news--2020-04-25--Coronavirus: Africa is poorly prepared to deal with COVID-19 but ingenuity offers hope

In Africa , the coronavirus has advanced through cities , towns and rural locales in a largely predictable way .
Every country on the continent has recorded at least one case of COVID-19 with the exception of Lesotho and the Comoros Islands .
Both claim to be virus-free .
What has surprised the experts however is the relatively low number of people who have been diagnosed with the virus in Africa , particularly when compared with the US or Europe .
The most recent figures show the number of confirmed cases at around 28,000 with the death toll at 1,300 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least 30 times worse .
However , experts think this situation is unlikely to last .
The World Health Organisation estimates 10 million Africans could catch COVID-19 in the next six months and the virus will exacerbate the daily battle to survive .
Tens of millions live their lives on the edge , buying food if it is available and making money if there is work .
When people get sick , healthcare is often inadequate and there are huge numbers who suffer from complications like HIV/AIDS .
The coronavirus will make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spoken to four experts in Congo-Brazzaville , Zimbabwe , Mali and Sudan .
Together they paint a picture of a continent that is poorly prepared .
But they also offer a message of hope rooted in determination and human ingenuity .
Dr Joyce Samoutou is a doctor at the New Sight eye clinic in Congo-Brazzaville .
She says she is an unadventurous person , but the University of Edinburgh graduate exchanged her practice in Leeds for work in remote communities like Oúesso .
Now she is trying to come up with a COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have set up an isolation centre at the local football stadium .
`` I think the way we have survived the last few months has been trying to concentrate on what we can do rather than what we ca n't do .
I think that is the only way we can survive . ''
The obstacles are extraordinary .
Patients have to drive 12-14 hours for a COVID-19 test ( although the region is now providing training and conducting some tests ) and there are no critical care beds .
Plus , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impossible position .
`` We tell them stay at home as much as possible , work from home ( but that ) literally means no food for the families and they need to at least go out to get water , and so it 's kind of like , what would you rather do ?
Be infected or starve ? ''
Africa has been fortunate because the virus came relatively late to the continent - the first case in sub-Saharan Africa was not detected until the end of February .
Countries like South @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to close schools , ban gatherings and impose lockdowns .
But that does not mean they are prepared to deal with the consequences of mass infection .
Dr Norman Matara is the Secretary-General of Zimbabwe 's Association of Doctors for Human Rights .
He holds a master 's degree in public health from Leeds University and also possesses bucket-loads of courage .
Dr Matara is one of a small number of physicians who are prepared to criticise the people who run this beleaguered country .
`` We knew ( COVID-19 ) was coming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us that they were prepared , but when the virus eventually reached here , we saw that the ministry was not prepared at all . ''
Dr Matara says the government 's groundwork has been shambolic .
`` The isolation centre that they identified did not have capacity to deal with severe cases of COVID-19 .
There were no ventilators , no ICU staff , no ICU nurses , no anaesthetists , so we do n't know what they were saying .
How are we prepared when they do not even have ICU @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Our team interviewed the physician as he played a game of pool with himself at home .
Dr Matara will not work at his practice because he can not get his hands on any personal protective equipment ( PPE ) .
`` There is basically not much that we can do ... it is not exciting to be playing alone you know . ''
Poor medical infrastructure and a shortage of specialist equipment pre-date the coronavirus crisis by decades but there are highly resourceful people in Africa who are trying to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker We met a remarkable 23-year old university drop-out called Mohamadou Kone , who is busy trying to build hospital-standard respirators and ventilators at a local laboratory .
`` Here 's the problem , '' said Mohamadou .
`` ( For ) the whole Malian population , we have less than 60 respirators . ''
That works out to be less than three respirators per one million people .
The youthful inventor has helped produce an automatic soap and water @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Now he and three colleagues are trying to perfect their respirator .
`` You know , I want to be the best ( computer ) programmer in the world but the most important thing is to do something beneficial for you and the community ... you do n't have to be perfect . ''
Perfection is not something that Dr Abdelhameed Albushra is aiming for .
For this 34-year-old , now running the COVID-19 treatment and isolation centre in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum , it is all about doing his best .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ventilators in Sudan ... and ( there ) is a very , very , big shortage of critical care beds .
I tell you , if we have a disaster like what is happening in ( the ) US , Spain and Italy , I think it will go very bad here . ''
Yet Dr Abdelhameed has chalked up plenty of crisis-level experience .
Like many of the country 's doctors , he helped to organise a political revolution that dumped long-time dictator Omar al Bashir from power .
Plus , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ al Bashir 's militiamen .
`` I was working in Omdurman Hospital when the ( militia ) came in and attacked us .
I am happy I am still here . ''
It is the legacy of Sudan 's dictatorial regime however , that will test Dr Abdelhameed in the coming months .
`` Healthcare was the least of their priorities , we have really poor health services , but like all doctors here , we are trying now to support the health care system .
We worked together during the revolution and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
The challenge before him and other doctors , scientists and officials is huge .
Some hope the relative youth of Africans , with an average age of 19 , will reduce the power of a disease that tends to target the old .
But the experts know that most countries here do not have the capacity to deal with mass infection .
Nonetheless , there are decent and dedicated people on this continent who do everything they can to slow the disease .

In Africa, the coronavirus has advanced through cities, towns and rural locales in a largely predictable way.
Every country on the continent has recorded at least one case of COVID-19 with the exception of Lesotho and the Comoros Islands. Both claim to be virus-free.
What has surprised the experts however is the relatively low number of people who have been diagnosed with the virus in Africa, particularly when compared with the US or Europe.
The most recent figures show the number of confirmed cases at around 28,000 with the death toll at 1,300. The numbers in the US are at least 30 times worse.
Image: The most recent figures show the number of confirmed cases at around 28,000 with the death toll at 1,300
However, experts think this situation is unlikely to last. The World Health Organisation estimates 10 million Africans could catch COVID-19 in the next six months and the virus will exacerbate the daily battle to survive.
Tens of millions live their lives on the edge, buying food if it is available and making money if there is work. When people get sick, healthcare is often inadequate and there are huge numbers who suffer from complications like HIV/AIDS. The coronavirus will make life more precarious.
Sky News has spoken to four experts in Congo-Brazzaville, Zimbabwe, Mali and Sudan. Together they paint a picture of a continent that is poorly prepared. But they also offer a message of hope rooted in determination and human ingenuity.
Image: Dr Joyce Samoutou is helping the local community set up an isolation centre at her local football stadium
Dr Joyce Samoutou is a doctor at the New Sight eye clinic in Congo-Brazzaville. She says she is an unadventurous person, but the University of Edinburgh graduate exchanged her practice in Leeds for work in remote communities like Oúesso.
Now she is trying to come up with a COVID-19 response with local officials and together they have set up an isolation centre at the local football stadium.
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"I think the way we have survived the last few months has been trying to concentrate on what we can do rather than what we can't do. I think that is the only way we can survive."
Watch our special report here:
The obstacles are extraordinary. Patients have to drive 12-14 hours for a COVID-19 test (although the region is now providing training and conducting some tests) and there are no critical care beds. Plus, the nationwide lockdown puts ordinary people in an impossible position.
"We tell them stay at home as much as possible, work from home (but that) literally means no food for the families and they need to at least go out to get water, and so it's kind of like, what would you rather do? Be infected or starve?"
Africa has been fortunate because the virus came relatively late to the continent - the first case in sub-Saharan Africa was not detected until the end of February. Countries like South Africa, Ghana and Nigeria moved swiftly to close schools, ban gatherings and impose lockdowns. But that does not mean they are prepared to deal with the consequences of mass infection.
Image: Africa has some highly resourceful people despite its lack of facilities
Dr Norman Matara is the Secretary-General of Zimbabwe's Association of Doctors for Human Rights. He holds a master's degree in public health from Leeds University and also possesses bucket-loads of courage. Dr Matara is one of a small number of physicians who are prepared to criticise the people who run this beleaguered country.
"We knew (COVID-19) was coming. Our ministry of health continued telling us that they were prepared, but when the virus eventually reached here, we saw that the ministry was not prepared at all."
Dr Matara says the government's groundwork has been shambolic.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 4:04 Scientists are optimistic about the prospects of finding a COVID-19 vaccine but what unknowns lie ahead?
"The isolation centre that they identified did not have capacity to deal with severe cases of COVID-19. There were no ventilators, no ICU staff, no ICU nurses, no anaesthetists, so we don't know what they were saying. How are we prepared when they do not even have ICU facilities to deal with one patient?"
Our team interviewed the physician as he played a game of pool with himself at home. Dr Matara will not work at his practice because he cannot get his hands on any personal protective equipment (PPE).
"There is basically not much that we can do... it is not exciting to be playing alone you know."
Poor medical infrastructure and a shortage of specialist equipment pre-date the coronavirus crisis by decades but there are highly resourceful people in Africa who are trying to do something about it.
:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
We met a remarkable 23-year old university drop-out called Mohamadou Kone, who is busy trying to build hospital-standard respirators and ventilators at a local laboratory.
"Here's the problem," said Mohamadou. "(For) the whole Malian population, we have less than 60 respirators." That works out to be less than three respirators per one million people.
Image: Africa's medical advancements are decades behind
Image: There are dedicated people in Africa who are doing everything they can to slow the disease
The youthful inventor has helped produce an automatic soap and water dispenser and a robotic ward cleaner. Now he and three colleagues are trying to perfect their respirator.
"You know, I want to be the best (computer) programmer in the world but the most important thing is to do something beneficial for you and the community... you don't have to be perfect."
Perfection is not something that Dr Abdelhameed Albushra is aiming for. For this 34-year-old, now running the COVID-19 treatment and isolation centre in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum, it is all about doing his best.
"We have maybe less than 500 ventilators in Sudan... and (there) is a very, very, big shortage of critical care beds. I tell you, if we have a disaster like what is happening in (the) US, Spain and Italy, I think it will go very bad here."
Image: The WHO estimates 10 million Africans could catch COVID-19 in the next six months
Yet Dr Abdelhameed has chalked up plenty of crisis-level experience. Like many of the country's doctors, he helped to organise a political revolution that dumped long-time dictator Omar al Bashir from power. Plus, he picked up experience treating the victims of al Bashir's militiamen.
"I was working in Omdurman Hospital when the (militia) came in and attacked us. I am happy I am still here."
It is the legacy of Sudan's dictatorial regime however, that will test Dr Abdelhameed in the coming months.
"Healthcare was the least of their priorities, we have really poor health services, but like all doctors here, we are trying now to support the health care system. We worked together during the revolution and now we are fighting a bigger crisis."
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:35 Home Sec: 'We're not out of danger yet'
The challenge before him and other doctors, scientists and officials is huge.
Some hope the relative youth of Africans, with an average age of 19, will reduce the power of a disease that tends to target the old. But the experts know that most countries here do not have the capacity to deal with mass infection.
Nonetheless, there are decent and dedicated people on this continent who do everything they can to slow the disease.


