Over 118,00 cases of coronavirus, or COVID-19 (Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2), have been confirmed worldwide, with more than 4,000 deaths

Italy has imposed travel restrictions on the entire country to stop the spread of the disease

The German government has pledged €1 billion ($1.1 billion) to tackling COVID-19. There are more than 1,200 cases

Two leading German research institutes have predicted that the country will fall into recession this year

Read more: What you need to know about the coronavirus

Updates in Universal Coordinated Time (UTC/GMT)

00:00 This concludes our live updates on the coronavirus outbreak for the moment. More information on the outbreak is available on our page and on DW TV. Thank you for joining us.

23:45 Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said a travel ban on affected has been extended to Italy from 6 p.m. Australian time on Wednesday.

23:24 The Coachella music festival has been postponed until October due to concerns over the COVID-19 outbreak. The festival, which takes place every year in southern California and spans two weekends, had originally been scheduled for April.

23:10 The US has urged Iran to release American prisoners amid the coronavirus outbreak. Iran is among the countries the most affected by the virus, with over 8,000 confirmed cases and 291 deaths.

22:55 A UK health minister has tested positive for coronavirus. Junior health minister Nadine Dorries was diagnosed with COVID-19 after falling ill last Friday. The minister had contact with hundreds of people in the British parliament last week and attended a reception with Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the Times of London reports.

22:21 German Chancellor Angela Merkel has plans to meet with top union and employer representatives on Friday to discuss anti-crisis measures regarding the spread of coronavirus, the RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland reports. The ministers of labor and finance will also, reportedly, attend.

22:14 Turkey has confirmed its first case of coronavirus, Reuters reports. The country's health minister confirmed that the male patient has been placed in isolation and that his family is being monitored for symptoms.

21:46 Paraguay is suspending large-scale public events and public school classes for 15 days to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The Latin American country has 2 confirmed cases of the virus.

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21:20 Two more people in the state of Washington have died from coronavirus, bringing the national death total in the US to at least 29.

21:05 Algeria's government has cancelled political gatherings due to coronavirus fears. It is unclear whether the move will affect the mass demonstrations that have been taking place in the country for over a year.

Earlier on Tuesday, Prime Minister Abdelaziz Djerad said the country was facing a "multi-dimensional crisis" and asked that people make fewer demands of the government and to avoid gathering in large groups.

20:57 Health authorities in Chile have said that arrivals from Spain or Italy will be considered "high risk travelers" and will have to undergo quarantine.

"People who enter Chilean territory having visited Spain and Italy must remain in isolation for 14 days," the health ministry said in a statement.

20:52 The government of Honduras has suspended deportation flights from Mexico over coronavirus concerns.

20:35 US Democrat presidential hopefuls Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden have canceled major election rallies in Ohio amid COVID-19 concerns.

"Out of concern for public health and safety, we are canceling tonight's rally in Cleveland," Sanders' campaign said in a statement. Six states will hold primaries later on Tuesday.

20:07 The UK government's "action plan" to tackle COVID-19, which involves taking retired doctors out of retirement and putting them back into the workforce, has faced widespread criticism.

A parliamentary question on the legality of the move a week ago received a reply on Tuesday: "The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period."

19:51 French President Emmanuel Macron called the choice made by Slovenia and Austria to close their borders to Italy a "bad decision."

"Faced with the coronavirus, let us leave no room for speculation and instability. Europe will have to do all that is necessary in health and in economic terms," he wrote on Twitter following a video conference between all EU leaders.

19:44 The US state of New York has sent in the National Guard to the New Rochelle suburb to tackle what may be largest COVID-19 cluster of cases in the country.

Several schools and places of worship will also be closed for two weeks.

19:25 European Council President Charles Michel said the EU "stands ready to make use of all instruments necessary."

He was speaking after a video conference between all 27 EU member countries on the COVID-19 outbreak's economic impact.

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pledged an EU investment fund of up to €7.5 billion ($8.4 billion) to boost EU businesses.

"We will use all the tools at our disposal to make sure the European economy weathers this storm," von der Leyen said. "The instrument will reach €25 billion very quickly," she said.

Watch video 01:59 Share Italy locks down Send Facebook google+ Whatsapp Tumblr linkedin stumble Digg reddit Newsvine Permalink https://p.dw.com/p/3Z7o9 Italy extends anti-coronavirus measures to entire country

19:11 UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has stressed that the COVID-19 outbreak should not divert attention from the ongoing climate crisis.

"It is important that all the attention that needs to be given to fight this disease does not distract us from the need to defeat climate change," he said, as the the UN report on planetary warming was published.

He also dismissed claims that emissions cuts because of compromised productivity owing to the outbreak would be helpful. "We should not overestimate the fact that emissions have been reduced for some months. We will not fight climate change with the virus," he said.

18:34 Germany has confirmed over 200 new cases on Tuesday, a large increase from the day before.

18:02 After becoming the last EU country to report confirmed cases of COVID-19, Cyprus has followed the example of other countries in the bloc and closed down schools, banned mass gatherings and locked down two hospitals to try to prevent an outbreak.

17:46 Following a confirmed case at their headquarters, the World Trade Organization will cancel all meetings from Wednesday onward.

17:41 There have now been more than 1,000 deaths outside of mainland China from COVID-19, almost two thirds in Italy and Iran.

