Australian Medical Association (AMA) Queensland President Dr Dilip Dhupelia has today called on all retired doctors to register to return to work to help manage COVID-19 demands.

Given many are elderly and would be at higher risk from the virus they will not be dealing with potentially infectious patients first hand but are more likely to be employed in telehealth or other roles.

“Some will be asked to assist contact tracing of confirmed cases of COVID-19, while others may be needed on the 24-hour 13 HEALTH hotline to relay and explain up-to-date medical advice as it is released by the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee,” Dr Dhupelia said.

media_camera A doctor and patient outside the Royal Melbourne Hospital. Picture: Jason Edwards

“There are public health units across the State and a range of areas where support is required, depending on where the retired doctor lives.”

Dr Young said retired doctors were a valuable resource and she has commenced discussions to facilitate the engagement of this group in the COVID-19 response.

“It is important to match their skills with appropriate roles to assist in managing COVID-19,” Dr Young said.

Dr Dhupelia said several retired doctors had contacted AMA Queensland in recent weeks to offer their assistance as the outbreak worsens.

Dr Dhupelia said retired doctors could register to help by emailing covid19@amaq.com.au or phoning AMA Queensland on 07 3872 2222.

PALACE CINEMAS CLOSES FOR ‘INDEFINITE PERIOD’

Cinema chain Palace Cinemas has announced it will close every location starting from tomorrow.

In a statement, the popular arthouse chain, which has locations in Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, Perth and Byron Bay, said all cinemas would be closed for an “indefinite period”.

media_camera Palace Cinemas is closing down indefinitely.

“We’ve made the difficult decision to temporarily close all Palace Cinema locations from Thursday the 19th of March for an indefinite period to protect both our staff and patrons.

“We intend to re-open as soon as circumstances allow, with the usual rich selection of quality cinema and our much-loved international festivals. Watch for further announcements.”

CONCERN OVER PROTECTIVE GEAR

Medical specialists are not able to access the personal protective equipment they need to protect themselves from COVID-19 because equipment from the government’s stockpile is only going to GPs the Royal Australasian College of Physicians claims.

Primary Health Networks are the man channel for doctors to get hold of this equipment and they are for general practitioners not specialists.

Professor John Wilson, a respiratory physician and President-elect of the RACP said “the government must ensure that specialist physicians, as well as GPs, have access to PPE in order to protect themselves and their patients, many of whom are particularly vulnerable with serious, pre-existing chronic conditions.

“The inability of specialist physicians in private and non-hospital community-based practices to access PPE may lead to some services not being able to continue. This is the last thing we need in the current environment.” Professor Wilson said.

The College has also written to all State and Territory Health Departments to emphasise the need for clinicians on the front line to be adequately supported.

media_camera French medical staff push a patient on a gurney to a waiting medical helicopter amid the coronavirus outbreak. Picture: AFP

Australia is also not doing enough COVID-19 testing, according to The Australian National University public health expert Professor Kamalini Lokuge.

Prof Lokuge told the National Press Club that Singapore, which has effectively controlled the virus, was systematically testing health workers while Australia was not.

She said modelling showed that Australia was going to have a lot of coronavirus cases and it was “likely to overwhelm our health system”.

COVID-19 can be spread even if someone is presymptomatic, and government modelling had been adjusted to take this into account, Prof Lokuge said.

Appearing alongside Prof Lokuge at the National Press Club, Doherty Institute director of epidemiology Professor Jodie McVernon said Australians handling of the coronavirus could not be compared to Singapore.

This was because the Asian nation had a higher density population and that they had kept schools open, Prof McVernon said.

She refused to provide a prediction of the scale of infection in Australia into the future.

“I will not give you a number,” Prof McVernon said.

She said most of the infections in Australia so far came from overseas, only a few cases were spreading in the community and could not be traced to people who had travelled or contact with an infected person.

Taking the temperature of those arriving in Australia would not indicate whether they were carrying the virus, and many travellers had developed the bug shortly after getting off the plane, she said.

