This is bbc news im clive myrie. The headlines at 11 00 all of italy has now been placed in quarantine in repsonse to the outbreak of coronavirus its the most drastic response so far to the outbreak. Stock markets around the world have fallen sharply on concerns over the corona virus, and a price war over oil. In downing street, borisjohnson and the governments main Health Advisers warn that the uk will soon need more robust measures. Probably within the next 10 14 days we should move into a situation where we say everybody who has even minor respiratory Tract Infections ora
minor respiratory Tract Infections or a fever should be self isolating for seven days afterwards. In edinburgh the former first minister alex salmond goes on trial he denies carrying out a series of Sexual Assaults on 10 women. A chinese firm has completed its takeover of British Steel, safeguarding more than 3,000 jobs in the north east of england. And at 11 30, well be taking an in depth look at the papers with our reviewers the broadcaster and author, John Kampfner and the deputy leader writer at the sun, 0livia utley. Good evening. The italian Prime Minister has announced restrictions on Movement Across the entire country in the most drastic response yet to the spread of the coronavirus. The measures include a ban on all public gatherings
and all schools and universities will be closed. Giuseppe conte said the measures were necessary to defend the most fragile members of the community and declared that the best thing for italians to do was to stay at home. This evening, the Foreign Office has warned british residents against all non essential travels to the all of italy. The death toll has risen by nearly 100 in the past 2a hours. There are more than 9,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus. 0ur correspondent mark lowen has the latest from bologna. The virus is outpacing attempts to control it. Bologna was today out of the red zone. No longer. Italy, all of it, is now under the most severe restrictions since the second world war. Public transport will still run, but the Prime Minister has told people to stay at home, except for urgent need. Translation the right decision is to stay home. 0urfuture is in our hands. We must be responsible. There will be no more red zones, no more zones one and two. The entire italy will be under protection. We will avoid movements across the entire country. Applying for false permits to move around will be a criminal offence. Schools and universities are closed until early april. All sports matches are cancelled. Italy is now a laboratory for how to stop this virus and ease the pressure on doctors like eleanor. Translation its an emergency situation. I may be asked to work in a department where theres more need. Weve never faced anything like this and were not ready. One of europes best Health Systems is creaking under the weight, seriously short of space in intensive care. All medical staff leave has been cancelled. We got through to a doctor
in quarantined milan. It is very difficult to forecast when we will see the breakpoint or the peak of the epidemic. We are near to the collapse in the most organised part of the country. New measures to limit visiting rights caused riots in prisons today. Several inmates escaped, seven died. A microcosm of the drastic pressure italy is now under. The virus surging, an economy battered and now nationwide quarantines. Its a combustible mix. Mark lowen reporting. Stock markets around the world have fallen sharply with share values marking the worst day since the financial crisis of 2008. Trading was briefly suspended in the United States because of the turbulence. It followed a drop in oil prices which compounded the growing economic concerns around coronavirus. 0ur economics editor faisal islam reports. Bell rings the opening bell at the new york stock exchange. The smiles didnt last. Trading having to be halted after just four minutes, in which time the dowjones index tumbled 7 , or nearly 2,000 points. A market thats full of anxiety about the potential economic global slowdown, due to the virus, which i dont even think weve seen yet, and you end up with a perfect storm. Thats what we have in there today. It was part of the knock on effect of the global spread of coronavirus to 100 countries around the world. Global falls started in asia, spreading to europe where italian markets slumped 11 today, german markets were down 8 and in the uk, the ftse 100 also tumbled 8 , the sharpest fall since the financial crisis a decade ago. These extraordinary moves in Global Stock Markets matter notjust because of the impact on your pensions and investments. There are impacts on government budgets and business spending too. There were also historic moves
in connected markets such as oil and in government borrowing too. And all this matters because of what it reveals right now. Understandable uncertainty about the actual outbreak of the virus. But unpredicted consequences of how nations respond economically and diplomatically. Todays moves were triggered by a collapse in oil prices after Top Oil Producers saudi arabia and russia fell out over the impact of the virus leading to slumping demand for oil. Both are now pumping crude into the market. President trump blamed that spat and the fake news for the sharp drops, adding it was good news for consumers filling up their cars. But todays fall does suggest a scepticism that World Leaders have got a grip of the crisis. Markets dont have much confidence that governments and Central Banks are going to be able to support the economy through this coronavirus epidemic. I think there is a worry that Central Banks dont have too much scope to cut interest rates, and there is a concern that governments will be too slow to stimulate the economy. This is notjust a trading panic. The markets asking Big Questions about not only the speed and effectiveness of efforts to contain the virus and its economic impact, but also uncomfortable trade offs between the two. Faisal islam, bbc news. Here in the uk, a fifth person has died of coronavirus on the day the government outlined the latest stage of its response to the crisis. The chief medical adviser for england warned that anyone showing even minor signs of respiratory Tract Infections or a fever will soon be told to isolate themselves for seven days. Its the next stage of tackling the outbreak which is set to spread in a significant way within the coming fortnight. As of today, there were 319 confirmed cases in the uk. Almost 25,000 people have been tested. 