The United States is stepping up efforts to combat the spread of the corona virus and its Economic Impacts 2 of its largest cities new york and los angeles have already ordered the shutdown of bars and restaurants and the Federal Reserve bank has stepped in to provide relief for businesses but officials are warning that the worst is yet to come out of there as alan fischer reports. From the president of the United States words aimed at comforting americans relax were doing great it all will pass moments later from the man heading the dr against the virus a starkly different message the worst is yet to head for us it is how we respond to that challenge the number of confirmed cases in the u. S. Is no more than 3000 states are shutting down bars and restaurants curfews are starting to be introduced. Face of america is changing at airports as the extended european travel ban kicks in here the. Staff carrying out Health Screenings have been overwhelmed the governor of illinois blamed a Trump Administration for a lack of planning and foresight he didnt get the response he wanted well heres what i got i got a call at about 11 oclock last night after that tweet from a white house staffer who yelled at me about the tweet the administration at its no Daily Briefing admitted mistakes where me the lines again that we saw overnight at a limited number of airports including chicago are unexceptable weve adjusted our processes we continue to surge personnel at the same briefing when asked how many ventilators the u. S. Had to help patients with breathing difficulties the government secretary in charge said this we dont disclose concrete numbers on particular items for National Security purposes but we have many ventilators thousands and thousands of ventilators and a quick internet search reveals one study says the number is there and 160000 Americas Central Bank has also cut Interest Rates to almost 0 to try and protect the economy the most dramatic intervention since the Global Financial crisis in 2008 theres a clear that even when the medical recovery begins the financial shock will be felt for a very long time. The 2 leading contenders for the democratic president ial nomination faced off in washington in the latest debate a new audience and both make it 6 feet apart neither convinced the trumpet ministration is on top of the crisis 1st thing we have got to do but were not on president has to shut this president up right now because thing is undermining the doctors and the scientists who are trying to help the American People this is a crisis this is like we are being attacked from abroad this is something that is of great consequence this is like a war and in a war you do whatever is needed to be done to take care of your people here. This is no trump it would not be a significant election issue alan fischer. China has reported its lowest number of new infections for the pandemic is having a major impact on the worlds 2nd largest economy figures just out show that production and its factories fell by a record 13 and a half percent in february of the regional shutdown of shopping malls and other businesses as led to a 20. 5 percent drop in retail sales economists warn that recovery may be slow as the outbreak is likely to hinder a rebound in imports. Mcbride is in south Koreas Capital where the infection numbers are also dropping but 1st lets go to beijing to see this katrina you can tell us more and no surprise really that the coronavirus katrina is having a huge impact on chinas economy. Oh i just studied see the extent of that impact as you mentioned earlier industrial output is down by 13. 5 percent thats the biggest slumps as records began another big important figure that weve just heard is 6 invest a fixed investment and that is down 24. 5 percent that number has not slumped by that much since the Global Financial crisis retail consumption is also down about 20 percent and unemployment is up now we knew this was going to have a big effect because essentially this corner Virus Outbreak brought china to a standstill for the entire month of february this is really supposed to be a time of celebration and a time of spending it and it was anything but the Chinese Government are under a lot of pressure understandably to kick start the economy get things going again and they ahd downplaying these numbers saying that the chinese economy can recover and it will recover quickly in the 2nd quarter and they said also that chinas industrial capacity is now back up to 80 percent but its been very slow going on that front the number of new cases in china is falling now authorities seem to be concerned about the virus being imported back into the country what sort of measures are they putting into place to deal with that. Thats right so today Chinas Foreign Ministry in the last few hours has just said that the biggest threat in terms of containing this corner Virus Outbreak in china is now coming from abroad and weve seen for today its been one of the 1st days where the number of cases imported vastly outnumber is the number of cases infected locally so weve had 4 cases of people infected in the epicenter of the outbreak the 12 cases have been imported in beijing there are 6 cases 4 people brought the virus from spain and 2 people came from the u. K. Now china is really ramping up measures to tighten up this process of people coming from International Destinations coming into beijing this now undergo a compulsory 2 week quarantine period at a designated Government Hotel or Quarantine Center and theyre supposed to also a foot the bill for that quarantine period themselves and thats different from previous times the government has paid for that quarantine period but they seem to be sending the message to stay away from china if you can shanghai its less strict people coming into shanghai from other countries will instead be met at the airport by a Police Escort and theyll be escorted to