Prof McVernon said it would give people a false sense of security if they did not have a fever at the border and they may go out in the community and spread the virus

The panel of experts would not explain how many people would have to be infected in Australia before the government would implement a lockdown similar to that in Europe.

Panic buying in supermarkets was not helping cut the spread of COVID-19 Prof Lokuge said.

ANU public health expert Vanessa Johnston, who was also on the panel, said other coronaviruses could survive for hours on inanimate objects and surfaces so door handles and surfaces should be wiped regularly.

SCHOOLS STAY OPEN, GATHERINGS RESTRICTED TO 100

For the first time in history, Australians are being told not to travel overseas.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the unprecedented travel advice was now in place and would last indefinitely.

All non-essential indoor gatherings of more than 100 people are now banned in Australia.

After a wartime cabinet meeting last night, the nation’s leaders have locked in the unprecedented restrictions which will apply to venues such as pubs, cinemas and big restaurants.

States and territories are now working on how the rules will be applied.

Airports, public transport, medical facilities, emergency services, aged care, prisons, courts, parliaments, supermarkets, offices, schools, universities and construction sites are excluded from the crackdown.

The prime minister said the government expected the coronavirus crisis would last for at least six months.

“We are going to keep Australia running ... it won’t look like it normally does but it is very important we put in place measures that are scalable and sustainable,” Mr Morrison said.

“What we are doing, you’ve got to be able to keep doing.”

Mr Morrison said locking down particular states - as has been mooted in Western Australia - was not recommended by medical chiefs.

The federal government’s national security committee has also moved to declare a biosecurity emergency.

media_camera With a good distance between them Prime Minister Scott Morrison with the Chief Medical Officer Brendon Murphy at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: Gary Ramage

Domestic air travel has been deemed low risk by health experts and will continue without restrictions for now.

But limits are likely on remote communities and other “sensitive” parts of the country, Mr Morrison said, with states and territories to identify such locations.

The Prime Minister said the health advice was thatschools should still remain open.

That is also the case in Singapore, where authorities have effectively managed to stem the spread of the virus.

“The virus operates very differently amongst younger people,” Mr Morrison said.

“The health advice I’m happy to follow for my kids ... is the same health advice that I’m asking parents around the country to follow.”

“I’m happy for my kids to go to school.”

He added: “Whatever we do, we’ve got to do for at least six months.”

The PM said closing schools now would cause “severe disruptions” and tens of thousands of jobs could be lost, with the health workforce depleted by 30 per cent if parents had to stay at home with their children.

“Let’s keep our heads as parents,” he said.

media_camera Prime Minister Scott Morrison made a series of major announcements in the war on coronavirus. Picture: Gary Ramage

Aged care homes will ban visitors who have returned from overseas or have been in contact with confirmed coronavirus cases.

Visitors with a fever will also be prevented from entering.

Aged care homes will only be allowed two visitors at the same time, which must only last for a limited time in designated areas, preferably in a resident’s room or outside.

Large groups and events will be banned.

“It’s about protecting the residents,” Mr Morrison said.

He said families would want to see relatives nearing their end of their lives, and aged care homes would be given the power to make that happen in restricted ways.

Mr Morrison also urged Australians to “stop hoarding”.

“It’s not sensible, it’s not helpful,” he said.

“That is not who we are as a people ... It is distracting attention and efforts that need to be going into other measures.”

“There is no reason for people to be hoarding supplies in fear of a lockdown.”

Mr Morrison said the government was considering widespread economic measures to establish a safety net for Australians, particularly for small businesses and workers.

“We will announce them once they have been properly designed and can be properly implemented ... We are moving with great haste on this,” he said.

Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy said Australia now had 454 cases of coronavirus.

He said the majority of new cases were still imported from overseas, but that there was “low level community transmission”.

Prof Murphy said there was “no clear expectation” for the number of coronavirus cases to be seen in Australia.

“The challenge is to reduce the community transmission we’re seeing in small pockets at the moment, and that’s what the social distancing is about,” he said.

“There’s no one prediction you can make.”

Professor Murphy said the nation’s medical experts were united on the need for social distancing to slow the spread of the virus.