news--2020-04-27--Coronavirus: Grieving woman shares final text from fiance who died with COVID-19

Richard McKeag spent the last month of his life volunteering as a carer in his community .
First came the dry cough followed by a fever and before he knew it he was struggling to breathe .
The 29 year-old died with COVID-19 in hospital just four days after being admitted .
Fiancee Katie Martin , 25 , said : `` He said that he was n't feeling well with a bit of a dry cough .
We were joking about it .
`` But he deteriorated really , really rapidly .
`` He could n't sleep , he could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ breathe . ''
Miss Martin , a home care manager , phoned NHS 111 and an ambulance came to take Mr McKeag to hospital .
`` Unfortunately , Ricky 's oxygen levels were quite low , '' Miss Martin said .
`` The nurse called me and she explained that and his body was tired and he was exhausted .
So they made the decision to put him on a ventilator . ''
From his hospital bed Mr McKeag wrote a text to his fiancee saying : `` They are going to put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you .
Thank you for the best life .
It 's a 50/50 chance - those are n't great odds .
Once I 'm asleep it 's in God 's hands . ''
Before being placed on the ventilator a nurse held his phone so he could video call .
It was the last time Miss Martin saw him alive .
The next day while driving , she received a call from the consultant at the hospital .
Miss Martin said : `` The call was less than two minutes long .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ring .
He said they were turning Richard back on to his stomach and he suffered a cardiac arrest .
They were n't able to resuscitate him . ''
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker Mr McKeag is one of the youngest victims of this crisis .
His family say that it is too early and too risky to think about lifting the lockdown .
`` All me and his family want to do is stress to people : stay home , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people are getting complacent now .
It 's been so long .
People want to loosen the lockdown and reopen bars and restaurants .
It 's not a good idea - more people will die . ''

Richard McKeag spent the last month of his life volunteering as a carer in his community.
Until the symptoms started.
First came the dry cough followed by a fever and before he knew it he was struggling to breathe.
Image: Richard McKeag had planned to marry Katie Martin
The 29 year-old died with COVID-19 in hospital just four days after being admitted.
Fiancee Katie Martin, 25, said: "He said that he wasn't feeling well with a bit of a dry cough. We were joking about it.
"But he deteriorated really, really rapidly.
"He couldn't sleep, he couldn't walk. Eventually he couldn't breathe."
Miss Martin, a home care manager, phoned NHS 111 and an ambulance came to take Mr McKeag to hospital.
"Unfortunately, Ricky's oxygen levels were quite low," Miss Martin said.
"The nurse called me and she explained that and his body was tired and he was exhausted. So they made the decision to put him on a ventilator."
From his hospital bed Mr McKeag wrote a text to his fiancee saying: "They are going to put me on a ventilator. I love you. Thank you for the best life. It's a 50/50 chance - those aren't great odds. Once I'm asleep it's in God's hands."
Before being placed on the ventilator a nurse held his phone so he could video call. It was the last time Miss Martin saw him alive.
Image: Richard McKeag was put on a ventilator and died four days later
The next day while driving, she received a call from the consultant at the hospital.
Miss Martin said: "The call was less than two minutes long.
"The doctor said he was sorry to ring. He said they were turning Richard back on to his stomach and he suffered a cardiac arrest. They weren't able to resuscitate him."
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Mr McKeag is one of the youngest victims of this crisis. His family say that it is too early and too risky to think about lifting the lockdown.
"All me and his family want to do is stress to people: stay home," said Miss Martin.
"But people are getting complacent now. It's been so long. People want to loosen the lockdown and reopen bars and restaurants. It's not a good idea - more people will die."


news--2020-05-04--Coronavirus: Doctors warn of strange phenomenon in COVID-19 patients

Doctors treating coronavirus patients have noticed a strange phenomenon among some sufferers dubbed `` happy hypoxia '' - and have warned the condition could be deadly .
Some COVID-19 patients with extraordinarily low blood-oxygen levels have been able to chat to doctors , scroll on their phones and have generally described themselves as comfortable , according to Science Magazine .
A normal blood-oxygen saturation is at least 95 % and in most lung diseases , such as pneumonia , if those levels drop they have adverse effects , including fluid-filled lungs or rising levels of carbon dioxide , leaving patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patients struggle to breathe with damaged lungs in serious cases of COVID-19 , early in the disease low blood-oxygen levels is not always coupled with obvious respiratory difficulties , Science Magazine reported .
Coronavirus patients can be breathing comfortably with normal carbon dioxide levels but have oxygen saturation levels in the 70s , 60s , 50s or even lower , the journal said .
Although mountain climbers can have similar readings , some doctors believe it is potentially `` ominous '' in COVID-19 patients , Nicholas Caputo , an emergency physician in New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jonathan Bannard-Smith , a consultant in critical care and anaesthesia at Manchester Royal Infirmary , told the Guardian that it was `` an example of very abnormal physiology going on before our eyes '' .
`` We 're seeing oxygen saturations that are very low and [ patients ] are unaware of that , '' he said .
`` We would n't usually see this phenomenon in influenza or community-acquired pneumonia . ''
Theories are emerging around the cause of `` happy hypoxia '' in coronavirus patients , with many doctors now recognising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 .
Elnara Marcia Negri , a pulmonologist in Sao Paulo , told Science she believes subtle clotting might begin early in the lungs , preventing blood from getting properly oxygenated .
The phenomenon has also prompted a debate on how to treat coronavirus patients .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker Luciano Gattinoni , a guest professor in intensive care at the University of Göttingen Medical Centre in Germany , has reportedly warned against swooping in to inflate lungs with ventilators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Dr Gattononi said those measures could harm lungs that are inflating on their own but may be needed if patients are not helped by non-invasive treatment , Science reported .
Studies are yet to be done on whether early detection of hypoxia might help treat coronavirus patients .

Doctors treating coronavirus patients have noticed a strange phenomenon among some sufferers dubbed "happy hypoxia" - and have warned the condition could be deadly.
Some COVID-19 patients with extraordinarily low blood-oxygen levels have been able to chat to doctors, scroll on their phones and have generally described themselves as comfortable, according to Science Magazine.
A normal blood-oxygen saturation is at least 95% and in most lung diseases, such as pneumonia, if those levels drop they have adverse effects, including fluid-filled lungs or rising levels of carbon dioxide, leaving patients feeling short of breath.
Image: Images were recently released showing how coronavirus damaged a patient's lungs. Pic: George Washington University Hospital
But while patients struggle to breathe with damaged lungs in serious cases of COVID-19, early in the disease low blood-oxygen levels is not always coupled with obvious respiratory difficulties, Science Magazine reported.
Coronavirus patients can be breathing comfortably with normal carbon dioxide levels but have oxygen saturation levels in the 70s, 60s, 50s or even lower, the journal said.
Although mountain climbers can have similar readings, some doctors believe it is potentially "ominous" in COVID-19 patients, Nicholas Caputo, an emergency physician in New York, told the publication.
Dr Jonathan Bannard-Smith, a consultant in critical care and anaesthesia at Manchester Royal Infirmary, told the Guardian that it was "an example of very abnormal physiology going on before our eyes".
"We're seeing oxygen saturations that are very low and [patients] are unaware of that," he said.
"We wouldn't usually see this phenomenon in influenza or community-acquired pneumonia."
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Theories are emerging around the cause of "happy hypoxia" in coronavirus patients, with many doctors now recognising clotting as a major feature of severe COVID-19.
Elnara Marcia Negri, a pulmonologist in Sao Paulo, told Science she believes subtle clotting might begin early in the lungs, preventing blood from getting properly oxygenated.
The phenomenon has also prompted a debate on how to treat coronavirus patients.
Podcast Podcast , 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 Podcast 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 Podcast cookies. To view this content you can use the button below to allow Podcast cookies for this session only. Enable Cookies Allow Cookies Once
:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
Luciano Gattinoni, a guest professor in intensive care at the University of Göttingen Medical Centre in Germany, has reportedly warned against swooping in to inflate lungs with ventilators or high-pressure oxygen when patients seem comfortable.
Dr Gattononi said those measures could harm lungs that are inflating on their own but may be needed if patients are not helped by non-invasive treatment, Science reported.
Studies are yet to be done on whether early detection of hypoxia might help treat coronavirus patients.