their homes or true their hotel and the compound team or the managers of that compound will be told to keep an eye out on these people make sure theyre not leaving their homes for 2 weeks very much the government is trying to keep a handle on this but weve also heard today that in a press conference that they ging receives 20000 International Arrivals a day so it will be difficult to see how this is implemented but at the same time the government has also introduced new laws saying that people who do not comply by these measures can Face Criminal Charges in fact they can face up to 6 years in prison for trying to circumvent these restrictions so the government as we heard before the economy is taking a hit the government very much wants people to go back to normal life in the trying to really manage this delicate balance between getting people back to work and making sure that the. Break doesnt grow again so are they doing to bet their best manners this and those new restrictions are part of that plan as katrina you reporting live from beijing many thanks indeed katrina lets go live to seoul and to rob a bride so as china is concerned about people bringing the disease back into the country the same is true for south korea what sort of measures that the authorities theyre taking to deal with that. Absolutely i mean as south korea believes its with some confidence that it is now on top of its own outbreak the real concern is obviously importing reinfection from areas of the world that are now considered to be more contagious and when you talk about those areas then youre talking specifically about your up it already there are strict measures for arrivals from certain European Countries these are now being extended to all arrivals from europe and as this goes on south korea is looking at maybe putting its screening measures to all arrivals and it is taking an interesting approach unlike other countries that are just putting a blanket ban in place or banning people from certain countries or telling people yes you can come in but you got to do your 2 weeks of quarantine and were going to make sure you do it south korea is taking what many might regard as a slightly smarter more proactive flexible approach really relying upon technology and know how and what they do is as people come in they are screened of points of entry and have all the usual checks the temperature taken and fill out fill out the questionnaire and then all the arrivals are told ok lets see your device whether its your smartphone or your tablet to make sure it works its going to can we reach you here in south korea when we let you pass through and start walking the walk in the streets and also before you go you download this app and they have introduced this measure where everybody over these new arrivals from highly contagious places like europe have to download their app which basically monitors their health for that all important 2 week period every day they have to enter into the app of their things like temperature symptoms and so on if you dont enter it then you get a follow up phone call from officials to follow up so it is a slightly more flexible way and the whole idea is rather than closing borders keeping borders open thats the south korean approach. Rob mcbride reporting live from seoul many thanks rob but countries across europe are tightening restrictions to try to combat the growing a virus with germany the latest to introduce border controls the u. K. Is also set to announce what it calls extraordinary interventions that after a 25 percent increase in corona virus deaths in italy 368. 00 people died on sunday but in the total over 1800. 00 thousands of new cases are being reported across the continent which has now become the center of the pandemic this go live to london aljazeera is lawrence lee can tell us more lauren starting with the border controls that have been introduced. Yes and you see the central problem really the europe has against other parts of the worlds is its prized Free Movement particularly shandons own clearly is one things shutting down peoples ability to fly to countries but they can still drive through open borders all over europe and that starts a massive problem and it does explain why places like spain and france are now locking down a whole cities germanys talking potentially about shutting its borders by lands not not in the air but but it but its land borders of the countries because in a thats thats the way that is going to be transmitted across the European Union is be pulled driving across if they cant fly and the central problem clearly here as as with everywhere else is how do you similar taney asli insists that people stay at home while of the same time stopping business collapsing entirely under staging the show you have of just a couple headlines from here from the u. K. But there is also the same everywhere this is what the city of london is waking up to the Small Business on the brink airlines Hospitality Industry train operators calling for state support they call it an existential crisis for baseless and heres the times of london banks acting to save the World Economy from the pandemic talking about the states putting Interest Rates down to 0 and on to print money again last summer so that of course for 2008 when the banks went down and its it is its potentially catastrophic obviously for the whole the old businesses and the really most startling and gloomy prognosis came in british it with this morning weve got a leak from the u. K. Helpful for it says which suggests its not as the chinese seem to think is we just had a reporter there saying that things might pick up in the 2nd quarter they seem to think this pandemic will carry on for the whole of this year and into next spring might depend for the summer when its all its about will then come back again in the autumn and so it raises all sorts. Severely impossible questions to answer for