“Be clear. A short-term, two to four week shutdown of society is not recommended by any of our experts. It does not achieve anything. We have to be in it for the long haul,” he said.

“It could be six months ... Therefore, these measures have to be sustainable.”

Professor Murphy said only 2.4 per cent of cases in China’s Hubei province were in people under 19.

He said the coronavirus was “quite different” to other respiratory illnesses in its impact on children.

“We believe very strongly that it’s in the best interests of our children and the nation at this time to keep schools open,” Professor Murphy said.

He said sick children and teachers should stop going to school, large assemblies and gatherings should be avoided, and good hand hygiene should be practised.

media_camera Places of worship will need to comply with the rules on indoor mass gatherings. Picture: AFP

Professor Murphy urged every Australian to think about every interaction they had with other people every day.

He said handshaking and hugging should not happen, except within families, and that people needed to practise good hand hygiene.

Mr Morrison said churches, mosques and synagogues would need to comply with the rules on mass gatherings.

The national cabinet will meet again on Friday to consider other measures that could apply to gatherings with fewer than 100 people.

He said it was up to sporting leagues to decide whether games went ahead without crowds.

“They need to make their own decisions about how they manage that,” Mr Morrison said.

“They must comply with all the health rules that have been established.”

Mr Morrison said a number of Cabinet ministers had been tested for the virus, where they met the need for tests under health protocols.

“I was pleased that I got a good tick last night from the doc ... I intend to see him fairly regularly in the weeks ahead,” he said.

MAJOR AGED CARE PROVIDER CRACKS DOWN ON VISITORS

Aged care service provider Estia Health will bar all visitors from its homes from Wednesday evening to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

It’s a step up from new measures introduced by the federal government, which would limit visits to aged care facilities to short, two-person visits once a day.

Anyone who has been overseas in the past two weeks, been in contact with someone who has coronavirus or has respiratory infection symptoms will be barred completely.

The changes are part of a range of measures announced by the prime minister and chief medical officer on Wednesday.

These include warning Australians against all overseas travel and banning all non-essential indoor gatherings of more than 100 people.

An email from Estia chief executive Ian Thornley sent to family and friends of residents said its facilities would close to visitors from 5pm on Wednesday. “We understand that this decision will have significant impact on our residents and their close contacts and sincerely apologise for this,” he said in the email seen by AAP.

media_camera Etia is a for-profit aged care provider running nearly 70 residences in NSW, Queensland, Victoria and South Australia. Picture: AAP

Visitors would still be allowed in “exceptional circumstances on compassionate grounds”, with volunteers also to be barred from Estia homes and non-essential residents outings to be banned.

Estia is a for-profit aged care provider running nearly 70 residences in NSW, Queensland, Victoria and South Australia.

As part of Wednesday’s announcement, Scott Morrison said visits to dying relatives would have to be arranged with individual aged care facilities. “We all know how distressing that can be and so the aged care facilities will be asked to put in place sensible arrangements,” he said.

Aged Care Minister Richard Colbeck said children should not be visiting aged care homes at all.

“We know older Australians love to see children in their lives, but the fact is, children are not reliable when it comes to practising the good hygiene necessary to stop the spread,” Senator Colbeck said.

Large groups, including school groups are also banned from aged care homes as well as social or entertainment events.

Visitors would be restricted to the residents’ rooms or outdoor spaces, with no meetings to be held in communal areas.

People who had not been vaccinated for flu before May 1 would also be banned.

OVERSEAS ANZAC DAY SERVICES AXED

It follows a decision to cancel all Australian-led international Anzac Day services due to the coronavirus epidemic.

Veteran Affairs Minister Darren Chester confirmed today that all April 25 events across the world would be cancelled.

The cancellations include the service at Gallipoli in Turkey and a number of events along the Western Front include Villers-Bretonneux in France.

“While I say it was with regret and that it was a difficult decision, it then again was an easy decision as well. Difficult because we didn’t want to do it but easy because it was the right thing to do,” Mr Chester told ABC News Breakfast.