news--2020-03-02--Coronavirus: Italy deaths jump to 52 as EU raises risk level

The number of people who have died from coronavirus in Italy has risen to 52 , as the risk of the virus in the European Union was raised to its second highest level .
More than 2,000 cases of COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus , have now been confirmed in Italy , which is facing Europe 's biggest outbreak .
The number of deaths in the country from the virus rose by 18 over the last 24 hours .
The EU commission said the risk level of COVID-19 to the European Union is now considered moderate to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The illness has now spread to most of western Europe , with Portugal reporting its first two cases .
The cases in Portugal include a man who recently travelled to Italy and another man who had returned from Spain .
Both are in hospital in Porto .
Elsewhere in Iran , an aide to the country 's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei died after contracting COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus .
Iranian state radio said Mohammad Mirmohammadi , a member of the council that advises the Iranian leader , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The 71-year-old is the first top official to die from COVID-19 - and the disease has affected several members of the country 's leadership .
Iran has the highest coronavirus death toll in the world after China , with 1,501 confirmed cases and 66 deaths .
Germany , France and the UK have since offered Iran €5m ( £4.4m ) to help the country fight coronavirus and are also sending medical equipment including protective body suits and gloves .
In other coronavirus developments around the world : • The Dominican Republic and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe reported three cases • In Italy , 34 people have now died from COVID-19 , including five on Sunday , with 1,694 confirmed cases • Authorities in Lombardy have asked for retired doctors and nurses to be reinstated to help cope with the outbreak .
They have also asked for graduation dates for student nurses to be brought forward • French President Emmanuel Macron cancelled two scheduled events - a visit to southwestern France and a Jewish group 's annual dinner - to focus on tackling the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ completely prevent infected people from entering the country because of outbreaks in Japan and South Korea • More than $ 5tn ( £3.9bn ) was wiped from global stock markets last week , but there were signs of recovery in Asia on Monday • Israelis under quarantine voted in Monday 's election as paramedics in protective clothing stood guard • Pakistan 's largest city - Karachi - closed all schools as millions of children in Japan also stayed at home • Sweden suspended flights to and from Iran as Vietnam Airlines looks to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : : Listen to the Daily podcast with Dermot Murnaghan on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker The number of people around the world who have died from coronavirus reached 3,048 on Sunday night , and the number of confirmed and suspected COVID-19 cases reached 89,197 globally in 60 countries .
One of the biggest outbreaks outside mainland China is in South Korea , where there are now more than 4,300 cases .
Prosecutors in South Korea are being asked to consider a murder investigation into a cult 's founder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organisation refused to co-operate with efforts to stop the disease .
Followers of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus believe their founder will take them to heaven , and they had visited the Chinese city of Wuhan - where the virus originated - late last year .
On Monday , Lee Man-hee said : `` We did our best but were unable to stop the spread of the virus . ''
South Korea has postponed the beginning of the new school term until 23 March in an attempt to stop the disease spreading further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the country on Monday .
President Joko Widodo said two Indonesians had tested positive and were in hospital , but did not say where .
His government has come under fire for the lack of reported cases in the world 's fourth most populous country which is also close to China .
Health minister Terawan Agus Putranto said last week it was a `` blessing from the Almighty '' as he defended the country 's screening process .
In the United States , a man in his 70s died on Saturday in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the US to have died from COVID-19 after a man in his 50s died in the state last week .
Researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre and the University of Washington said they had evidence the virus may have been circulating in Washington state for up to six weeks undetected .
This could mean there are hundreds of undiagnosed cases in the area .
US vice president Mike Pence and health and human services secretary Alex Azar tried to reassure the American public that the federal government is working to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to test for the virus .
Thousands more testing kits had been distributed , with thousands more to come , they said .

The number of people who have died from coronavirus in Italy has risen to 52, as the risk of the virus in the European Union was raised to its second highest level.
More than 2,000 cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, have now been confirmed in Italy, which is facing Europe's biggest outbreak.
The number of deaths in the country from the virus rose by 18 over the last 24 hours.
The EU commission said the risk level of COVID-19 to the European Union is now considered moderate to high. The top level is high.
The illness has now spread to most of western Europe, with Portugal reporting its first two cases.
The cases in Portugal include a man who recently travelled to Italy and another man who had returned from Spain. Both are in hospital in Porto.
Elsewhere in Iran, an aide to the country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei died after contracting COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.
Iranian state radio said Mohammad Mirmohammadi, a member of the council that advises the Iranian leader, had died at a hospital in Tehran.
The 71-year-old is the first top official to die from COVID-19 - and the disease has affected several members of the country's leadership.
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Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:34 25 Feb: Iranian minister with COVID-19 sweats on stage
Iran has the highest coronavirus death toll in the world after China, with 1,501 confirmed cases and 66 deaths.
Germany, France and the UK have since offered Iran €5m (£4.4m) to help the country fight coronavirus and are also sending medical equipment including protective body suits and gloves.
In other coronavirus developments around the world:
The Dominican Republic and Tunisia reported their first cases and the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe reported three cases
In Italy, 34 people have now died from COVID-19, including five on Sunday, with 1,694 confirmed cases
Authorities in Lombardy have asked for retired doctors and nurses to be reinstated to help cope with the outbreak. They have also asked for graduation dates for student nurses to be brought forward
French President Emmanuel Macron cancelled two scheduled events - a visit to southwestern France and a Jewish group's annual dinner - to focus on tackling the virus
Australia said it could no longer completely prevent infected people from entering the country because of outbreaks in Japan and South Korea
More than $5tn (£3.9bn) was wiped from global stock markets last week, but there were signs of recovery in Asia on Monday
Goldman Sachs halted all non-essential business travel
Israelis under quarantine voted in Monday's election as paramedics in protective clothing stood guard
Pakistan's largest city - Karachi - closed all schools as millions of children in Japan also stayed at home
Sweden suspended flights to and from Iran as Vietnam Airlines looks to suspend flights to South Korea from Thursday
Image: Authorities have put precautions in place at polling booths in Israel
:: Listen to the Daily podcast with Dermot Murnaghan on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
The number of people around the world who have died from coronavirus reached 3,048 on Sunday night, and the number of confirmed and suspected COVID-19 cases reached 89,197 globally in 60 countries.
One of the biggest outbreaks outside mainland China is in South Korea, where there are now more than 4,300 cases.
Image: South Korean cult leader Lee Man-hee apologises for the spread of coronavirus
Prosecutors in South Korea are being asked to consider a murder investigation into a cult's founder, Lee Man-hee, amid allegations his organisation refused to co-operate with efforts to stop the disease.
Followers of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus believe their founder will take them to heaven, and they had visited the Chinese city of Wuhan - where the virus originated - late last year.
Image: Ambulances wait to transport infected patients from Daegu, South Korea
On Monday, Lee Man-hee said: "We did our best but were unable to stop the spread of the virus."
South Korea has postponed the beginning of the new school term until 23 March in an attempt to stop the disease spreading further.
Image: A man sits in a Paris cafe wearing a face mask as indoor gatherings of more than 5,000 were banned
Indonesia's first cases
Indonesia reported its first confirmed cases in the country on Monday.
President Joko Widodo said two Indonesians had tested positive and were in hospital, but did not say where.
His government has come under fire for the lack of reported cases in the world's fourth most populous country which is also close to China.
Health minister Terawan Agus Putranto said last week it was a "blessing from the Almighty" as he defended the country's screening process.
US deaths
In the United States, a man in his 70s died on Saturday in Washington state, the second person in the US to have died from COVID-19 after a man in his 50s died in the state last week.
Researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre and the University of Washington said they had evidence the virus may have been circulating in Washington state for up to six weeks undetected.
This could mean there are hundreds of undiagnosed cases in the area.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:54 Trump: No reason to panic about virus
US vice president Mike Pence and health and human services secretary Alex Azar tried to reassure the American public that the federal government is working to make sure state and local authorities are able to test for the virus.
Thousands more testing kits had been distributed, with thousands more to come, they said.
Virus Outbreak: Global Emergency - Watch a special Sky News programme on coronavirus at 6pm weekdays


news--2020-03-01--Coronavirus: How does COVID-19 attack the human body?