The global statistics as they stand are as follows:

116,588 confirmed cases (80,757 within mainland China)

4,090 deaths (3,024 within mainland China)

64,391 recoveries

17:34 Slovenia has followed Austria's example and closed the border to Italy, calling for all Slovenian citizens to return home from there. The decision does not apply to cargo, the prime minister confirmed in a statement.

"I ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to close the border with Italy, following Austria. Subject to agreement on joint and proportionate action," PM Marjan Sarec wrote on Twitter.

17:29 Italy has recorded a huge jump in figures on Tuesday. Cases went from 9,172 to 10,149, while fatalities sprung from 463 to 631.

17:06 Jordan has announced a travel ban on people coming from France, Spain and Germany to try to stop the spread of COVID-19.

16:59 Four more people have died in Italy in prison riots linked to the COVID-19 that has put Italy on lockdown. There are now 11 people who have died, which the ministry claims are linked to drug overdoses caused when prisoners broke into medical storage rooms, apparently desperate for medication.

"The unrest that affected more than 20 prisons has ended almost everywhere," the justice ministry said in a statement.

16:52 Berlin's culture senator Klaus Lederer announced that all shows in major state-owned concert halls are to be cancelled until April 19.

The Bayreuth Festival canceled All quiet on the Wagnerian front An older audience packed in close quarters in a sweltering theater: for virus transmission, a horrific scenario. The Bayreuth Festival 2020 has been called off, for the first time in its 144-year history due to an epidemic. Rehearsals for the new production of the opera cycle "The Ring of the Nibelung" were to begin on April 1 - but now, the "Ring" can only premiere in 2022 at the earliest.

The Bayreuth Festival canceled Berlin's major events A day after Berlin announced that performances in major state-owned venues were to be canceled until April 19, city authorities have banned all events with more than 1,000 participants as well. "The coronavirus continues to spread. In such a phase, public life must be restricted," Berlin's local Health Minister Dilek Kalayci said.

The Bayreuth Festival canceled Madonna and other concerts Many major concerts have been canceled, including Madonna's last two dates of her "Madame X" tour in Paris. France has banned on Sunday public gatherings of more than 1,000 people. The Paris Opera has also canceled its performances.

The Bayreuth Festival canceled St. Patrick's Day in Ireland All Irish St. Patrick's Day parades, including Dublin's main celebration that draws around 500,000 revelers from all over the world each year, are canceled because of fears over the spread of COVID-19, state broadcaster RTE reported on Monday. Ireland's famous March 17 parades were also previously canceled in 2001 during an outbreak of foot and mouth disease.

The Bayreuth Festival canceled Vatican museums With quarantine measures in place in northern Italy, soccer matches occurring without spectators, and Italian Prime Minister Guiseppe Conte's order to close museums, theaters and cinemas, it should come as no surprise that the Vatican has closed the doors to its museums, including the Sistine Chapel (above), until probably April 3. In the Vatican itself, five people are currently in quarantine.

The Bayreuth Festival canceled South by Southwest (SXSW) This annual music, film and tech festival held in Austin, Texas, usually attracts more than 400,000 visitors. But less than a week before its March 12, 2020 start date, organizers decided to cancel in a bid to prevent the spreading of the coronavirus. There's a silver lining though: it may only be postponed and not canceled altogether.

The Bayreuth Festival canceled Bollywood 'Oscars' The International Film Academy has announced that it would be postponing its awards ceremony, also known as Bollywood's Oscars, due to fears over the coronavirus outbreak. According to official numbers, India has been until now relatively unscathed by the epidemic. Actor Shah Rukh Khan (photo) was one the stars expected at the event planned for March 27; a new date has not been decided yet.

The Bayreuth Festival canceled 'No Time to Die' James Bond perhaps has a little more time on his hands than the title of the upcoming film in the franchise suggests: "No Time to Die" producers have decided to push back the release of the movie to November. Daniel Craig's last outing as 007 was initially planned for April. It's the first Hollywood blockbuster to shift its release schedule in reaction to the coronavirus outbreak.

The Bayreuth Festival canceled Venice Architecture Biennale The start of the world's most prestigious architecture biennale has also been delayed. Instead of opening in May, it will run from August 29 to November 29 — three months later than planned. The theme of the event takes on a new meaning amid current developments: "How do we live together?"

The Bayreuth Festival canceled London Book Fair Due to take place March 10-12, the book fair was canceled "with reluctance," said organizers, after several major publishers such as HarperCollins and Penguin Random House pulled out of the event to avoid exposing their staff to the virus. The London Book Fair usually draws more than 25,000 authors and book industry insiders.

The Bayreuth Festival canceled Musikmesse Frankfurt Europe's biggest trade fair for the music industry also announced that it was postponing the event, which was set to celebrate its 40th anniversary on April 2-4. While it was deemed to be "the only responsible and right decision to take," the cancellation is bound to affect many small businesses in the music industry, said Christian Höppner, secretary general of the German Music Council.

The Bayreuth Festival canceled Leipzig Book Fair Change of plans for book fans: The Leipzig Book Fair, scheduled to be held March 12-15, was canceled due to the spread of the new coronavirus, a spokesperson for the fair announced on March 3. The second-largest book fair in Germany expected to draw 2,500 exhibitors from 51 countries.

The Bayreuth Festival canceled ITB Travel Trade Show Berlin Preparations for the world's largest travel fair were already in full swing when the organizers canceled it at the last minute. Due to the ongoing virus threat, participants to the Berlin fair had to prove they had not been to one of the defined risk areas. With 170,000 visitors from all over the world, this proved to be an impossible task and the fair couldn't open on March 4 as planned.