“We have to respect the wishes of the host nations, which are already putting into places restrictions on large, public gatherings so we simply couldn’t be having large gatherings of 500 or a thousand people on Anzac Day on foreign soil this year so we’ve made the decision to not have those Australian-led events be carried out.

“Obviously these commemorative activities, particularly Anzac Day, attract a cohort of vulnerable, older citizens. Our veterans, particularly our WWII veterans, are approaching 95 to 100 of age. We didn’t want to expose them to those conditions.”

media_camera Australian and New Zealand service personnel pose before the commemoration of the 'Battle of Gallipoli' in front of the Turkish Mehmetcik Monument, in Gallipoli. Picture: Sahin Erdem

The news comes days after Anzac Day services across Australia were cancelled due to the coronavirus epidemic.

Victoria will still hold some services but with wide-ranging restrictions.

Anzac Day is still more than a month away however following Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s advice to avoid gatherings of over 500 people, RSL organisations across the country decided to pull the pin.

RSL NSW announced the “difficult” decision on Monday.

“Given the significant concerns around the spread of COVID-19, we simply cannot allow such large gatherings as we see each year on ANZAC DAY to go ahead,” acting state president Ray James said.

“This is not a decision we have taken lightly. The RSL has a responsibility to act in the best interests of veterans and the general public.”

media_camera Brothers Dylan and Nick McCormick arrive back in Brisbane from Germany. Picture: Liam Kidston

AUSTRALIANS OVERSEAS URGED ‘COME HOME’

It comes as DFAT issued the urgent advice on Tuesday night as an increasing number of airlines drastically reduced their number of international flights.

“We now advise all Australians to reconsider your need for overseas travel at this time,” a statement on the Smartraveller said.

“Regardless of your destination, age or health, if you’re overseas travel is not essential, consider carefully whether now is the right time.“

The DFAT statement said as more countries closed their borders or introduced travel restrictions, overseas travel was becoming “more complex and difficult”.

“You may not be able to return to Australia when you had planned to,” DFAT said.

“Consider whether you have access to healthcare and support systems if you get sick while overseas. If you decide to return to Australia, do so as soon as possible. Commercial options may become less available.”

media_camera A passenger arrives at Brisbane Airport. All Australian travellers have been told to return as soon as possible. Picture: Liam Kidston

Australians overseas who can’t or don’t want to return to Australia have been told to follow the advice of local authorities.

“Take care to minimise your risk of exposure to coronavirus including by self-isolating,” DFAT said.

“If you choose to stay, note our ability to provide consular assistance in some places may be limited due to restrictions on movement and other services.”

The government’s ability to help citizens stuck overseas could be limited as the situation worsens across the globe.

Foreign Minister Marise Payne advised Aussies keen to come home to do so sooner rather than later.

“Transport options will likely become more limited as countries respond to the COVID-19 outbreak,” she said.

“DFAT’s capacity to provide consular help may be limited.”

It comes as Indonesia shut down to tourists from every country, closing its borders for a month from Friday.

It has emerged that severely ill patients may not be admitted to intensive care units if they have chronic health conditions that mean it is unlikely they will survive COVID-19 under dramatic new guidelines.

The rules, released by the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society, give the warning in the event of an overwhelming demand for critical care services during the COVID-19 outbreak.

“Senior Intensive Care medical staff, recognising available resources, should consider the probable outcome of the patient’s condition, the burden of ICU treatment for the patient and their family, patients’ comorbidities and wishes, and likelihood of response to treatment,” the guidelines read.

media_camera The line for coronavirus testing at the Royal Melbourne Hospital. Picture: Tony Gough

The guidelines just released forecast demand for ICU care will exceed capacity when up to 50 per cent of hospital beds are occupied by patients with pandemic illness.

To prepare for the expected overwhelming demand on ICU beds under COVID-19, the society is calling for elective surgery to be deferred or sent to private hospitals to free up ICU beds.

It calls for the opening of additional ICU capacity in sites outside the hospital (eg newly built but unfinished hospitals or previously decommissioned hospitals).