The most common signs that you may be infected with coronavirus are breathing problems , and that is because its first port of call is the lungs .
Just like the flu , coronaviruses are respiratory diseases and can spread when an infected patient coughs or sneezes , spraying small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth , which may contain the virus .
How coronavirus attacks cells in the lungs Although just around two months old , experts are slowly discovering more about COVID-19 , which appears to be attacking two specific sets of cells in the lungs , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medical microbiologist at Kingston University .
Speaking to Sky News , he explains one is called a goblet cell and the other is called a ciliated cell .
He said : `` A goblet cell produces mucus that makes a wet slimy layer on your respiratory tract , and that 's important for helping you keep your lungs moist , which is needed to keep you healthy .
`` The ciliated cells are cells that have little hairs on them that wave in an upward direction , so any nasty material that gets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bacteria and viruses , or particles of dust , gets swept up towards your throat .
`` When you cough , you cough up mucus and swallow it and you dump that into the acid bath we call a stomach - that 's the way things normally work . ''
But he says COVID-19 appears to be infecting those particular two sets of cells preferentially - `` something that was seen similarly with SARS , '' he said .
SARS , or severe acute respiratory syndrome , also originated in China , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , far less than the almost 3,000 killed by COVID-19 .
Professor Fielder added : `` The problem we 've got here , is the virus infects these cells and starts to kill them .
`` And as it kills them as part of its replication process , tissue falls into the lungs , and the lungs start to get blockages - and that blockage might mean that the patient develops pneumonia . ''
Immune system 'goes haywire ' and can damage healthy tissue He says there is an added problem in that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it recognises the body is under attack .
`` It can actually almost over attack , and become what we call hyperimmune , and set up a large attack which can then start to damage the healthy tissue underneath . ''
Prof Fielder also claims the body 's efforts to fight the virus can cause inflammation in the lungs , which can make breathing even more difficult .
It is also suggested that the immune system `` goes haywire '' , causing even more damage to the organ and other parts of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus has got into the pneumonic state in the lungs , it can start causing problems in the air sacs in the blood vessels in your lungs - commonly wrapped around the almost broccoli shaped organs in the lungs , called the alveoli .
`` These are really important in normal breathing to help the body exchange carbon dioxide for oxygen under normal breathing , and these are very delicate , and can get damaged and limit your capability of oxygenating blood . ''
And he adds that it is not only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus .
COVID-19 can also target the kidneys - the two bean-shaped organs which filter toxins from our blood .
He says it they are not functioning properly , it could lead to organ failure and the patient `` is going to struggle to hang on to life '' .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker On Sunday , the WHO advised people over 60 , or with underlying conditions , like cardiovascular disease , to avoid crowded places in an effort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 .
It is claimed the sick and elderly are most at risk from the disease .
Latest figures show there are more than 89,000 confirmed and suspected cases of the virus globally , according to Johns Hopkins University , which is tracking the epidemic .
Twelve new cases were diagnosed in England on Sunday , along with the first person in Scotland to be confirmed to have it , bringing the total number with COVID-19 in the UK to 36 .
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has admitted it is `` inevitable '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

The most common signs that you may be infected with coronavirus are breathing problems, and that is because its first port of call is the lungs.
Just like the flu, coronaviruses are respiratory diseases and can spread when an infected patient coughs or sneezes, spraying small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth, which may contain the virus.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:35 'We've put £40m into finding a vaccine'
How coronavirus attacks cells in the lungs
Although just around two months old, experts are slowly discovering more about COVID-19, which appears to be attacking two specific sets of cells in the lungs, according to Professor Mark Fielder - a medical microbiologist at Kingston University.
Speaking to Sky News, he explains one is called a goblet cell and the other is called a ciliated cell.
He said: "A goblet cell produces mucus that makes a wet slimy layer on your respiratory tract, and that's important for helping you keep your lungs moist, which is needed to keep you healthy.
"The ciliated cells are cells that have little hairs on them that wave in an upward direction, so any nasty material that gets stuck in the mucus, such as bacteria and viruses, or particles of dust, gets swept up towards your throat.
Image: Professor Mark Fielder is a medical microbiologist
"When you cough, you cough up mucus and swallow it and you dump that into the acid bath we call a stomach - that's the way things normally work."
But he says COVID-19 appears to be infecting those particular two sets of cells preferentially - "something that was seen similarly with SARS," he said.
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SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome, also originated in China, and killed 774 people following the 2002-2003 outbreak, far less than the almost 3,000 killed by COVID-19.
Professor Fielder added: "The problem we've got here, is the virus infects these cells and starts to kill them.
"And as it kills them as part of its replication process, tissue falls into the lungs, and the lungs start to get blockages - and that blockage might mean that the patient develops pneumonia."
Immune system 'goes haywire' and can damage healthy tissue
He says there is an added problem in that the immune system tries to react because it recognises the body is under attack.
"It can actually almost over attack, and become what we call hyperimmune, and set up a large attack which can then start to damage the healthy tissue underneath."
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:26 'Family cluster' among 13 new UK coronavirus cases
Prof Fielder also claims the body's efforts to fight the virus can cause inflammation in the lungs, which can make breathing even more difficult.
It is also suggested that the immune system "goes haywire", causing even more damage to the organ and other parts of the tissue.
He said: "Once the virus has got into the pneumonic state in the lungs, it can start causing problems in the air sacs in the blood vessels in your lungs - commonly wrapped around the almost broccoli shaped organs in the lungs, called the alveoli.
Image: The 'broccoli shaped' organs in the lungs are called the alveoli
"These are really important in normal breathing to help the body exchange carbon dioxide for oxygen under normal breathing, and these are very delicate, and can get damaged and limit your capability of oxygenating blood."
And he adds that it is not only the lungs that are attacked by the virus.
Coronavirus also attacks other important organs
COVID-19 can also target the kidneys - the two bean-shaped organs which filter toxins from our blood.
He says it they are not functioning properly, it could lead to organ failure and the patient "is going to struggle to hang on to life".
:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
On Sunday, the WHO advised people over 60, or with underlying conditions, like cardiovascular disease, to avoid crowded places in an effort to reduce the chance of them catching COVID-19.
It is claimed the sick and elderly are most at risk from the disease.
Latest figures show there are more than 89,000 confirmed and suspected cases of the virus globally, according to Johns Hopkins University, which is tracking the epidemic.
Twelve new cases were diagnosed in England on Sunday, along with the first person in Scotland to be confirmed to have it, bringing the total number with COVID-19 in the UK to 36.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has admitted it is "inevitable" the deadly virus would continue to spread.
Virus Outbreak: Global Emergency - Watch a special Sky News programme on coronavirus at 6pm weekdays


news--2020-03-02--Saga delays Titan sale as coronavirus hits travel sector

Saga , the over-50s services group , has put the sale of one of its best-known holidays businesses on hold as the coronavirus crisis causes chaos across the travel industry .
Sky News understands that advisers to Saga have postponed an auction of Titan Travel , which provides escorted holidays to countries including Egypt , South Africa and the US .
A number of private equity firms were preparing offers for Titan , which is estimated to be valued at more than £100m .
The delay to the sale process , which had only recently got under way , underlines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread is having on the tourism sector .
Last week , easyJet and British Airways ' parent , International Airlines Group , warned that the outbreak would hurt annual profits .
The OECD said on Monday that the coronavirus poses the gravest threat to the global economy since the financial crisis .
For tourism companies , which have high fixed costs , the prospect of long-term disruption has sent a chill through the industry because of the lack of clarity over restrictions on travel and future consumer demand .
The cancellation of major @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if extended , have a brutal impact on travel operators .
Cruise companies may be particularly susceptible to a slump in bookings because of the impact of coronavirus on passengers on the Diamond Princess , six of whom have died .
It is the latest headache to afflict Saga , which has come under increasing pressure to break itself after seeing its shares slump in value in recent years .
Last summer , the feared activist investor Elliott Advisers took a 5 % stake in the company with a view to forcing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operations .
The company subsequently appointed Euan Sutherland , former boss of Superdry and the Co-op Group , as its chief executive .
In his first results announcement in January , Mr Sutherland said it expected profitable results from the addition of two new cruise ships but warned that revenues in its tour operations were 5 % lower .
The company will announce full-year results next month .
Shares in Saga have fallen by almost 75 % over the last year , leaving it with a market value of just £362m .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ domiciliary care operations .
Saga declined to comment on the decision to put the Titan Travel auction on hold .