governments as to how you similar tennessee manage the number of deaths that thats going to cause were stopping capitalism and business from collapsing completely. There are as many thanks natives there is lawrence lee there live in london. Were going to weather update next here on aljazeera then well tell you why protesters are blocking a major highway in syrias province as russian and turkish troops begin joint patrols and israels president turns to the opposition to form the next government and end the year of political uncertainty. Hello spain seems to forgotten which months it is were going backwards in time although the weather still coming in from the atlantic there has recently been quite development in the bay of biscay and that area of low pressure now the northerly means the temperature at its height on monday will be 11 in madrid with snow on the hills all right this is coldest on the obviously and in contrast is at least warm elsewhere in europe almost all of you the suns out in sarajevo for example at 14 degrees and in moscow will be plus 6 with an moscows had a warm winter still potentially some snow in the Baltic States but by no means is extreme now in turkeys different story back down to 4 anchor not only breeze snow once again in turkey which will move slowly eastwards during tuesday the picture in spain on chooses a little bit better this rain no the oil over the place in the mediterranean coast the tempter madrid at least has come up a little bit and snow stops falling. Now the story which has gone away for egypt now thats temporarily ok weve got an onshore breeze downstream morocco as you can see but temperature wise apart from. Rabat were ok on the mediterranean coast fact its quite warm places the breeze at the interior something of a circulation in algeria its really surprisingly warm in tunis and tripoli despite the breeze. From. The u. S. The fact finders accused by. I mean the military of genocide this is the political if you think. Do you believe that under modi is a fascist oh poor child dont have all gone they. Wouldnt go the recognize the both sides have the judum of grievances against the other Climate Justice is the foundation of Climate Action and that is why the palookas must face. To face with up. On aljazeera. Rule. The world war the world. Again this is al jazeera lets for much of the main news this hour restaurants and bars in new york and los angeles are being closed as the u. S. Steps up its efforts to the Coronavirus Centers for Disease Control is recommending against Mass Gatherings of 50 people. There outbreaks having a major impact on chinas economy manufacturing in the past month has dropped to the lowest level in decades and retail spending is down more than 20 percent italy has reported its largest daily increase in deaths with 368 on sunday thousands of new cases were reported across europe which has become the new epicenter of the pandemic. One of irans top government officials has died after suffering covert 19 hes the most high profile person to die in the country where there are concerns that the pandemic could overwhelm Health Facilities in the countrys economy is struggling there are now nearly 14000 confirmed cases iran is believed to have 110000 hospital beds 30000 of those in the capital tehran the country is already under pressure because of u. S. Sanctions the government has asked the International Monetary fund for 5000000000. 00 in emergency funding and president Hassan Rouhani has offered low interest loans and cash handouts to try to ease the financial burden on millions of households 0 same bus driver reports now from tehran that the government wants young people especially to take the risk of infection seriously. The statements in the briefings that come from the Health Ministry from the Coronavirus Task force set up by president Hassan Rouhani have become fairly routine weeks into this outbreak here in iran but there was a highlight today that certainly will have many younger people sitting up and taking notice the Health Official with the Task Force Said that 15 percent of those that have died so far in iran are categorized as younger patients and he said that they exhibited no signs of previous respiratory conditions or any other illnesses so certainly this could be an anomaly we dont have any verification for whether or not this is the case but this official suggested hes not the 1st one to do so that the virus in iran is quote deadlier and wilder than cases that have been observed in other parts of the world so certainly a worrying trend the virus as you said was already a concern for irans aging population but this is a country with a very Large Youth Population the majority of the country is considered to be in the category of younger people the median age is 31 and for them this will certainly add to the woes that iran has been experiencing as the government tries to combat the spread of this virus a cruise ship carrying more than a 1000 people are set to dock in cuba in the next few being turned away from multiple ports in the caribbean that are 5 confirmed cases of coronavirus on board the n. S. Braemar many 40 passengers and crew showing symptoms have been isolated the british cruise ship at been stuck at sea for more than a week trying to dock in the bahamas over the weekend but was refused entry on jura says running out tough new measures to combat the pandemic the country which has at least 6 cases to clear the red alerts of this band public gatherings of call them 50 people for the next 2 weeks that it catered medical centers will be set up and south africas president has warned that the number of infections there is likely to rise there are 61 cases now in new travel restrictions for people from high risk countries and new screening measures at airports schools will be closed for at least 2 weeks. Kenya has banned all travel from countries with confirmed cases of the virus president to