And for use of a centralised co-ordination and retrieval service which connects all ICU beds within a region.

It warns some patients may have to stay longer in emergency department beds and operating theatre recovery rooms to free up ICU capacity for COVID-19 patients.

Hospitals have been urged to quantify their existing stock of ventilators, renal replacement therapy, intravenous infusion pumps and order more.

There is a very real fear Australia does not have enough ventilators to cope with a serious COVID-19 outbreak that will see many people develop severe pneumonia and require support to help them breathe.

The guidelines urge hospitals to identify staff working on other areas who have ICU experience or who could be quickly trained up to work in the units.

And it says work should be done on repurposing operating theatres and other hospital rooms that could be turned into spaces where ventilation can be provided.

AUSTRALIA WON’T GO INTO COMPLETE LOCKDOWN

Australian Border Force’s top boss has slapped down suggestions the country is preparing to completely lock down insisting returning citizens are “welcome” and cargo would continue.

Commissioner Michael Outram said Australia needed borders to remain, after rumours fuelled by false online reports sent many people into a panic overnight fearing an imminent shut down.

“If you turn off everything at the border ... Those flights bring essential workers like engineers and pilots,” he said on Tuesday morning.

“There are people bringing stem cells, there are people bringing essential goods and services.

“So we don’t want to stop all flights to Australia. We don’t want to seal ourselves off.”

Mr Outram said ABF was prepared to assist Australians returning on cruise ships and aeroplanes after the federal government recommended people travel home to avoid being trapped overseas.

“The Australians on board those cruise ships will come ashore, they’ll be able to go home and self isolate,” he said.

“The international passengers will be able to go to the airport and get home, and that’s the important thing.”

Mr Outram said airlines would be on the look out for people returning home who feel unwell, and enhanced screening would continue to operate at airports.

“We’re prepared to welcome Australians home, that’s really important, our airports are still open, our Border Force operations are still working in airports with our Agriculture colleagues, all the mechanisms are in place to allow Australians to return home safely,” he said.

media_camera People wearing masks at the arrival lounge area at Brisbane International Airport. Picture: AAP

“All aeroplanes will be met by Agriculture or Border Force officers and we still have health workers at airports to do enhanced screening if anyone’s feeling ill or was referred to those people.”

Mr Outram outlined what Australians overseas can expect on their journey home:

1. “When you check in you get provided with advice about the quarantine self isolation requirements.”

2. “When you get on the aeroplane you’re provided a lot more information by the airlines.”

3. “Then you arrive at the Australian border and you’ll be met by a quarantine biosecurity officer or Border Force officer and provided with written information.”

4. “When you get to the smart gate you’ll be asked questions in 22 languages about whether you agree to self isolation.”

5. “Then when you get to the baggage hall you’ll be handing in your inbound passenger card with your written declaration that you agree to self isolation.”

“That allows us then of course to deal with passengers who say they don’t agree to self isolation, and it also allows us to provide contact information to states and territories about passengers should they need it,” Mr Outram said.

HEALTH MINISTER CLEARED OF COVID-19

Health Minister Greg Hunt has been cleared of coronavirus, following fears he could have contracted the virus from Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton who tested positive last Friday.

The minister had heavy night sweats last Thursday and then went into isolation for testing.

“I met the case definition for a short period – the answer was negative,” Mr Hunt told the ABC today.

“That was on Thursday of last week, I had a heavy night sweat.

“And once we had information that I’d been in contact, but we subsequently discovered two things: that contact predated the period for which [Dutton] was described as being contagious; it turns out it was negative, we move on from that.

“I’m one of the 81,000 who has [been tested]. We met the case definition, I self-isolated and was subsequently tested and it turned out to be negative.”

media_camera COVID-19 free ... Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt. Picture: AAP

COLES INTRODUCES BUYING LIMITS

Meanwhile, Coles has introduced new buying limits on a range of goods, according to reports.