The Bayreuth Festival canceled Milan Design Week Each April, thousands of design professionals, artists and companies visit Milan to check out the latest in furniture and interior design. This year, however, organizers have announced it will be moved to June due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Milan is the capital of the Lombardy region, which has seen the lion's share of Italian coronivirus cases. Some airlines have even suspended their flights.

The Bayreuth Festival canceled La Scala opera house There is perhaps no venue more symbolic of Italy's rich operatic tradition than the La Scala opera house in Milan. Now, its seats will remain empty until March 8. Italy's Prime Minister called for the suspension of cultural events and the venue is sticking to the rules. At the time of writing, Italy has more cases of the new coronavirus than any country outside of Asia.

The Bayreuth Festival canceled K-pop concerts The reigning K-pop boy band BTS does big business with each concert, but in the wake of the virus in South Korea, the group canceled four April dates at the Seoul Olympic Stadium, which seats 69,950 people. "It's impossible to predict the scale of the outbreak," said the group's management. On Tuesday, cases in South Korea reached 5,100 with the majority of infections in the city of Daegu.

The Bayreuth Festival canceled 'Mission Impossible' No, we aren't describing the task of containing the new coronavirus, but rather the new movie starring Tom Cruise which was supposed to have a three-week shoot in Venice. The film has been postponed, movie studio Paramount Pictures said Monday. Venice's cultural events have been hard hit by the outbreak. The final two days of lagoon city's annual Carnival festival were also canceled.

The Bayreuth Festival canceled Concerts in Switzerland On February 28, the Swiss government imposed a ban on events of more than 1,000 people until March 15, making it the first European country to do so as a preemptive measure to fight against the spread of the illness. As a result, many concerts and events were called off, including concerts by Carlos Santana (pictured) and Alice Cooper at the 15,000-person Hellenstadion in Zürich.

The Bayreuth Festival canceled The Hamburg Ballet The Hamburg Ballet John Neumeier canceled guest performances in Macau and Singapore due to the coronavirus outbreak. On the program were "The Lady of the Camellias," which tells the story of a famous Parisian courtesan and "Nijinsky." Whether the tour will take place at another point in time is still in the air. In spring 2021 the Hamburg Ballet plans to tour in Japan. Author: Sarah Hucal



16:31 The COVID-19 outbreak has had a big impact on the world of sports, with games played in empty stadia lined up in Germany next month.

DW Sports has all the updates here: Coronavirus latest: Updates from the Bundesliga and beyond

16:24 A staff member of the World Trade Organization in Geneva has been infected with COVID-19, a spokesman has confirmed. The organization will "take all precautions" to prevent a further spread.

16:19 Governments will "struggle" in their efforts to combat the coronavirus without "community engagement," a member of the World Health Organisation's mission to China last month has told DW News Asia.

Professor Dale Fisher, an infectious diseases expert at the National University of Singapore studied Beijing's response to the coronavirus outbreak as a member of the WHO-China joint mission.

Watch video 01:12 Share How to speak to your child about the coronavirus Send Facebook google+ Whatsapp Tumblr linkedin stumble Digg reddit Newsvine Permalink https://p.dw.com/p/3Z9b5 A guide on how to speak to your kids about the coronavirus

"The biggest measure is community engagement. If the community is not on board with the response then it can’t be worked. The solution is in the community and that is because spread occurs through the community. And if people don’t have that social responsibility to be part of the solution then any government is going to struggle."

16:13 Greece will close universities, schools and kindergartens for two weeks, starting on Tuesday, the secretary general to the prime minister shared on Twitter.

16:04 An EU Council of Ministers has canceled its next session, scheduled for Thursday, amid the COVID-19 outbreak, a spokesperson told dpa news agency.

15:35 German Chancellor Angela Merkel told lawmakers that all "non-essential" events should be cancelled and that the economy does not need a classic stimulus package but "liquidity injections."

15:25 More sports events will be held behind closed doors, including the Germany-Italy friendly on March 31 in the Bavarian city of Nuremberg. France's Ligue 1 and 2 matches are also to be played without fans present until April 15.

14:53 Following reports of planes taking off and landing with almost no passengers aboard, the EU Commission has announced they will move to stop these so-called ghost flights.

Under current aviation law, aircrafts need to fulfill at least 80% of their "landing slots" to not lose out to competitors.

"This is why the commission will put forward very rapidly legislation regarding the so-called airport slots ... it will also decrease emissions by avoiding the so-called 'ghost flights' when airlines fly almost empty planes simply to keep their slot," Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced.

Read more: Coronavirus and other dangers: How to stay healthy on the plane

Watch video 01:45 Share Travel agents organize their own conference after ITB is cancelled in Berlin Send Facebook google+ Whatsapp Tumblr linkedin stumble Digg reddit Newsvine Permalink https://p.dw.com/p/3Z0Oc Travel agents organize their own conference after ITB is cancelled in Berlin

14:39 The German government has pledged €1 billion ($1.1 billion) to tackle the COVID-19 outbreak. There are more than 1,200 confirmed cases in Germany and two people have died in the most populous state of North-Rhine Westphalia.

The announcement was made in the German parliament by Chancellor Angela Merkel's center-right CDU party's parliamentary group leader, Ralph Brinkhaus.

"The health minister and health authorities will get all the resources necessary to act on the 'corona-crisis,'" he said.