0ur Health Editor hugh pym has the latest. Tonights message from downing street events may be moving fast but theyre taking their time working out the right types of intervention to be used to try to stem the tide of the coronavirus. While its absolutely critical, its absolutely critical in managing the spread of this virus that we take the right decisions at the right time based on the latest and best evidence, so we mustnt do things which have no, or a limited, medical benefit, nor things which could turn out actually to be counter productive. But officials announced one significant change to advise likely in the near future. We are now very close to the time, probably within the next 10 14 days, when the modelling would imply we should move to a situation where we say, everybody who has even minor respiratory Tract Infections, or a fever, should be self isolating
for seven days afterwards. Two more patients in the uk have died with the coronavirus one in their 70s at new cross hospital, part of the Royal Wolverhampton trust, the other an individual at the epsom and st helier trust. Both had Underlying Health problems. Elsewhere in europe, italy faces a huge challenge with the whole country now effectively under quarantine. But other countries have seen a surge in case numbers. In france, there have been more than 1,200, with 19 deaths. There is now a ban on all gatherings of more than 1,000 people. In germany, case numbers are above 1,100, and two have died. The government is also considering stopping large public events. Spain has seen nearly 980 cases and 25 deaths. Madrids authorities have closed schools and universities for two weeks. 0ne expert told me she thought the uks response without any such
bans or closures was welljudged so far, but the european figures could be a sign of troubled times ahead. These are countries that we would anticipate as being able to contain a virus like this, or at least this kind of spread of infection, so it is concerning that theyve struggled to do it. So i think it suggests that once there is the development of ongoing person to person transmission within a country it becomes much harder to stem the tide of this infection. Off the californian coast, a cruise ship carrying some people who have tested positive for the virus, headed for port. The mood of more than 140 british passengers and crew was much improved. To the uk on wednesday. Hugh pym, bbc news. A number of major sporting events have now been postponed because of the virus. France has called off its Six Nations Rugby match against ireland in paris and italy has postponed its game
against england in rome. But most sporting events here in the uk are still on for now including one of the highlights of the racing calendar the Cheltenham Festival which starts tomorrow. 0ur Sports Editor dan roan is there and sent this update. 60,000 is there and sent this update. Race fans are expect through 60,000 race fans are expect to come through these gates, the first day of the festival and as many as almost 250,000 over the next four days. Cheltenham is on and thats because the government has made clear today that according to their medical advice, there is still no reason why large scale Sports Events should be closed or cancelled but of course elsewhere, sport is being badly affected. In the us, a major tennis tournament was cancelled overnight, the third six nations much of this seasons tournament was today postponed and across italy, all sport has been suspended this evening and of course inevitably, that has raised questions as to whether its right here in britain
for sport to continue as normal. Today, sports bodies and broadcasters were summoned to a meeting and told to ready themselves for sport to be ordered to go behind closed doors but its fair to say the government are concerned on two levels. 0ne, the government are concerned on two levels. One, that it may cause financial ruin for many sports clu bs, financial ruin for many sports clubs, especially in the foot or leg and rub the as well and secondly it could be counter productive if all it does is drive fans to enclosed spaces like pubs where the virus could spread just as bad if not worse, so this is a very difficult decision but there is a sense its coming and its not a matter of if now, but when. Donald trump has been giving an update on some of the economic measures regarding the virus. We just attended a very important Task Force Meeting on the virus that everybody is talking about all of the world, no matter where you go, thats what is on peoples mines and were going to