As of today, customers will be restricted to purchasing two lots of: sugar; dairy milk; grocery milk; canned tomatoes; pasta sauce; liquid soaps.

media_camera Coles has brought in new buying restrictions as a result of hoarding and panic buying. Picture: Supplied

Coles has already introduced limits on toilet paper, pasta, flour, rice, paper towels, paper tissues, hand sanitisers, mince meat, eggs and frozen vegetables and desserts.

The restrictions were brought in as a result of the panic-buying and hoarding of groceries seen across Australia since the COVID-19 outbreak.

TRUMP TO SEND CHEQUES TO AMERICANS

In the US, President Donald Trump said the government wants to send checks to Americans in the next two weeks in an effort to kerb the economic cost of the coronavirus outbreak.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin made the announcement.

“The payroll tax holiday would get money to people over the next six to eight months. We’re looking to send checks to Americans immediately,” Mr Mnuchin said.

“Americans need cash now and the president wants to give cash now.

“And I mean now – in the next two weeks,” Mr Mnuchin added.

He said the amount could be more than $US1000. There would also be some income cut-offs.

“You don’t need to send people who make a million dollars a year checks,” he said.

media_camera Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin speaks during a press briefing as US President Donald Trump looks on. Picture: AP

The White House is asking Congress to approve a massive emergency rescue package to help businesses as well as taxpayers cope with the economic crisis that is paired with the pandemic.

Sec. Mnuchin planned to outline that roughly $US850 billion ($A1.4 trillion) package to Senate Republicans at a private lunch, with officials aiming to have Congress approve it this week.

Vice President Mike Pence has also urged US construction companies to donate their inventories of safety masks to hospitals and forgo new orders as the nation battles the coronavirus pandemic.

Mr Pence said the single use N95 masks, which are designed to filter 95 per cent of airborne particles and commonly used in the construction industry, are “perfectly acceptable” for hospital use.

Mr Pence, who is heading up the White House coronavirus Task Force, visited the Minnesota headquarters of 3M, the maker of the N95 mask, earlier this month to discuss the production increase.

Mr Pence and Surgeon General Jerome Adams have said the average American does not need to go out and buy a mask. They have urged Americans to leave the masks for medical professionals.

JOHNSON ANNOUNCES ECONOMIC RELIEF

Britain has announced $A667 billion of government-backed loans to help businesses stay afloat, with homeowners also to get three-month mortgage holidays to deal with the coronavirus cash crisis.

The unprecedented bail out comes as major centres across the UK on Tuesday local time were deserted as millions of people began to work from home, with fears of mass job losses and business closures.

media_camera Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks at a news conference addressing the government's response to the novel coronavirus outbreak. Picture: AFP

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that families and businesses needed urgent financial support.

He pledged to do “whatever it takes”.

“We must act like a wartime government and do whatever it takes to support our economy,” he said today.

“We will support millions of businesses and tens of millions of families and individuals through coming months. The Government must and will act with a profound sense of urgency.”

media_camera Britain's Chancellor Rishi Sunak gives a press conference about the ongoing situation with the coronavirus outbreak inside 10 Downing Street. Picture: Getty

UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak also said that more money would be provided if needed in a desperate bid to save jobs across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

“We want to provide security to people,” he said.

The money will be loaned at attractive interest rates, but it was unclear whether some businesses would rather go bust than take on more debt.

It comes after France promised a similar figure, providing a guarantee that no business would go bankrupt as a result of coronavirus.

media_camera Police officers control on the Champs-Elysees Ave in Paris. Picture: AP

The European Union has banned all travel to Europe for 30 days, except for citizens, as Germany joins Italy in closing all shops, except food stores and pharmacies.

As he announced the police intervention, French president Emmanuel Macron declared: “We are at war. Day and night there is nothing that should distract us.”

Anyone caught on the streets of France will be at risk of fines up to $250, with schools already closed.

Mr Macron also announced a $523 billion fund to ensure no French business would “go bankrupt”.

media_camera The normally busy Millennium footbridge across the Thames in London is deserted. Picture: AFP

Shops across the UK are running short of supplies despite government pleas for the public to avoid stockpiling.

Mr Johnson said he was confident of a “farm to fork” supply chain that would not require panic buying.