her kenyatta says that citizens and residents will still be allowed in but only if they isolate themselves for up to 2 weeks at home or in a government facility there are now 3 confirmed cases in kenya in other days an explosion near the oil pipeline in nigeria has killed at least 17 people it happened in lagos where it injured more than 60 people and destroyed dozens of homes emergency workers say that it was caused by a truck that caught fire near a pipeline that had previously been targeted by oil fiefs. Russia and turkey have been holding joint military patrols in syria to monitor a cease fire in the last rebel held stronghold of the province thats despite backing opposing sides in syrias war which is now into its 10th year 07 course the early reports from istanbul. The syrian protesters in the town of oh my rob and i dont want turkish or Russian Troops in their area the 2 military powers are patrolling a section of the m 4 highway about the federation was stopped after dozens of activists who oppose the russian presence and that blocked the highway. There are numbers were here to send a clear message to the russians and the turks we will not open the road unless assad forces and russian militias withdrawal isnt even enough they killed the displaced us. The joint patrols are part of an agreement struck between russian president Vladimir Putin and the turkish later richest safeguard john during their meeting in moscow earlier this month the deal is also expected to set up a security corps or the 16 kilometers north and south am for highway that connects latakia to surat. But since sunday is the 9th anniversary of the syrian war there is heightened tension. Its the 2nd day of protest on its highway its the anniversary of our revolution for 9 years weve suffered the regimes massacres we dont care about agreement we will not allow russians here they should get out of our country the fighting going to live has been catastrophically for the people. Nearly 1000000 syrians have fled their homes since the government backed by russia began its latest offensive last december its happened despite a deal back in 2018 that turned into what their school ations own supposedly clear from acts of aggression most of the people who have a scaped have now crowded at the Turkish Border turkey old red horse more than 3600000 Syrian Refugees the crisis nearly led to a direct conflict between turkey and russia especially after the Syrian Government carried out on their strike in the late last month that killed dozens of turkish soldiers on the quran responded with drone strikes in order to load a fire that killed hundreds of pro Syrian Government forces and destroyed over a 100 Armored Vehicles many ceasefires have common gone and of that some even lasted less than 24 hours turkey and russia insists they still want to preserve the latest cease fire lets fight supporting opposing sides in the conflict it is unclear how they will achieve this but the rebels are worried about losing their last stronghold in syria and flush us a stroke is that using its influence to control the opposition fighters most of whom most call accuses of being terrorists see an anchor solo aljazeera a stumble. Israels president has to ask Opposition Leader benny gantz to form a new government ahead of Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu its the latest attempt to break the nations political deadlock after 3 inconclusive Election Results whether here are a force that reports now from west to. Go should be Benjamin Netanyahu began the day adopting some of the coronavirus measures he denounced the night before the fewer than 10 ministers at the Cabinet Meeting the Prime Minister joining by video he received confirmation of his corruption trial due to start on tuesday had been pushed back by the Health Crisis for more than 2 months but the decisive moves were brewing at the home of the president ruben rivlin as he received recommendations for Prime Minister from newly elected factions in Israels Parliament netanyahu could is proposing a 6 month emergency unity government with netanyahu in charge or a 4 year rotational deal in which he serves for the 1st 2 blue and white Opposition Leader benny gantz hasnt ruled out some kind of a deal which several members of his alliance are reported to favor but hes also been working on legislation to stop an indicted politician netanyahu from forming an administration and dances own hopes of leading a minority government would boosted by the recommendations of all 15 members of the mainly palestinian israeli joint list grouping be made of the gun if dance or netanyahu decide to form a National Unity government or an emergency one we will be the Main Objective as if gans wants to form a Center Left Government then we will recommend gantz with the support to have met knows former ally and now bitter rival Avigdor Lieberman has 61 recommendations to netanyahu 58 that doesnt mean the benny gantz will now automatically be able to form a government there are some in his own party that dont favor a Minority Administration relying on the outside support of palestinian israeli members of parliament and there is considerable pressure from many quarters for a National Unity government at a time when the country is facing a health. And economic crisis in occupied East JerusalemMuslim Leaders of the al aqsa mosque compound closed the mosque and the dome of the rock allowing worshippers to pray early in the courtyard across israel sunday was day one of a sweeping new set of restrictions Entertainment Venues shut down workers told to stay home if they can new digital tracking authorized to trace and slow contagion low income worried about grim worried about the polls the holes in the late on sunday president rivlin trying to persuade guns and netanyahu to unite in the face of the coronavirus and prevent israel from going into a 4th election the president s prescription is clear but so far the 2 would be Prime Ministers remain divided are a force at aljazeera west jerusalem spains king philip the 6th has renounced a future personal inheritance that he could see from his father the decision was made after accusations of financial irregularities that involved the former monarch King Juan Carlos the 1st on saturday a british newspaper the telegraph reported that king philip was named as a beneficiary of an offshore fund that controls a swiss account with a reported 72000000. 