Saga, the over-50s services group, has put the sale of one of its best-known holidays businesses on hold as the coronavirus crisis causes chaos across the travel industry.
Sky News understands that advisers to Saga have postponed an auction of Titan Travel, which provides escorted holidays to countries including Egypt, South Africa and the US.
A number of private equity firms were preparing offers for Titan, which is estimated to be valued at more than £100m.
The delay to the sale process, which had only recently got under way, underlines the impact that COVID-19's rapid international spread is having on the tourism sector.
Last week, easyJet and British Airways' parent, International Airlines Group, warned that the outbreak would hurt annual profits.
The OECD said on Monday that the coronavirus poses the gravest threat to the global economy since the financial crisis.
For tourism companies, which have high fixed costs, the prospect of long-term disruption has sent a chill through the industry because of the lack of clarity over restrictions on travel and future consumer demand.
The cancellation of major international conferences and sporting events will, if extended, have a brutal impact on travel operators.
Cruise companies may be particularly susceptible to a slump in bookings because of the impact of coronavirus on passengers on the Diamond Princess, six of whom have died.
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It is the latest headache to afflict Saga, which has come under increasing pressure to break itself after seeing its shares slump in value in recent years.
Last summer, the feared activist investor Elliott Advisers took a 5% stake in the company with a view to forcing the separation of its travel and financial services operations.
The company subsequently appointed Euan Sutherland, former boss of Superdry and the Co-op Group, as its chief executive.
Image: Euan Sutherland
In his first results announcement in January, Mr Sutherland said it expected profitable results from the addition of two new cruise ships but warned that revenues in its tour operations were 5% lower.
The company will announce full-year results next month.
Shares in Saga have fallen by almost 75% over the last year, leaving it with a market value of just £362m.
It is also seeking a buyer for its domiciliary care operations.
Saga declined to comment on the decision to put the Titan Travel auction on hold.


news--2020-03-02--North Korea: Unidentified projectiles fired for the first time in months

North Korea has fired two unidentified projectiles , South Korea has said .
They were triggered from a coastal area near Wonsan into the sea on Monday , Seoul 's military claimed .
A statement by Seoul 's Joint Chiefs of Staff confirming the launches and said the projectiles flew 150 miles and reached 22 miles in altitude .
It is unclear whether the weapons were ballistic or rocket artillery .
The move marks the resumption of weapons demonstrations from Pyongyang following a months-long hiatus .
And it comes two days after North Korea 's state media said leader Kim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at testing the combat readiness of units in front-line and eastern areas .
Nuclear diplomacy between North Korea and the US has largely stalled since the breakdown of a second summit between the North Korean leader and President Donald Trump in February 2019 in Vietnam .
: : Listen to the Behind the Headline podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker After the failed Hanoi summit , North Korea carried out several short-range missile and other weapons tests .
Mr Trump downplayed them saying they did not pose a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The two countries have been in a face-off for months over the next steps in their negotiations , with North Korea refusing to disarm in return for a reprieve on its sanctions - dashing hopes of denuclearisation on the Korean peninsula .
In January , Kim accused the US of dragging its feet in nuclear negotiations and said his country will continue developing nuclear programmes and introduce a `` new strategic weapon '' in the near future .
During a rare meeting of his ruling party , he also said that his country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in exchange for economic benefits , and that it would never denuclearise unless the US ends what he called its `` hostile policy '' .
Pyongyang has also been increasingly frustrated by the nearby joint military drills held by the US and South Korea - which have recently been suspended due to the global coronavirus outbreak .

North Korea has fired two unidentified projectiles, South Korea has said.
They were triggered from a coastal area near Wonsan into the sea on Monday, Seoul's military claimed.
A statement by Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff confirming the launches and said the projectiles flew 150 miles and reached 22 miles in altitude.
It is unclear whether the weapons were ballistic or rocket artillery.
The move marks the resumption of weapons demonstrations from Pyongyang following a months-long hiatus.
And it comes two days after North Korea's state media said leader Kim Jong Un supervised an artillery drill aimed at testing the combat readiness of units in front-line and eastern areas.
Nuclear diplomacy between North Korea and the US has largely stalled since the breakdown of a second summit between the North Korean leader and President Donald Trump in February 2019 in Vietnam.
:: Listen to the Behind the Headline podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
After the failed Hanoi summit, North Korea carried out several short-range missile and other weapons tests.
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Mr Trump downplayed them saying they did not pose a direct threat to the US mainland.
The two countries have been in a face-off for months over the next steps in their negotiations, with North Korea refusing to disarm in return for a reprieve on its sanctions - dashing hopes of denuclearisation on the Korean peninsula.
In January, Kim accused the US of dragging its feet in nuclear negotiations and said his country will continue developing nuclear programmes and introduce a "new strategic weapon" in the near future.
During a rare meeting of his ruling party, he also said that his country would not put its security at risk in exchange for economic benefits, and that it would never denuclearise unless the US ends what he called its "hostile policy".
Pyongyang has also been increasingly frustrated by the nearby joint military drills held by the US and South Korea - which have recently been suspended due to the global coronavirus outbreak.


news--2020-03-02--Coronavirus: Dow Jones records biggest daily points gain after last week's crash

US stock markets have recovered some significant ground following the global market panic of last week over coronavirus .
A surge of late buying helped the Dow Jones Industrial Average gain almost 1,300 points or 5.1 % by the closing bell on Wall Street .
It represented the biggest daily points gain for the index and came hot on the heels of its worst fall only last Thursday .
Earlier , the FTSE 100 swung wildly throughout the day but closed 1.1 % or 74 points up at 6654 .
Travel stocks continued to feel significant pain with BA-owner IAG @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as it revealed a series of flight cancellations along with rival Ryanair .
It was a similar , volatile story across Europe though US stock markets were positive from the outset on growing hopes of action from the Federal Reserve - the country 's central bank .
Stock markets calwed back lost ground despite a warning that COVID-19 poses the gravest threat to global economic growth since the financial crisis .
The Paris-based Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development ( OECD ) issued the alert and slashed its already-weak outlook , saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could tip a number of economies into recession .
It came as the Bank of England said it was working with the Treasury and the Financial Conduct Authority - as well as other authorities internationally - to `` ensure all necessary steps are taken to protect financial and monetary stability '' .
In the United States Donald Trump demanded , via his Twitter account , that the Federal Reserve have the `` lowest rate '' as central banks determine what support they can offer in response to the sharp falls on stock markets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 5trn ( £3.9trn ) erased from global equity values .
In its assessment of the impact of the crisis , the OECD said the virus was already causing economic disruption .
It said that even in a `` best case '' scenario of limited outbreaks outside China , there would be a `` sharp slowdown '' in world growth for the first half of this year as supply chains and commodities are hit , tourism drops , and confidence falters .
That would see global GDP growth of 2.4 % , down from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UK growth of just 0.8 % , down from 1 % .
But if the impact of the virus proves longer-lasting and more intensive , it could push several economies including Japan and the euro area into recession .
A growing number of companies are revealing an impact .
Ryanair followed rivals easyJet and IAG last week in admitting a hit to bookings but insisted on Monday it was too early to say what COVID-19 would do to its annual performance .
Meanwhile , Sky News revealed that over-50s services group Saga has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ holidays businesses on hold amid the crisis .
Elsewhere , the company behind currency exchange Travelex warned that first-quarter profits would be £25m lower than in the same period last year as it counts the cost of a recent cyber attack as well as the COVID-19 outbreak .
Monday 's initial signs of recovery in stock markets came despite latest numbers showing the death toll from the virus rising above 3,000 .
Oil rebounded too , with the price of a barrel of Brent crude climbing 4 % to $ 52 a barrel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 48 overnight , its lowest level since July 2017 .
That rally was in response to talk of a cut in supply by the OPEC group of oil producers to try to stabilise the market .
Russ Mould , investment director at AJ Bell , said of the market rally : `` The big question is whether a single day 's rebound is enough to repair damaged investor sentiment or if this is simply a dead cat bounce before fears take over again . ''