He did not respond to questions about whether he had made a joke about a “last gasp” attempt to supply ventilators when he was on a conference call with manufacturers including Rolls Royce, Force, Honda and Vauxhall.

It comes as the number of coronavirus deaths in England climbed to 67, including a 45-year-old, while it was 71 across the UK.

media_camera The virus that causes COVID-19, which was isolated from a patient in the US. Picture: AFP

National Health Service England said: “A further 14 people, who tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19) have died, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in England to 67. Patients were aged between 93 and 45 years old and had underlying health conditions. Their families have been informed.”

There were claims that fewer than 20,000 deaths would be a likely result if the UK population stayed at home and avoided non-essential contact. Insurers have confirmed they would pay out to businesses for claims as a result of the coronavirus, with many industries, particularly food and entertainment at risk, the government said.

Schools currently remain open in the UK but it was expected they would close at some point in the coming weeks, potentially either side of the Easter school holidays.

MORE EVENTS CANCELLED, POSTPONED

The French Open has been postponed and there was a cloud over Wimbledon as Europe comes to grips with the deadly coronavirus.

The Tokyo Olympics organisers have yet to make a call on any changes to the worldwide event scheduled for July and August, slamming speculation that it might be called off.

French Open bosses revealed they would push back the grand slam until September, as France currently remains under police enforced lockdown.

media_camera The French Open has been postponed. Picture: AFP

The International Olympic Committee was monitoring the situation, but said it did not want to make a “drastic” decision.

“This is an unprecedented situation for the whole world, and our thoughts are with all those affected by this crisis,” an IOC statement said. “The situation around the COVID-19 virus is also impacting the preparations for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, and is changing day by day.

“The IOC remains fully committed to the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, and with more than four months to go before the Games there is no need for any drastic decisions at this stage; and any speculation at this moment would be counter-productive.”

media_camera Toshiro Muto, CEO of the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee, answers questions during a news conference in Tokyo. Picture: AP

The French Open decision means that Wimbledon, due to run from June 29 to July 13, may also be affected.

Wimbledon did not make a timing announcement on Wednesday Australian time, but said it was monitoring the situation.

The club’s museum and shop were closed because the UK Government has asked people to avoid all non-essential contact.

The French Open was the breakthrough event for Ash Barty last year, as she won her maiden grand slam before going one step further to claim the World Number one ranking.

French Open officials said in a statement: “The current confinement measures have made it impossible for us to continue with the dates originally planned.:

“The whole world is affected by the public health crisis connected with COVID-19. In order to ensure the health and safety of everyone involved in organising the tournament, the French Tennis Federation has made the decision to hold the 2020 edition of Roland-Garros from 20th September to 4th October 2020.”

The two European grand slams are key events on the ATP world tour, however many athletes may boycott them with both France and England in the grip of a major outbreak.

The UK’s health authority was trying to keep deaths to fewer than 20,000 people.

media_camera US player Serena Williams serves at Wimbledon. Picture: AFP

Richard Lewis, Chief Executive of the All England Lawn Tennis Club, said the health and safety of players and staff was paramount.

“While we continue to plan for The Championships at this time, it remains a continuously evolving situation and we will act responsibly, in the best interests of wider society,” he said. “We thank all of our Members, staff, players, partners, contractors and the public for their patience and trust as we continue to navigate this unprecedented global challenge.”

media_camera Brazilian former footballer Juninho Paulista presents the Copa America trophy on the stage during the draw of the Copa America 2020 football tournament. Picture: AFP

This summer’s European Championship has been postponed until the summer of 2021, UEFA has decided, as it contemplates the unprecedented disruption caused by the coronavirus.

Copa America has also been postponed until 2021 due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The tournament, which was due to take place in Argentina and Colombia from June 12 to July 12 this summer, has become the latest football event to be pushed back for health reasons.

“This is an extraordinary measure for an unexpected situation and responds to the fundamental need to avoid the exponential evolution of the virus,” said CONMEBOL president Alejandro Dominguez.

Mr Dominguez said the rescheduled tournament would be played between June 11 and July 11, 2021.