00 it also claimed that the money again gifted to his father from saudi arabia. The 1st man ever convicted by the International Criminal court has been released from prison supporters gathered outside the jail in the capital of the democratic republic of congo to greet Thomas Lubanga was found guilty in 2012 of recruiting child soldiers Laura Burton Manley reports. To his supporters Thomas Lubanga left mcculloch prison and. The 2 others he was considered one of the most dangerous move in whats now the democratic republic of congo. You know me better than these 3 International Criminal court judges who tried to present me as a devil i remain Thomas Lubanga who suffered with you in 20022003 during these conflicts and who turi i remain the same to you my people and that is what militia this young girl was among many who was taken from have family trained and forced to fight in the 2nd congress will was. The head is a militia called the union of congolese patriots all the u. P. C. One of 6 groups involved in fighting for control of the mineral rich to marry region between 19092003. He was later found guilty of abducting children under the age of 15 and forcing him to fight he denied the charge. 10th of july 2012 and historic moment for the i. C. C. Its 1st ever case arrest and trial vanga. Recruit train and use hundreds of Young Children to kill. Billets and rape the city banker is sentenced to a total period of 14 years in prison lubanga showed no emotion as the presiding judge read out the verdict a 14 year sentence that would be backdated to the time of his detention a few years later he was ordered to pay 10000000. 00 in compensation to the families affected a fine his lawyers say he could never afford aid groups estimate that around 5 and a half 1000000 people died as a result of the congolese war between 19882007 thats more than any other conflict since world war 2 all possibility. If we do believe that the release of Thomas Lubanga would result in some issues related to the current security situations and it tory because he was among people who were fighting for our peace and security and it was the reason. Supportive consider his release a sign of hope in an unstable region but after being found guilty of functioning masochism forcing children to war many others would not welcome his new found freedom. Laura garza manly out is there are. That is good to have you with us hello adrian figure here in doha the headlines and i was there are restaurants and bars in new york and los angeles are being closed as the u. S. Steps up its efforts to curb the corona virus the centers for Disease Control is recommending against Mass Gatherings of more than 50 people President Donald Trump americas to avoid panic buying he says the supply chain remains healthy. You dont have to buy so much take it easy just relax people are going in there buying more of the i remember i guess during the conversation doug of walmart said that they buy more than they buy christmas relax were doing great it will pay us support its lowest number of new infections but the outbreaks having a major impact on its economy manufacturing in the past month has dropped to the lowest level in decades and retail spending is down more than 20 percent south korea says that its looking to impose strict to quarantine measures on travelers coming into the country or more than 8000. 00 cases in south korea but the number of new reported infections appears to be slowing its only has reported its largest daily increase in deaths 368. 00 more people died on sunday thousands of new cases were reported across Europe Germany has introduced border controls with austria denmark france luxembourg and switzerland in a bid to stem the spread of the virus only those with a valid reason to travel across the border commuters and delivery drivers are being allowed through a cruise ship carrying more than 1000 people are set to dock in cuba after being rejected by multiple ports in the caribbean and a 5 confirmed cases on board the m. S. Braemar about 40 passengers and crew showing symptoms of an isolated the british cruise ship have been stuck at sea for more than a week and already has an explosion near an oil pipeline in nigeria has killed at least 16 people and destroyed dozens of buildings at least 60 people injured in the 1st man ever to be convicted by the International Criminal court has been released from prison Thomas Lubanga was greeted by supporters as he was driven out of jail in the democratic republic of congos capital kinshasa theres the headlines the news continues here on aljazeera after upfront which is next. Whats behind the recent tensions between pakistan and india weve given them the opportunity to. But. Its not just politics its the you can walk and lots of people. Foreign minister shop Mahmood Qureshi talks to aljazeera. Today on the front its now officially a pandemic so how do you stop the spread of the corona virus and a year on from the massacre of muslims in christchurch how big is the threat from white nationalism. The coronavirus has now hit every continent except antarctica on wednesday the World Health Organization officially declared it a pandemic so how do we stop it to discuss this im joined by Eric Feingold being an epidemiologist and visiting scientist at Harvard Health economist and a fellow at the federation of american scientists eric thanks for being on the show very rarely do we have a story like