14:32 The German government is aiming to schedule a meeting between Chancellor Angela Merkel and trade unions and employers on Friday to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on the labor market, according to Reuters news agency.

Read more: German supermarkets report coronavirus panic-buying

14:23 The Democratic Republic of the Congo has confirmed its first case of COVID-19. The patient was reportedly a Belgian citizen. Sub-Saharan Africa has reported relatively few cases of the new outbreak so far.

Read more: Coronavirus in sub-Saharan Africa: A week in review

Watch video 01:47 Share Is Africa ready for the coronavirus? Send Facebook google+ Whatsapp Tumblr linkedin stumble Digg reddit Newsvine Permalink https://p.dw.com/p/3YsW6 How prepared is Africa for an outbreak of coronavirus?

14:17 A Hong Kong lawmaker has accused prison authorities of "modern slavery" after reports emerged that female inmates were being forced to work through the night to produce millions of face masks after the COVID-19 outbreak has triggered shortages.

"All persons in custody participating in the night shift are on a voluntary basis," a spokeswoman for Hong Kong's Correctional Services Department told Reuters news agency.

14:09 The north African country of Morocco has confirmed its first death from coronavirus — an 89-year-old woman suffering from chronic respiratory diseases.

14:07 Things have moved fast on Tuesday, especially in Europe. If you're worried or unsure how to react to the coronavirus outbreak in your region, DW has gathered all the information for you in a Twitter thread.

14:02 "Recent reports indicate that the COVID-19 virus has spread inside Iranian prisons,” wrote the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran in a new report.

Thousands of Iranians were arrested in the wake of November 2019 protests. "Overcrowding, poor nutrition and a lack of hygiene are also serious concerns," the UN's Javaid Rehman said. He has asked the country to release political prisoners temporarily because of the coronavirus outbreak, calling conditions "unfortunate and disturbing."

13:52 Italy has gone into lockdown — but for many, life must carry on as normal. Journalist Alessio Perrone spoke to DW from Milan.

"Italy has never closed all schools across the country — not even during World War Two, when there was conflict all over the country. Now we're talking about quarantine for for the whole country and it's massive," he said, speaking on video call. Petrone is unable to leave Milan.

"You work from home," he said, commenting on how life went on in such conditions. "You carry on working. Supermarkets are fully stocked. So it's a it's a mix of seeing empty streets but also carrying on with your life."

13:44 A Polish general has tested positive for COVID-19 — after returning from a military council in Germany. The Polish defense ministry confirmed on Twitter that all those who had been with the general had been quarantined.

13:42 The Czech Republic will join other central European countries in closing schools, Prime Minister Andrej Babis announced on Tuesday.

"It is better to be proactive, rather than to deal with the problem later, or even too late as is the case in Italy," he told reporters.

13:31 As extreme measures are adopted in Italy to tackle COVID-19, the Vatican has announced that St Peter's Square and St Peter's Basilica have been closed to tourists and guided groups until April.

13:22 The mayor of a small French town has defended a record-breaking gathering of 3,500 people dressed as Smurfs last weekend, as many gathering across Europe were canceled amid fears of COVID-19 spread.

"We must not stop living ... it was the chance to say that we are alive," mayor Patrick Leclerc of Landerneau in western France told AFP news agency.

France banned gatherings of more than 1,000 people on Sunday.

12:55 Spain's lower house has suspended all parliamentary activities for at least a week after a lawmaker from its far-right Vox Party was confirmed to have the virus, reported El Pais newspaper. The countra has also become the latest to cancel all direct flights to and from Italy until later in March.

12:45 European leaders will hold a summit via video-conference on Tuesday afternoon to co-ordinate a response to the outbreak and to its economic consequences. European Central Bank president Christine Lagarde and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen have both confirmed their virtual attendance.

12:26 For the next four weeks, doctors in Germany will be able to give sick leave over the phone. The measures were announced in order to keep patients who might be infected with COVID-19 (coronavirus SARS-CoV-2) out of GP surgeries and prevent further transmission.

12:10 In a bid to slow the spread of the coronavirus throughout Europe many of its airlines have suspended flights to Italy:

Austrian Airlines — the carrier said it is stopping all flights between Vienna and northern Italy until March 28. The Austrian government on Tuesday banned anyone without a health certificate from entering Austria from Italy, including those traveling by plane and train.

Ryanair — Europe's largest budget flight airline carrier canceled all domestic flights in Italy and reduced its flight schedule to northern Italy.

British Airways

Norwegian Air Shuttle

Wizz Air

Easyjet — the carrier canceled most of its flights to Milan, Venice and Verona

Lufthansa and subsidiary Eurowings — the German airline are continuing to offer flights to Italy while saying it is keeping a close eye on the situation.

11:40 Financial markets in Europe and Asia bounced back on Tuesday after suffering their biggest losses in more than a decade due to plummeting oil prices and fears over the coronavirus outbreak.

11:21 The total death toll from coronavirus crossed the 4,000 mark on Tuesday with over 114,000 total cases worldwide.

10:53 Austria is banning entry to anyone arriving from Italy without a health certificate, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said on Tuesday. Austria also banned all indoor events with more than 100 participants and outdoor events of more than 500 people.

Austria earlier issued a level 6 travel safety warning advising its citizens against travel to Italy. Austrians in Italy will still be permitted to travel home if they agree to spend two weeks in home quarantine.

10:17 All mass events will be canceled in Poland to curb the spread of coronavirus in the country. The ban will include football games and concerts.