QUEEN ELIZABETH II SELF ISOLATES

The Queen has cancelled garden parties at London’s Buckingham Palace and will leave the palace on Thursday for Windsor Castle as a “sensible precaution” amid Britain’s coronavirus outbreak, the royal family says.

Several meetings at Buckingham Palace this week, including the queen’s audience with Prime Minister Boris Johnson, will go ahead as planned, it said.

media_camera Britain's Queen Elizabeth II waves from her car in a file photo from 2019. Picture: AFP

“Her Majesty will move to Windsor Castle for the Easter period on Thursday March 19, one week earlier than planned,” the palace said.

“It is likely the queen will stay there beyond the Easter period.”

It said the changes to the 93-year-old monarch’s plans were made “as a sensible precaution and for practical reasons in the current circumstances”.

Other events expected to be attended by large numbers of people in the coming months will be cancelled or postponed, including five garden parties scheduled from May at Buckingham Palace.

media_camera Britain's Queen Elizabeth II meets guests at the Queen's Garden Party in Buckingham Palace, central London. Picture: AFP

It said further announcements will be made “in consultation with government” on the annual Trooping the Colour, held in June to mark the queen’s official birthday; the 75th anniversary of VE (Victory in Europe) Day; and a planned state visit by the Japanese emperor.

TRUMP DOUBLES DOWN ON ‘CHINESE VIRUS’ CALL

Despite garnering anger after calling the coronavirus the “Chinese Virus”, Mr Trump has used the term again in an early morning tweet.

Mr Trump took a swipe at New York Governor Andrew Cuomo for saying all US states should be treated the same.

“All states aren’t the same,” Mr Trump tweeted. “Some are being hit hard by the Chinese Virus, some are being hit practically not at all. New York is a very big ‘hotspot’, West Virginia has, thus far, zero cases. Andrew, keep politics out of it.”

Cuomo wants “all states to be treated the same.” But all states aren’t the same. Some are being hit hard by the Chinese Virus, some are being hit practically not at all. New York is a very big “hotspot”, West Virginia has, thus far, zero cases. Andrew, keep politics out of it.... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 17, 2020

Geng Shuang, a spokesperson from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, accused “certain American politicians” of promoting stigmatisation by connecting the novel coronavirus with China.

He did not name Mr Trump specifically, but was referring to his tweet, reported Chinese state news agency Xinhua.

“We express strong indignation and resolute opposition to this,” Mr Geng said at a daily news briefing.

media_camera New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and US President Donald Trump. Picture: AP

Asked about using the term “coronavirus”, Mr Trump said that he was angry that China “was putting out false information that our military gave it to them.”

He said he felt “Chinese Virus” was “ a very accurate term”.

The Chinese government announced that it will revoke press credentials for American journalists who work for The New York Times, Washington Post and Wall Street Journal and whose credentials were set to expire in 2020, retaliating for state media restrictions by the Trump administration.

The US State Department announced last month that it has designated five Chinese state media outlets as “foreign missions,” meaning that they will be treated as arms of the Chinese government.

NO PLANS TO QUARANTINE NEW YORK

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo tried to assure reporters that there are no plans to quarantine New York City amid the coronavirus outbreak — as he announced the number of cases statewide spiked 432 overnight to 1374.

The jump was driven by a 187-case rise in the Big Apple, for a total of 644 cases. But as Mayor Bill de Blasio admitted he’s mulling a shelter-in-place edict, Gov. Cuomo sought to assure reporters he has no current plans to order the city closed.

media_camera New York Governor Andrew Cuomo speaks to the media. Picture: Getty

“People will panic at the thought of being quarantined,” Gov. Cuomo said at a press briefing.

Gov Cuomo said 264 of the state’s COVID-19 patients are hospitalised.

Westchester County has 157 new cases, with a total of 380 to date.

The spike in cases comes as the Empire State has stepped up its testing capacity.

– with Tom Minear, Sue Dunlevy, Sarah Blake in New York, AAP

Originally published as Plea to retired doctors as cinema chain shuts down