US stock markets have recovered some significant ground following the global market panic of last week over coronavirus.
A surge of late buying helped the Dow Jones Industrial Average gain almost 1,300 points or 5.1% by the closing bell on Wall Street.
It represented the biggest daily points gain for the index and came hot on the heels of its worst fall only last Thursday.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:58 27 Feb: Carney - 'Coronavirus is having economic consequences'
The wider S&P 500 was 4.6% higher.
Earlier, the FTSE 100 swung wildly throughout the day but closed 1.1% or 74 points up at 6654.
Travel stocks continued to feel significant pain with BA-owner IAG leading the fallers, down 8.2%, as it revealed a series of flight cancellations along with rival Ryanair.
It was a similar, volatile story across Europe though US stock markets were positive from the outset on growing hopes of action from the Federal Reserve - the country's central bank.
Stock markets calwed back lost ground despite a warning that COVID-19 poses the gravest threat to global economic growth since the financial crisis.
The Paris-based Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) issued the alert and slashed its already-weak outlook, saying that if not contained soon the virus could tip a number of economies into recession.
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It came as the Bank of England said it was working with the Treasury and the Financial Conduct Authority - as well as other authorities internationally - to "ensure all necessary steps are taken to protect financial and monetary stability".
In the United States Donald Trump demanded, via his Twitter account, that the Federal Reserve have the "lowest rate" as central banks determine what support they can offer in response to the sharp falls on stock markets of last week.
They saw $5trn (£3.9trn) erased from global equity values.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 3:16 Sky’s Thomas Moore explains how countries around the world are preparing to contain COVID-19
In its assessment of the impact of the crisis, the OECD said the virus was already causing economic disruption.
It said that even in a "best case" scenario of limited outbreaks outside China, there would be a "sharp slowdown" in world growth for the first half of this year as supply chains and commodities are hit, tourism drops, and confidence falters.
That would see global GDP growth of 2.4%, down from a currently expected 2.9% - and UK growth of just 0.8%, down from 1%.
But if the impact of the virus proves longer-lasting and more intensive, it could push several economies including Japan and the euro area into recession.
Image: Tokyo's Nikkei climbed overnight
A growing number of companies are revealing an impact.
Ryanair followed rivals easyJet and IAG last week in admitting a hit to bookings but insisted on Monday it was too early to say what COVID-19 would do to its annual performance.
Meanwhile, Sky News revealed that over-50s services group Saga has put the sale of one of its holidays businesses on hold amid the crisis.
Elsewhere, the company behind currency exchange Travelex warned that first-quarter profits would be £25m lower than in the same period last year as it counts the cost of a recent cyber attack as well as the COVID-19 outbreak.
Monday's initial signs of recovery in stock markets came despite latest numbers showing the death toll from the virus rising above 3,000.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 3:17 28 Feb - Coronavirus market crash: Behind the numbers
Oil rebounded too, with the price of a barrel of Brent crude climbing 4% to $52 a barrel - having briefly fallen close to $48 overnight, its lowest level since July 2017.
That rally was in response to talk of a cut in supply by the OPEC group of oil producers to try to stabilise the market.
Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said of the market rally: "The big question is whether a single day's rebound is enough to repair damaged investor sentiment or if this is simply a dead cat bounce before fears take over again."


news--2020-02-26--Coronavirus outbreak spreads to every continent bar Antarctica

The first case of the coronavirus has been confirmed in South America as the outbreak continues to spread around the world .
Health authorities in Brazil announced on Wednesday that a man had been diagnosed with COVID-19 in Sao Paulo , meaning that the deadly infection has now reached every continent besides Antarctica .
No further details about the patient have been released , but Brazilian nationals were flown back from Wuhan - the epicentre of the virus in China - on a repatriation flight earlier this month .
The news came as the World Health Organisation warned the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the country .
For the first time , the number of new cases reported outside China has exceeded the number of new cases in China .
The crisis has deepened in Europe , with Italy confirming its twelfth death since a dramatic surge in the number of diagnoses there began last week .
Germany has admitted it was heading for a coronavirus epidemic and could no longer trace all cases .
It has already confirmed around 20 .
Greece , Georgia and North Macedonia have reported their first cases and France the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nationals , with a 60-year-old man confirmed to have died in Paris overnight .
He was the second coronavirus fatality in the country , after a Chinese national from Hubei province died last month , with health officials revealing that he had not travelled to any outbreak zones .
The Greece case was a woman who had recently travelled to northern Italy .
In the Georgia case , a man travelling from Iran , who crossed the border from neighbouring Azerbaijan , was taken to hospital from a border checkpoint .
In North @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had visited northern Italy , tested positive for the virus after having flu-like symptoms .
• British tourists are in lockdown at a Tenerife hotel after confirmed cases among guests • Some UK hospitals and GP surgeries will now test flu patients for the coronavirus • Some schools have closed after students returned from Italy ski trips with `` flu-like symptoms '' • The government has banned the export of an HIV drug and anti-malaria infection treatment so that they can be tested as potential treatments for COVID-19 • Middle East countries have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 100 cases According to experts at Johns Hopkins , who are tracking the outbreak from the US , there are now 81,191 cases worldwide and 2,768 deaths .
The figures were updated at 12.33pm UK time on Wednesday .
The spike in cases in Europe has prompted EU health commissioner Stella Kyriakides to urge all member states to inform the bloc about its preparedness plans for the virus .
She said a consistent approach to tackling the outbreak would be important to containing its spread on the continent , however she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Organisation director Tedros Adhanom has admitted that the `` sudden increase in cases '' in two northern regions in Italy was `` deeply concerning '' , as were the surges in Iran and South Korea .
In Italy at least 374 people have been infected - and the UK Foreign Office has begun advising against all but essential travel to the country 's quarantined area - a dozen towns in the Lombardy and Veneto regions .
South Korea reported 115 new cases on Wednesday , taking its total to 1,261 .
Iran has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and Russia has announced that it will stop issuing visas to Iranian citizens from 28 February .
Russia is also suspending some flights to and from South Korea from 1 March .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker Japan confirmed its third coronavirus death on Wednesday - a man in his 80s in Tokyo .
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has called for sports and cultural events to be scrapped or curtailed for two weeks in the battle to stem the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Olympics could be cancelled .
Japan has 178 cases of the infection , separate from the 691 reported on the Diamond Princess cruise ship .
Dozens of Britons who spent two weeks isolated on board were brought back to the UK over the weekend , and will spend another two weeks in quarantine at Arrowe Park Hospital on the Wirral .
Four passengers among the 30 Britons and two Irish citizens who flew back later tested positive .
There have not yet been any new cases confirmed in the UK this week , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down the country have closed or sent pupils home after they returned from ski trips in Italy .
Some businesses are also taking precautionary measures , with Chevron closing its Canary Wharf office in London to reduce employees ' risk of exposure .
Companies worldwide are warning of financial hits because of the outbreak , as global stock market values continue to decline sharply as investors digest its implications .

The first case of the coronavirus has been confirmed in South America as the outbreak continues to spread around the world.
Health authorities in Brazil announced on Wednesday that a man had been diagnosed with COVID-19 in Sao Paulo, meaning that the deadly infection has now reached every continent besides Antarctica.
No further details about the patient have been released, but Brazilian nationals were flown back from Wuhan - the epicentre of the virus in China - on a repatriation flight earlier this month.
Image: Italy's Lombardy region, which includes Milan, has been hit badly by coronavirus
The news came as the World Health Organisation warned the coronavirus is spreader faster outside mainland China than in the country.
For the first time, the number of new cases reported outside China has exceeded the number of new cases in China.
The crisis has deepened in Europe, with Italy confirming its twelfth death since a dramatic surge in the number of diagnoses there began last week.
Germany has admitted it was heading for a coronavirus epidemic and could no longer trace all cases. It has already confirmed around 20.
Greece, Georgia and North Macedonia have reported their first cases and France the first death of one of its own nationals, with a 60-year-old man confirmed to have died in Paris overnight.
He was the second coronavirus fatality in the country, after a Chinese national from Hubei province died last month, with health officials revealing that he had not travelled to any outbreak zones.
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The Greece case was a woman who had recently travelled to northern Italy.
In the Georgia case, a man travelling from Iran, who crossed the border from neighbouring Azerbaijan, was taken to hospital from a border checkpoint.
In North Macedonia, a 50-year-old woman, who had visited northern Italy, tested positive for the virus after having flu-like symptoms.
Image: People with face masks sit outside a hospital in Thessaloniki, Greece
Image: Revellers wear masks at the Nice carnival in France
In other developments:
British tourists are in lockdown at a Tenerife hotel after confirmed cases among guests
at a Tenerife hotel after confirmed cases among guests Some UK hospitals and GP surgeries will now test flu patients for the coronavirus
Some schools have closed after students returned from Italy ski trips with "flu-like symptoms"
The government has banned the export of an HIV drug and anti-malaria infection treatment so that they can be tested as potential treatments for COVID-19
Middle East countries have closed borders with Iran after it confirmed more than 100 cases
South Korea has reported 1,261 cases including a US soldier
According to experts at Johns Hopkins, who are tracking the outbreak from the US, there are now 81,191 cases worldwide and 2,768 deaths.
The figures were updated at 12.33pm UK time on Wednesday.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:37 Buses disinfected in Seoul
The spike in cases in Europe has prompted EU health commissioner Stella Kyriakides to urge all member states to inform the bloc about its preparedness plans for the virus.
She said a consistent approach to tackling the outbreak would be important to containing its spread on the continent, however she warned against panic.
But World Health Organisation director Tedros Adhanom has admitted that the "sudden increase in cases" in two northern regions in Italy was "deeply concerning", as were the surges in Iran and South Korea.
Image: Many businesses in parts of northern Italy have shuttered their doors due to coronavirus
Image: Tourists wear protective masks in Venice after the city's carnival was cancelled due to COVID-19
In Italy at least 374 people have been infected - and the UK Foreign Office has begun advising against all but essential travel to the country's quarantined area - a dozen towns in the Lombardy and Veneto regions.
South Korea reported 115 new cases on Wednesday, taking its total to 1,261.
Iran has now confirmed 139 cases and 19 deaths, and Russia has announced that it will stop issuing visas to Iranian citizens from 28 February.
Russia is also suspending some flights to and from South Korea from 1 March.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:34 Iranian minister with COVID-19 sweats on stage
:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
Japan confirmed its third coronavirus death on Wednesday - a man in his 80s in Tokyo.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has called for sports and cultural events to be scrapped or curtailed for two weeks in the battle to stem the virus, amid mounting concerns the 2020 Tokyo Olympics could be cancelled.
Japan has 178 cases of the infection, separate from the 691 reported on the Diamond Princess cruise ship.
Dozens of Britons who spent two weeks isolated on board were brought back to the UK over the weekend, and will spend another two weeks in quarantine at Arrowe Park Hospital on the Wirral.
Four passengers among the 30 Britons and two Irish citizens who flew back later tested positive.
Image: People wearing masks in the Shibuya district of Tokyo
Image: Japan has 170 confirmed cases
There have not yet been any new cases confirmed in the UK this week, but a number of schools up and down the country have closed or sent pupils home after they returned from ski trips in Italy.
Some businesses are also taking precautionary measures, with Chevron closing its Canary Wharf office in London to reduce employees' risk of exposure.
Companies worldwide are warning of financial hits because of the outbreak, as global stock market values continue to decline sharply as investors digest its implications.