10:03 The Serbian government is banning foreigners arriving from areas experiencing some of the worst COVID-19 outbreaks. Foreigners hoping to travel from Italy and parts of China, South Korea, Iran and Switzerland will all be affected.

09:58 President of the European Parliament David Sassoli said he is in self-isolation at his Brussels home as a precaution after returning from virus-hit Italy.

"Parliament will continue to work to exercise its duties. No virus can block democracy" said Sassoli in a statement.

09:20 Pope Francis told Catholic priests during a mass in Vatican city to "have the courage" to go out and visit people sickened by coronavirus. His comments came just hours after Italy was placed on lockdown. The World Health Organizationadvises avoiding contact with other people if you think you have COVID-19.

08:45 The German state of Saxony-Anhalt confirmed its first case of the COVID-19 virus, meaning that each of Germany's 16 states now has a confirmed case.

How is coronavirus affecting life in Germany? Food donations drop Panic-buying has left empty shelves in supermarkets — and food banks. With Germans snapping up canned goods and toilet paper to weather the outbreak, stores have fewer supplies left over to donate to the needy, said Jochen Brühl, head of Tafel Deutschland, which supports more than 1.5 million people with surplus groceries and other donations. Brühl encouraged those who had overreacted to donate.

How is coronavirus affecting life in Germany? Bundesliga suspended After playing one match behind closed doors, the Bundesliga has suspended its season until at least April 2. The Germany football league had considered playing matches behind closed doors until Paderborn's coach Steffen Baumgart and defender Luca Kilian tested positive for COVID-19.

How is coronavirus affecting life in Germany? Cultural cancellations Cultural life has also taken a hit, with major fairs and trade shows canceled or postponed. Among the casualties were the Leipzig Book Fair and the Musikmesse Frankfurt, Europe's biggest music trade fair. Numerous clubs, galleries and museums have closed across the country, and the gala award show for the annual German film and television award, the Goldene Kamera, has been moved to November.

How is coronavirus affecting life in Germany? Not the 'Wuhan flu' The Chinese origin of the virus has led to an increase in xenophobic sentiment in the places worst hit by the outbreak. Asian restaurants and stores — not just Chinese — have reported empty tables in countries hard hit by the pandemic, and people with Asian features have experienced discrimination. At a recent Bundesliga game in Leipzig, a group of Japanese fans was ejected from the stadium.

How is coronavirus affecting life in Germany? Flights grounded German airline Lufthansa has massively reduced its flight capacity as business and personal travel is cut back. The flagship carrier is now seeking state aid, according to a report from Germany business newspaper Handelsblatt. Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr will be attending a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, according to government sources.

How is coronavirus affecting life in Germany? Car production crippled Car plants in China have been shut down since January, and major German automakers like Volkswagen and Daimler have said both sales and production have been hit by the epidemic. And with many automakers sourcing electric car parts from China, work at plants in Germany has also hit a stumbling block. Berlin has said it plans to financially support companies suffering coronavirus losses.

How is coronavirus affecting life in Germany? Fewer tourists "The consequences for the German tourism sector are serious," warned Guido Zöllick, head of the German Hotel and Restaurant Association. Already by the second week of March, 76.1% of members had reported a sharp decrease in bookings and a drop in revenue. The German parliament has banned tourists from visiting the glass dome of the Reichstag building until further notice.

How is coronavirus affecting life in Germany? Border checks In an effort to prevent further spread, Germany has closed its borders with France, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria and Denmark. Authorities in Poland and the Czech Republic had already begun spot checks, measuring the temperature of travelers crossing main road borders out of Germany.

How is coronavirus affecting life in Germany? School closures Preschools and primary schools across Germany have shut. The closures have affected more than 2.2 million children up to age 16 countrywide, according to Germany's Federal Statistical Office. German television stations have adjusted their programming in response to the school closures. Author: Martin Kuebler



08:08 Italy's government has readied around €10 billion ($11.4 billion) to boost its economy and combat the effects of the coronavirus. Economic Development Minister Stefano Patuanelli said this will cause the national deficit to rise to just under 3%.

07:46 Taiwan's authorities says it has arranged special chartered flights to take more than 400 Taiwan nationals stranded in Wuhan back to Taipei. They have been stranded in the city at the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak for months after it was put on lockdown by the Chinese government.

Health and Welfare Minister Chen Shih-chung said Taiwan has sufficient capacity for both quarantine and virus testing to deal with hundreds of evacuees at once.

Passengers will only be able to board the flights if they tested negative for the virus and have no fever.

07:00 India completed its first evacuation of its citizens from virus-hit Iran. India's Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar tweeted: "First batch of 58 Indian pilgrims being brought back from Iran."

India is working on the return of other Indians there, Jaishankar added.

06:30 Cyprus confirmed its first cases of the COVID-19. The country was the last in the EU with no confirmed cases. A 64-year-old doctor who had recently returned from the UK was one of two individuals to test positive on the island.

05:45 Austria issued a travel warning for the entirety of Italy. It also "urgently advised" citizens to return home from Italy. Health authorities there announced a lockdown across the entire country, affecting around 60 million citizens.

05:15 Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak, for the first time since the since the crisis erupted in January — a sign that Beijing believes its control measures are paying off.

State media showed Xi, wearing a mask, speaking via video-link to medical workers and patients at one of the field hospitals set up in the city.

Xi's visit comes as China reported a tumble in new infection cases. The National Health Commission reported just 19 new infections on Monday, down from 40 the day before.