ta ke peoples mines and were going to take care of and have been taking of the American Public and the american economy. We are going to be asking tomorrow, we are seeing the senate going to be meeting with past republicans, mitch mcconnell, everybody and discussing a possible payroll tax cut or relief, substantial relief, very substantial relief and thats a big number. Were also going be talking about our early wage earners getting help so that they can be in a position where they are not going to ever miss paycheck, working with companies and small companies, large companies, a lot of companies so that they dont get panelized for something thats not our fault. Its not theirfault, something thats not our fault. Its not their fault, its something thats not our fault. Its not theirfault, its not something thats not our fault. Its not their fault, its not our countrys vault. This is something that we were thrown into and were going to handle it and we have been handling it very well. The big was
early when we shut down our borders, we we re early when we shut down our borders, we were the first ones ever to do that, with never done that in our country before. We would have a situation that would be a lot more dire. Were also going to be Small Business administration and creating loa ns for Business Administration and creating loans for Small Businesses. We are also working with the Industries Including the airline industry, the cruiseship industry will be hit, were working with them very strongly. We want them to travel, we wa nt strongly. We want them to travel, we want people to travel to certain locations, not to other locations at this moment. Hopefully that will straighten out sooner rather than later but we are working with the industries and in particular those two industries. We are also talking talking to the Hotel Industry. Some places will do well and some places some places will do well and some pla ces wa nt some places will do well and some places want to do well at all but we are also working with the Hotel Industry but the main thing is we are taking care of the American Public and we will be taking care of the American Public. Donald trump
speaking a few minutes ago. Two politicians who are in close contact with mr trump politicians who are in close contact with mrtrump our politicians who are in close contact with mr trump our insult isolation and after he left the news conference, mike pence was asked if the president had been tested for the president had been tested for the virus. As the president been tested . People the virus. As the president been tested . People who the virus. As the president been tested . People who are in proximity to someone who had the virus. Let me be sure to get you an answer to that. I honestly dont know the a nswer to that. I honestly dont know the answer to the question but we will refer that question and get you an a nswer refer that question and get you an answer from the White House Position very quickly. Some of the jennifer lists some of thejennifer lists there surprised dash journalist there surprised dash journalist there surprised is that head of the task force doesnt seem to know whether the president had been tested or
not. As the International Community struggles to contain the spread of coronavirus the World Health Organisation has praised china for its response suggesting it offers a model for others to follow. But inside china theres anger over the way the authorities have handled the outbreak with censorship being stepped up the very approach that experts say helped to accelerate the spread in the first place. 0ur correspondent John Sudworth reports. In this message, a medic complains about the quality of protective equipment. The videos now been blocked on the chinese internet. This ones been taken down too. A daughter crying out for her dead mother. Ever since china silenced doctor li wenliang, who tried to warn about the dangers of the virus and later died from it, the censorship has been increasing. But the World Health Organization insists it is not its place to criticise. We are epidemiologists, not litigators. We know that the country has identified that there were shortcomings. It is not the whos role at this stage. 0ur role is to really help with the positive lessons of moving forward. In china, focusing on anything other than the positive, can be dangerous. This reporter records a few final words before opening the door to the police. Li zehua was detained, it seems, for trying to report independently about the virus. But now efforts are under way to capture and save some of the censored information. China is repeating itself back to what happened during sars. One of the anonymous researchers tells me china keeps making the same mistakes. During the sars virus in 2002, censorship was also rife. They were trying to find the information and thats why people lost lives. China wants the world to focus,
not on how censorship may have cost lives, but on the strengths of a system that has now brought the epidemic under control. And the who seems to agree. What do you think the criticism that chinas political and economic clout makes it very difficult for the who to criticise . There is a large epidemic happening. We have seen how through a concerted National Effort at the top level of government has flattened that epidemic and gained the time for other countries to learn those lessons and not to have to face that same issue. Some chinese citizens are unconvinced that anyone should feel grateful for the efforts of the party. A point being made by the professor in this video. Its been blocked. John sudworth, bbc news, beijing. Earlier this evening, israel announced that all travellers entering the country would be required to quarantine themselves for two weeks to try to limit the spread of the coronavirus. The israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu said that it was a difficult decision but the measure was essential to safeguard public health. The decision will apply to foreign citizens from thursday. And you can keep up to date with all the developments concerning the coronavirus and