news--2020-03-02--Coronavirus: Pupil diagnosed with COVID-19 as number of UK cases rises to 39

A pupil in the UK has been diagnosed with coronavirus , Sky News has learnt , as the number of cases in the country rose to 39 .
Churston Ferrers Grammar School in Torbay , Devon confirmed one of its students had tested positive for COVID-19 , the disease caused by coronavirus .
In an email to parents , the school 's headteacher Kieran Earley said the affected student was `` getting all necessary support and advice from health services '' .
`` Whilst I fully understand this will cause anxiety amongst the school community , I can assure you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minimise risk to others , '' the headteacher said .
`` The school are making arrangements for a deep clean with advice from Public Health England and will need to close to carry this out .
`` All people who have had contact with the person are being identified and will be contacted to advise whether they need to exclude themselves from school and any other action which may be required . ''
One of the UK 's leading drama schools has reportedly been shut for 14 days after it confirmed a member @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus .
The Guildhall School of Music and Drama in the City of London said a staff member had tested positive for COVID-19 and it was contacting students `` to ensure that they receive urgent appropriate advice '' .
In an update on Monday , the Department of Health said four more people in England had tested positive for COVID-19 , taking the total to 39 , with cases in all four UK countries .
England 's chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty said the latest four patients were from Hertfordshire , Devon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Italy , which is suffering the biggest outbreak in Europe .
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has warned the spread of coronavirus is `` likely '' to become `` more significant '' across the UK in the coming days and weeks .
Government sources have said it could be `` months rather than weeks '' before the outbreak in the UK peaks .
After chairing his first emergency COBRA meeting about COVID-19 , Mr Johnson said : `` We 've agreed a plan so that if and when it starts to spread , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will , we are in a position to take the steps that will be necessary . ''
The PM added that it was important that people `` go about business as usual '' for the time being , and said the country is `` very , very well-prepared '' .
It comes after Public Health England warned Britain needs to be prepared for `` more widespread transmission '' of the virus .
Professor Paul Cosford , PHE 's emeritus medical director , told Kay Burley @ Breakfast some of the new cases that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' .
The World Health Organisation said the `` window of opportunity '' to contain the outbreak is `` narrowing '' as almost nine times as many coronavirus cases were reported outside China as inside in the previous 24 hours .
• Italy 's death toll from the virus rose by 18 to 52 on Monday , with more than 2,000 confirmed cases • South Korea confirmed another 599 infections , taking its tally to more than 4,330 cases and 26 deaths • British Airways and Ryanair cancelled hundreds of flights , blaming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • The risk of coronavirus in the European Union was raised to its second highest level • An aide to Iran 's Supreme Leader died after contracting COVID-19 • The United States confirmed six people in the country have now died from the disease • Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe , the British-Iranian woman jailed in Iran , is showing `` all the symptoms '' of coronavirus but is yet to be tested , her husband said • British guests at a quarantined hotel in Tenerife were being flown back after testing negative • More than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been recorded globally and there have been more than 3,000 deaths , according to Johns Hopkins University , which is tracking the outbreak Monday 's emergency COBRA meeting was attended by senior ministers including Health Secretary Matt Hancock , as well as Professor Whitty and chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance .
Scotland 's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon also took part via a conference call .
Speaking from Edinburgh after the talks , Ms Sturgeon said a `` four-nation action plan '' would be published on Tuesday setting out the different phases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nature '' .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast with Dermot Murnaghan on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker But she stressed the UK was still in the `` contain '' phase of dealing with the virus .
`` Wash your hands is the national anthem , '' said Leader of the House of Commons , Jacob Rees-Mogg , outside the Cabinet Office .
London Mayor Sadiq Khan was excluded from the COBRA meeting , with a City source telling Sky News that people might feel `` it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ invited given the size of London .
One of the UK coronavirus cases confirmed on Monday is a worker at the North East London NHS Foundation Trust offices at Vinters Business Park near Maidstone in Kent .
The number of new UK cases is fewer than the 13 cases announced on Sunday - which included a `` family cluster '' and the first case in Scotland .
A clinician at the Mount Vernon Cancer Centre in Northwood , Middlesex , was said to be among those people diagnosed but Public Health England later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus .
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development ( OECD ) has warned the coronavirus is the gravest threat to the global economy since the 2008 financial crisis .
Sky News understands Chancellor Rishi Sunak and the Governor of the Bank of England , Mark Carney , have held discussions and work is under way on both the short-term needs and long-term preparedness in the event of economic disruption .
The government 's `` battle plan '' to tackle coronavirus includes bringing retired doctors back to work .
It is understood new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ give schools , councils and other parts of the public sector powers to suspend laws - including rowing back on health and safety measures such as allowing larger class sizes - to cope with a pandemic .
Ministers are also considering whether to encourage more home working and discourage unnecessary travel .
The strategy is based on its existing contingency plans for responding to a flu pandemic , but has been adapted to take into account the differences with COVID-19 .
In the worst-case scenario , it is feared 80 % of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to 500,000 deaths .

A pupil in the UK has been diagnosed with coronavirus, Sky News has learnt, as the number of cases in the country rose to 39.
Churston Ferrers Grammar School in Torbay, Devon confirmed one of its students had tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus.
In an email to parents, the school's headteacher Kieran Earley said the affected student was "getting all necessary support and advice from health services".
"Whilst I fully understand this will cause anxiety amongst the school community, I can assure you all necessary steps are being taken to minimise risk to others," the headteacher said.
"The school are making arrangements for a deep clean with advice from Public Health England and will need to close to carry this out.
"All people who have had contact with the person are being identified and will be contacted to advise whether they need to exclude themselves from school and any other action which may be required."
One of the UK's leading drama schools has reportedly been shut for 14 days after it confirmed a member of teaching staff had been diagnosed with coronavirus.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 3:16 How to contain a global pandemic
The Guildhall School of Music and Drama in the City of London said a staff member had tested positive for COVID-19 and it was contacting students "to ensure that they receive urgent appropriate advice".
In an update on Monday, the Department of Health said four more people in England had tested positive for COVID-19, taking the total to 39, with cases in all four UK countries.
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England's chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty said the latest four patients were from Hertfordshire, Devon and Kent and had recently travelled from Italy, which is suffering the biggest outbreak in Europe.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has warned the spread of coronavirus is "likely" to become "more significant" across the UK in the coming days and weeks.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:43 COVID-19 'likely to spread' - Boris Johnson
Government sources have said it could be "months rather than weeks" before the outbreak in the UK peaks.
After chairing his first emergency COBRA meeting about COVID-19, Mr Johnson said: "We've agreed a plan so that if and when it starts to spread, as I'm afraid it looks likely it will, we are in a position to take the steps that will be necessary."
The PM added that it was important that people "go about business as usual" for the time being, and said the country is "very, very well-prepared".
It comes after Public Health England warned Britain needs to be prepared for "more widespread transmission" of the virus.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:48 COVID-19: Who is the most vulnerable?
Professor Paul Cosford, PHE's emeritus medical director, told Kay Burley@Breakfast some of the new cases that could emerge might be "quite challenging".
The World Health Organisation said the "window of opportunity" to contain the outbreak is "narrowing" as almost nine times as many coronavirus cases were reported outside China as inside in the previous 24 hours.
In other developments:
Italy's death toll from the virus rose by 18 to 52 on Monday, with more than 2,000 confirmed cases
South Korea confirmed another 599 infections, taking its tally to more than 4,330 cases and 26 deaths
British Airways and Ryanair cancelled hundreds of flights, blaming reduced demand due to the coronavirus outbreak
and Ryanair cancelled hundreds of flights, blaming reduced demand due to the coronavirus outbreak The risk of coronavirus in the European Union was raised to its second highest level
was raised to its second highest level An aide to Iran's Supreme Leader died after contracting COVID-19
The United States confirmed six people in the country have now died from the disease
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, the British-Iranian woman jailed in Iran, is showing "all the symptoms" of coronavirus but is yet to be tested, her husband said
British guests at a quarantined hotel in Tenerife were being flown back after testing negative
More than 89,000 confirmed and suspected cases of COVID-19 have been recorded globally and there have been more than 3,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University, which is tracking the outbreak
Monday's emergency COBRA meeting was attended by senior ministers including Health Secretary Matt Hancock, as well as Professor Whitty and chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance.
Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon also took part via a conference call.
Speaking from Edinburgh after the talks, Ms Sturgeon said a "four-nation action plan" would be published on Tuesday setting out the different phases to tackle "an infection of this nature".
:: Listen to the Daily podcast with Dermot Murnaghan on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
But she stressed the UK was still in the "contain" phase of dealing with the virus.
"Wash your hands is the national anthem," said Leader of the House of Commons, Jacob Rees-Mogg, outside the Cabinet Office.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan was excluded from the COBRA meeting, with a City source telling Sky News that people might feel "it is a bit strange" he was not invited given the size of London.
One of the UK coronavirus cases confirmed on Monday is a worker at the North East London NHS Foundation Trust offices at Vinters Business Park near Maidstone in Kent.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:53 COVID-19: Are we heading for a global recession?
The number of new UK cases is fewer than the 13 cases announced on Sunday - which included a "family cluster" and the first case in Scotland.
A clinician at the Mount Vernon Cancer Centre in Northwood, Middlesex, was said to be among those people diagnosed but Public Health England later said they had tested negative for the virus.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has warned the coronavirus is the gravest threat to the global economy since the 2008 financial crisis.
Sky News understands Chancellor Rishi Sunak and the Governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney, have held discussions and work is under way on both the short-term needs and long-term preparedness in the event of economic disruption.
The government's "battle plan" to tackle coronavirus includes bringing retired doctors back to work.
It is understood new emergency powers will be brought in to give schools, councils and other parts of the public sector powers to suspend laws - including rowing back on health and safety measures such as allowing larger class sizes - to cope with a pandemic.
Ministers are also considering whether to encourage more home working and discourage unnecessary travel.
The strategy is based on its existing contingency plans for responding to a flu pandemic, but has been adapted to take into account the differences with COVID-19.
In the worst-case scenario, it is feared 80% of the population could contract the virus, with up to 500,000 deaths.
Virus Outbreak: Global Emergency - Watch a special Sky News programme on coronavirus at 6pm weekdays.