Xi's visit to Wuhan is seen as a sign from Beijing that it has the virus under control

04:40 The coronavirus outbreak has not yet reached its peak in Germany and further restrictions to everyday life can be expected, German Health Minister Jens Spahn has said.

"The primary goal is to slow the outbreak," he wrote in a guest post for the German tabloid Bild published late Monday.

Earlier Monday, Germany had reported its first two deaths from coronavirus.

04:29 Canada has reported its first coronavirus death. Health officials in the westernmost province of British Colombia said the victim was a man who had been living at an elderly care facility.

04:15 Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Wuhan, where the coronavirus outbreak originated, on Tuesday, his first visit to the city since the epidemic began at the end of last year.

The unannounced visit signals that officials believe the outbreak has been brought under control. China reported only 19 news cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, the lowest figure since the country started sharing data on January 21.

03:55 American rock group Pearl Jam is postponing the first leg of their North American spring tour due to coronavirus concerns.

"The levels of risk to our audience and their communities is simply too high for our comfort level," a statement signed by the band released Tuesday said.

"It certainly hasn't helped that there's been no clear messages from our government regarding people's safety and our ability to go to work," the statement continued. "Having no examples of our national health department's ability to get ahead of this, we have no reason to believe that it will be under control in the coming weeks ahead."

The band hails from Washington, the US state currently most affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.

03:50 China's Hubei province — the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak — is considering allowing people in low- or medium-risk areas to start traveling. At a meeting between province authorities, officials discussed implementing the use of a "health code," a mobile-based monitoring tool, to facilitate travel in the region.

03:20 In light of the coronavirus outbreak, the chairman of Germany's free market-liberal Free Democrats (FDP) has said it should be easier for people to work from home.

"Many people currently prefer to work from home out of fear of infection," said FDP chairman Christian Lindner. "There should be a right to work from home…The public sector as an employer should lead the way and actively offer its employees opportunities to work from home."

03:08 The president of the Ifo Institute for Economic Research, a Munich-based institution, said a coronavirus-related recession in Germany could be "unavoidable."

"There are some indications that a recession is imminent," Ifo president Clemens Fuest told German daily Augsburger Allgemeine. "Unfortunately, many virologists are saying the outbreak could subside in the summer, but return in the fall. In that case, a recession would be unavoidable."

02:50 Japan's government has approved a draft of a "state of emergency" bill that, if approved by parliament, would allow Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to impose drastic measures to fight the spread of coronavirus. The bill would include measures that allow authorities to keep people inside and to seize buildings to use them as hospitals.

A top government spokesman said the country had not yet reached such a point.

02:36 After reporting its first case of coronavirus today, Mongolia put its cities on lockdown.

"The capital Ulaanbaatar and all province centers are quarantined until March 16 to curb the outbreak," Deputy Prime Minister Enkhtuvshin Ulziisaikhan said at a press conference.

02:20 Austria's foreign ministry has called on any citizens currently in Italy — the European country the worst hit by the COVID-19 outbreak — to return home.

"Austrian travelers are strongly advised to return to Austria," a statement on the ministry's website read.

All of Italy is currently affected by a travel lockdown that forbids its citizens from leaving the country.

Coronavirus: The consequences for tourism Germany extends travel warnings to include Budapest, Vienna, Amsterdam The Foreign Ministry has reacted to higher numbers of coronavirus infections on September 16 by issuing further travel warnings, including Vienna and Budapest. The province of North Holland with Amsterdam as well as South Holland with the cities of The Hague and Rotterdam are also affected. New risk areas were also identified in the Czech Republic, Romania, Croatia, France, and Switzerland.

Coronavirus: The consequences for tourism Historical sales losses in global tourism Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the tourism sector has suffered a loss of 460 billion dollars (388 billion euros) from January to June, the World Tourism Organization reported in Madrid. The loss of sales was five times higher than during the international financial and economic crisis of 2009, and the total number of tourists worldwide fell by 65 percent in the first half of the year.

Coronavirus: The consequences for tourism Germany issues further European travel warnings Germany’s Foreign Office has warned against unnecessary tourism to Czech capital, Prague, and the Swiss cantons Geneva and Vaud (Vaud). This also applies to the French Mediterranean island of Corsica, the French regions Auvergne-Rhones-Alpes (around Lyon), Nouvelle-Aquitaine (around Bordeaux) and Occitania (around Toulouse) as well as more Croatian Adriatic areas, such as the city of Dubrovnik.

Coronavirus: The consequences for tourism Berlin to start 'differentiated system' for travel warnings The German government has extended its travel warning for around 160 countries through September 30. The advisory applies to "third countries" — i.e. countries that are not members of the EU or associated with the Schengen area. From October 1st, a "differentiated system" will apply, in which individual travel and safety information will be given for each country.

Coronavirus: The consequences for tourism Australia's borders to stay shut into December Australia has extended its travel restrictions for a further three months. The borders will remain closed for visitors from abroad until at least December 17. However, the government announced that domestic travel will soon be allowed for residents of the country. An exception will be the state of Victoria, with its metropolis Melbourne, for which a lockdown has been in place since early July.

Coronavirus: The consequences for tourism Germany declares all of Spain a virus hot spot Germany has added the Canary Islands to its list of coronavirus hotspots. That means ALL of Spain is now considered a high-risk area for German travellers. Infection rates have surged across Spain since lockdown measures were lifted in June.

