded its first virus-related death , according to broadcasters in the country • Poland cancelled all large-scale events @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schools and banned events hosting more than 100 people • Germany has announced its first two deaths - the country has more than 1,100 infections • Madrid 's regional president says all schools and universities in the region will close for two weeks • In Ireland , all parades planned for St Patrick 's Day on 17 March have been cancelled • The coronavirus-hit Grand Princess cruise ship , which has more than 140 Britons on board , has arrived in port in Oakland , California • Iran has temporarily released about 70,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you a British citizen stuck in northern Italy ?
Get in touch with your story :

British Airways and Ryanair are to suspend all flights to and from Italy after the entire nation was placed in lockdown in response to the coronavirus outbreak.
All public gatherings have been banned, sports events including football matches are suspended, and movement is being severely restricted across Italy in a bid to contain COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus.
People were frantically buying up food and other essentials at supermarkets shortly after the announcement, Italian media reported.
Italy is Europe's worst-hit nation in the outbreak with 463 virus-related deaths, an increase of almost 100 in a 24-hour period, and more than 9,000 confirmed infections in just over two weeks.
Until 3 April, around 60 million people will effectively be under quarantine by the strict measures which had already been introduced in northern and some central areas over the weekend.
It comes as an Italian doctor wrote in a lengthy Facebook post that his hospital was being "overwhelmed" by the "tsunami" of patients.
Dr Daniele Macchini, who works at Humanitas Gavazzeni hospital in Bergamo, northern Italy, said: "The war has literally exploded and the battles are uninterrupted day and night.
"The display boards with the names of the sick, of different colours depending on the operating unit they belong to, are now all red and instead of the surgical operation there is the diagnosis, which is always the same cursed: bilateral interstitial pneumonia.
"The results of the swabs now come one after the other: positive, positive, positive. Suddenly the emergency room is collapsing."
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Image: There have been nearly 500 deaths in Italy so far. Pic: Piazza Pulita
People arriving in the UK from anywhere in Italy have been told by the Foreign Office to self-isolate for 14 days.
And Britons have also been warned against all but essential travel to the whole of the country.
BA and Ryanair confirmed on Tuesday they were suspending their full Italy flight schedules.
In the case of Ryanair, domestic services would cease from Thursday until 8 April with international services pausing from Saturday until 8 April. It said passengers affected were being offered flight transfers, full refunds or travel credits.
EasyJet is still running a small number of Italy services as things stand.
Another no-frills carrier, Norwegian, said it was responding to a collapse in demand for air travel by temporarily laying-off a "significant" number of staff as it prepared to slash 15% of its total schedule from next week.
Italy's Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte is urging the public to stay at home, saying: "The future depends on us and everyone must do their part."
Image: Italy's prime minister Giuseppe Conte is urging people to stay at home
He said people should not move around apart from for work and emergencies, and the closure of schools and universities across the country is being extended to 3 April.
He also said public transport will remain operational.
Leading politicians have accused Mr Conte of not going far enough, with former deputy PM Matteo Salvini calling on the government to "close everything immediately, without leaving room for doubts or interpretations".
Lombardy president Attilio Fontana called for "even more stringent rules" so "we can overcome this emergency".
A statement from the Foreign Office said: "We have amended our travel advice to recommend against all but essential travel to Italy. The safety of British nationals is always our number one priority.
"The advice is that anyone who arrives from Italy subsequent to Italian government decision should now self-isolate for 14 days."
Image: Police check documents at a 'red zone' checkpoint in San Fiorano, southeast of Milan
More than 300 of Italy's fatalities are in the Lombardy region - which includes the country's financial capital, Milan.
About 5% of confirmed cases in Italy have been fatal so far, making the fatality rate higher than in other parts of the world, where scientists have tentatively estimated it to be between 1-3%. The fatality rate in Lombardy stands at 6%.
It is not clear to what extent Italy has been testing people with minor symptoms or how long the virus had been circulating in the country before it was detected, which could contribute to the apparently higher fatality rate.
Lombardy is one of five regions which already had areas in lockdown in a so-called "red zone", with cinemas, theatres and museums closed and restaurant hours restricted.
The measures had affected 10 million residents in the whole of Lombardy and another six million in the provinces of Modena, Parma, Piacenza, Reggio Emilia, Rimini, Pesaro and Urbino, Alessandria, Asti, Novara, Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, Vercelli, Padua, Treviso and the tourist hotspot of Venice.
Mr Conte will sign a new decree and the nationwide limitations will be introduced in the morning.
He told reporters that restrictions introduced two days ago were no longer sufficient and they would have to be extended to the whole country.
The PM said: "There won't be just a red zone," adding: "There will be Italy" as a protected area.
Mr Conte also criticised young people in much of Italy who have been gathering at night to socialise during the public health emergency that started on 21 February.
"This nightlife... we can't allow this any more," he said.
Image: Inmates on the roof of the San Vittore Prison, Milan
Meanwhile, six inmates have died and several others have climbed on to the roof of a jail following protests across various prisons in Italy over limits on direct contact between inmates and their families.
In the south, Puglia, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania and Molise have seen just dozens of COVID-19 cases between them and a handful of deaths.
In a bid to deter a mass influx, southern regions issued decrees on Sunday telling people who do arrive from northern red zones that they had to go into quarantine for two weeks.
:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
Earlier on Monday, Italy shut all of its ski resorts and Mr Conte said he would use "massive shock therapy" to battle the outbreak.
More than 3,900 people have died across the world, the vast majority in mainland China, the epicentre of the outbreak.
"Now that the virus has a foothold in so many countries, the threat of a pandemic has become very real," said World Health Organisation Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
But he welcomed Italy's tough measures, noting four countries - China, South Korea, Italy and Iran - accounted for 93% of cases worldwide.
In other coronavirus developments:
China's President Xi Jinping has visited Wuhan, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, as the country marked the third straight day of no new locally transmitted coronavirus cases outside of Hubei
The president of the European Parliament Davide Sassoli is in self-isolation at his Brussels home as a precaution after travelling to Italy.
Three new deaths have been recorded at the Life Care Center nursing home in Seattle, Washington state, which has been linked to 19 deaths in total
nursing home in Seattle, Washington state, which has been linked to 19 deaths in total Holidaymakers have been allowed to leave a Tenerife hotel after their period of quarantine ended
Lebanon recorded its first virus-related death, according to broadcasters in the country
Poland cancelled all large-scale events over the outbreak
Czech Republic closed schools and banned events hosting more than 100 people
Germany has announced its first two deaths - the country has more than 1,100 infections
Madrid's regional president says all schools and universities in the region will close for two weeks
In Ireland, all parades planned for St Patrick's Day on 17 March have been cancelled
The coronavirus-hit Grand Princess cruise ship, which has more than 140 Britons on board, has arrived in port in Oakland, California
Iran has temporarily released about 70,000 prisoners as coronavirus cases have surged
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Virus Outbreak: Your questions answered #AskSkyNews at 12.30pm weekdays
Are you a British citizen stuck in northern Italy? Get in touch with your story:
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