news--2020-03-02--Coronavirus: PM to hold COVID-19 Cobra meeting as UK cases soar

Boris Johnson will warn ministers coronavirus presents a `` significant challenge '' at an emergency Cobra meeting on Monday as the number of UK cases soared , including a `` family cluster '' .
The prime minister will finalise the government 's new battle plan to tackle the spread of COVID-19 following a weekend in which the number of infected people climbed to 36 , with cases now in all four UK countries .
Mr Johnson has faced criticism for waiting until Monday to chair the meeting in which he will lay out coronavirus contingency plans that could include banning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus cases around the world is rising every day - and the UK is no exception , '' he is set to tell the meeting .
`` There now seems little doubt that it will present a significant challenge for our country .
`` But we are well prepared , and the government and the NHS will stop at nothing to fight this virus . ''
• Some 11,715 people in the UK have been tested • Several UK schools will not open on Monday over fears of COVID-19 contact , but advice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Some British tourists who have been in quarantine at a hotel in Tenerife , Spain , arrived back in the UK on Sunday • British passengers trapped on the Braemar cruise ship at sea , docked by the Caribbean island of St Maarten after being denied entry to the Dominican Republic , will be flown back to the UK • The Dominican Republic reported its first case , an Italian man , and the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe reported three cases • In Italy , 34 people have now died from COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1,694 confirmed cases • France 's Louvre Museum in Paris is shut after staff voted to close it Senior ministers , chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty and chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance will all attend the Cobra meeting .
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is also expected to be there after a person from Tayside , near Dundee - who had recently returned from Italy - was diagnosed with COVID-19 on Sunday .
Another 12 cases were also confirmed in England , making it the largest jump in cases the UK has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 12 are adults related to a man from Haslemere , Surrey , who tested positive on Friday - becoming the first person to be infected within the UK .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker Dr James Mapstone , acting regional director for the south of England for Public Health England ( PHE ) , said : `` PHE is providing specialist advice to local authority partners around two confirmed cases in Surrey and two in West Sussex .
`` The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family cluster .
We are aware of the people they have been in contact with and we are making contact with those people to issue appropriate advice and steps to take if they start to feel unwell . ''
Another new patient , from Essex , had also not recently travelled to an infected area , Prof Whitty said .
He added that investigations are ongoing into whether the patient had contracted it `` directly or indirectly '' from someone who had recently travelled abroad .
One of the 12 patients is from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Italy .
Three of the cases were in West Yorkshire , including two from Leeds who became infected in Iran , while one is from Bradford who had been in Italy .
Two of the new patients are from Hertfordshire , one is from London and the other is from Gloucestershire and linked to a member of staff at St Mary 's Primary School in Tetbury , who was identified on Saturday after returning from northern Italy .
A staff member at Willow Bank Infant School in Berkshire was confirmed to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Department of Health announced every department will have a ministerial lead on the virus and a `` war room '' is being set up to roll out an enhanced public information campaign .
Emergency powers designed to restrict COVID-19 if it becomes endemic , due to be announced this week , would only be `` temporary '' , said Health Secretary Matt Hancock .
He confirmed that `` population distancing measures '' , such as banning public gatherings and cancelling football matches , could be considered by the government , while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Foreign Office confirmed that non-essential staff , as well as dependants , are to be pulled out of the British Embassy in Tehran .

Boris Johnson will warn ministers coronavirus presents a "significant challenge" at an emergency Cobra meeting on Monday as the number of UK cases soared, including a "family cluster".
The prime minister will finalise the government's new battle plan to tackle the spread of COVID-19 following a weekend in which the number of infected people climbed to 36, with cases now in all four UK countries.
Mr Johnson has faced criticism for waiting until Monday to chair the meeting in which he will lay out coronavirus contingency plans that could include banning public gatherings.
Image: The prime minister was shown a map of Italy's infected areas as 13 new patients were identified in the UK on Sunday
"The number of coronavirus cases around the world is rising every day - and the UK is no exception," he is set to tell the meeting.
"There now seems little doubt that it will present a significant challenge for our country.
"But we are well prepared, and the government and the NHS will stop at nothing to fight this virus."
Latest coronavirus developments:
Some 11,715 people in the UK have been tested
Several UK schools will not open on Monday over fears of COVID-19 contact, but advice is for them not to close
Some British tourists who have been in quarantine at a hotel in Tenerife, Spain, arrived back in the UK on Sunday
British passengers trapped on the Braemar cruise ship at sea, docked by the Caribbean island of St Maarten after being denied entry to the Dominican Republic, will be flown back to the UK
The Dominican Republic reported its first case, an Italian man, and the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe reported three cases
In Italy, 34 people have now died from COVID-19, including five on Sunday, with 1,694 confirmed cases
France's Louvre Museum in Paris is shut after staff voted to close it
Senior ministers, chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty and chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance will all attend the Cobra meeting.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is also expected to be there after a person from Tayside, near Dundee - who had recently returned from Italy - was diagnosed with COVID-19 on Sunday.
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Another 12 cases were also confirmed in England, making it the largest jump in cases the UK has seen in one day.
Three of the 12 are adults related to a man from Haslemere, Surrey, who tested positive on Friday - becoming the first person to be infected within the UK.
:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
Dr James Mapstone, acting regional director for the south of England for Public Health England (PHE), said: "PHE is providing specialist advice to local authority partners around two confirmed cases in Surrey and two in West Sussex.
"The four cases are part of an adult family cluster. We are aware of the people they have been in contact with and we are making contact with those people to issue appropriate advice and steps to take if they start to feel unwell."
Another new patient, from Essex, had also not recently travelled to an infected area, Prof Whitty said.
He added that investigations are ongoing into whether the patient had contracted it "directly or indirectly" from someone who had recently travelled abroad.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:19 Johnson: We're prepared for coronavirus
One of the 12 patients is from Bury, Greater Manchester and was infected in Italy.
Three of the cases were in West Yorkshire, including two from Leeds who became infected in Iran, while one is from Bradford who had been in Italy.
Two of the new patients are from Hertfordshire, one is from London and the other is from Gloucestershire and linked to a member of staff at St Mary's Primary School in Tetbury, who was identified on Saturday after returning from northern Italy.
A staff member at Willow Bank Infant School in Berkshire was confirmed to have tested positive on Saturday.
On Sunday, the Department of Health announced every department will have a ministerial lead on the virus and a "war room" is being set up to roll out an enhanced public information campaign.
Image: A woman wears a face mask on the London Underground
Emergency powers designed to restrict COVID-19 if it becomes endemic, due to be announced this week, would only be "temporary", said Health Secretary Matt Hancock.
He confirmed that "population distancing measures", such as banning public gatherings and cancelling football matches, could be considered by the government, while closing schools may be "necessary".
The Foreign Office confirmed that non-essential staff, as well as dependants, are to be pulled out of the British Embassy in Tehran.
Virus Outbreak: Global Emergency - Watch a special Sky News programme on coronavirus at 6pm weekdays