Coronavirus: The consequences for tourism New York observation deck "The Edge" reopens From Wednesday (Sept. 2), visitors can again enjoy the glass sky deck on the 100th floor of the "30 Hudson Yards" skyscraper in western Manhattan. Only a few days after its opening, the viewing platform had been closed in March because of the coronavirus pandemic. At 335 meters (1099 ft.), "The Edge" is considered the highest publicly accessible outdoor viewing terrace in the western world.

Coronavirus: The consequences for tourism Germany extends global travel warning The German government has extended the travel warning for around 160 countries outside the European Union by two weeks until September 14. A spokeswoman for the German Foreign Ministry explained the move on Wednesday (Aug 26) with rising coronavirus infection rates. "The situation will not relax sufficiently by mid-September to be able to lift the worldwide travel warning," she said.

Coronavirus: The consequences for tourism Travel warnings for Paris and Côte d'Azur On Monday evening (Aug 24) the German government issued a travel warning for the greater Paris area and large parts of the French Mediterranean coast becuase of the increased coronavirus infection rates. The regions of Île-de-France and Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur have also been included in the updated list of risk areas compiled by the Robert Koch Institute.

Coronavirus: The consequences for tourism First Mediterranean cruise has set sail With 2,500 instead of 6,000 passengers, the MSC Grandiosa left the port of Genoa on August 16. Stops on the seven-day voyage include Naples, Palermo and Valletta. Passengers and crew were tested for coronavirus before boarding, and body temperature is to be checked on a daily basis. Rival cruise company Costa will not be offering Mediterranean cruises again until September.

Coronavirus: The consequences for tourism Germany declares most of Spain high-risk area Germany's health and interior ministries have agreed that all of Spain — apart from the Canary Islands — is now a high-risk area due to a surge in cases. Spain said it was closing night clubs across the country. Restaurants, bars and similar venues would need to close by 1 a. m. and would not be allowed to take in new guests after midnight.

Coronavirus: The consequences for tourism Paris is again a high-risk area France has declared Paris and the Bouches-du-Rhone department on the Mediterranean coast around Marseille high-risk coronavirus zones. The measure is in response to a sharp rise in COVID-19 infections over the past two weeks.

Coronavirus: The consequences for tourism COVID-19 deals tourism in Berlin a heavy blow In the first six months of 2020, 59% fewer tourists came to Berlin than in the previous year. The Statistics Office said on August 10 that 2.7 million guests had visited Berlin, the lowest number since 2004. The slump was even worse for foreign tourists: two thirds stayed away. Since June, the figures have been recovering and are at 30 to 40% of the previous year.

Coronavirus: The consequences for tourism Compulsory COVID-19 tests on entry into Germany Anyone entering Germany from a high-risk area must take a coronavirus test from August 8, after an order by Health Minister Jens Spahn. Currently, many countries are classified as risk areas, including the United States and Brazil. In the European Union, Luxembourg, the Belgian region of Antwerp and the Spanish regions of Aragon, Catalonia and Navarre were risk areas as of early August.

Coronavirus: The consequences for tourism Germany lifts travel warning for four Turkish regions Germans can again travel to Turkey. The German government has partially lifted the travel warning for the four popular coastal provinces of Antalya, Izmir, Aydin and Mugla. Travelers must be tested for coronavirus before returning to Germany. The costs of between €15 and 30 must be paid by the traveler. Turkey is one of the most popular holiday destinations for Germans.

Coronavirus: The consequences for tourism Setback for cruise holidays Norwegian cruise operator Hurtigruten has stopped all cruises on August 3 until further notice after an outbreak of the coronavirus on one of its ships. At least 40 passengers and crew members on the Roald Amundsen tested positive for COVID-19. Meanwhile, German cruise line Aida Cruises has also postponed its planned restart due to the lack of necessary permits.

Coronavirus: The consequences for tourism Nepal reopens Mount Everest for climbers amid COVID-19 Despite coronavirus uncertainty, Nepal has reopened Mount Everest for the autumn trekking and climbing season. To boost the struggling tourism sector the government will permit international flights to land in the country from August 17. The Himalayan country shut its borders in March just ahead of the busy spring season when hundreds of mountaineers usually flock to the country.

Coronavirus: The consequences for tourism German Foreign Office advises against travel to Barcelona On July 28, the German Foreign Office issued an advisory opinion against non-essential tourist trips to the Spanish regions of Aragon, Navarre and Catalonia, citing the high number of COVID-19 infections as well as local restrictions. The Catalan regional government in Barcelona has said it regrets the decision, saying the regional government was acting responsibly while trying to protect lives.

Coronavirus: The consequences for tourism Amsterdam wants fewer weekend visitors Concerned over a possible second wave of coronavirus, Amsterdam has requested that tourists not visit the Dutch capital on weekends. Potential day-trippers should come between Monday and Thursday, the city said on July 23. The tourist influx has swelled to such a degree that recommended social distancing of 1.5 meters between people is currently not possible in the city center.

Coronavirus: The consequences for tourism Crowd management in alpine idyll In order to manage tourist throngs amid the pandemic, Bavaria's Economy Minister Hubert Aiwanger is planning a live digital guiding system for visitors. Clogged streets, wild campers and overcrowding on hiking trails in the Alps — this brings popular regions such as Lake Tegernsee (photo) to their limits. The live update system is primarily intended to redirect day-trippers to less full areas.

Coronavirus: The consequences for tourism Eiffel Tower summit open again Visitors to Paris can finally visit the top of the Eiffel Tower again — the third level of the world-famous landmark opened on July 15. The number of tickets available is limited, in order to assure social distancing measures between visitors. Distancing is also in effect at the Disneyland Paris amusement park, which is opening its doors again after a four-month obligatory closure.

Coronavirus: The consequences for tourism End of the party Due to illegally held parties, Mallorca has ordered the forced closure of restaurants at Ballermann and Magaluf, resort areas visited by German and British tourists. The regulation came into effect on July 15 for two months. The behavior of a few vacationers and local owners should not jeopardize the huge efforts to fight the pandemic, said Balearic Tourism Minister Iago Negueruela.

Coronavirus: The consequences for tourism Stricter face mask rules on Balearic Islands On Mallorca and the other Balearic Islands, the regulations for wearing face masks have been tightened. To prevent the spread of the coronavirus, mouth and nose protection must be worn from July 13 in all enclosed public spaces as well as outdoors, whenever it is possible to encounter other people. On the beach, at the pool and during sports, however, masks are still not mandatory.

Coronavirus: The consequences for tourism Flights overshadowed by fear Holiday flights within Europe are on the move again, with passengers sitting close together. According to an opinion poll by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), 62% of those questioned are afraid of being infected by passengers in the next seat. This was identified by IATA as the main reason for the decline in willingness to travel, which is now only 45%.

Coronavirus: The consequences for tourism EU relaxes entry restrictions Starting from July 1, people from third countries with low infection rates may enter the EU again as regular travelers. These countries are Algeria, Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, Morocco, Montenegro, New Zealand, Rwanda, Serbia, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia and Uruguay. China will only be considered if it also lifts its entry restrictions for Europeans.

Coronavirus: The consequences for tourism COVID-19 test center opened at Frankfurt airport A coronavirus test center has been in operation at Frankfurt airport since June 29. Here, passengers both departing and arriving can be tested to avoid quarantine. The standard procedure, in which the results are available as a download within six to eight hours, costs €59. Around 300 tests can be performed per hour.

Coronavirus: The consequences for tourism World famous Alhambra in Granada opens again The Alhambra Castle in Granada in southern Spain opened its doors to tourists again on June 17. Initially, only 4,250 visitors were admitted at the same time — only half as many as usual. In addition, masks are mandatory. The Alhambra is considered the most important testimony to Arab architecture in Europe and is a World Heritage site.

Coronavirus: The consequences for tourism 'Re-open EU': A website with travel rules for Europe Entry regulations, masks, quarantine? The new EU overview website "reopen.europa.eu" provides information on the coronavirus rules of individual EU countries — and in 24 languages. Tourists can enter their destination country on the website and find out about regulations that apply there. So far, the site contains information on 27 EU countries and is to be continuously updated.

Coronavirus: The consequences for tourism Germany's borders are open again During the night of June 15, the federal police ended the border controls that had been introduced three months ago due to the coronavirus crisis. Complete freedom of travel between Germany and its neighboring countries is back in effect. At the same time, the Foreign Office's travel warnings for 27 European countries ended.

Coronavirus: The consequences for tourism German government extends worldwide travel ban The beaches of the world people dream of, like here on Ko Phi Phi in Thailand, will have to do without German tourists. The German government has extended the travel warning for tourists due to the coronavirus pandemic for more than 160 countries outside the EU until August 31. However, exceptions can be made for individual countries where the spread of the virus has been sufficiently contained.

Coronavirus: The consequences for tourism Tourist pilot project launched on Mallorca Some 6,000 Germans will be the first foreign tourists to be allowed to travel to the Balearic Islands from June 15. According to Spanish media, the pilot project is intended to test the security precautions at airports and hotels before all of Spain opens its borders on July 1. Germany was chosen because the epidemiological situation there is similar to that on the Balearic Islands.

Coronavirus: The consequences for tourism Italy reopened for Europeans Starting on June 3, tourists from Europe have been allowed to enter Italy again, the country that was one of the worst hit by the coronavirus pandemic worldwide. A two-week quarantine for travelers from Europe was no longer required. This should save the travel season. Italians will again be able to move freely throughout the country and travel to other regions.

Coronavirus: The consequences for tourism Aida cancels cruises until end of July The 14 cruise ships of the German Rostock-based shipping company Aida Cruises will remain in port until July 31. In many holiday destination countries the regulations for international tourism were still being discussed, the company announced. The Italian shipping company Costa also extended the cruise suspension for its fleet until July 31.

Coronavirus: The consequences for tourism Colosseum and other sights in Italy open again Rome's 2,000-year-old landmark could finally be visited again from June 1, and the Vatican Museums also reopened on that day. Ancient Pompeii, south of Naples at the foot of Mount Vesuvius, welcomed visitors early, but only those from within the country. Foreign tourists had to wait until June 3 to visit the ancient sites.

Coronavirus: The consequences for tourism Tourism on Greek islands restarts From May 25, Greece's islands were accessible again by plane and ferry for domestic tourists. Taverns, bars and cafes reopened nationwide. Ferries were to sell only 50% of their tickets, and taverns were only allowed to occupy half of their tables. The list of countries from which foreign tourists can enter Greece without a two-week quarantine was set to be announced at the end of May.

Coronavirus: The consequences for tourism Austria reopens border to Germany The Austrian government has announced that the border with Germany will be opened on June 15. Tourism in Austria has been effectively suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic. On May 29, hotels and other accommodation in Austria will be allowed to reopen. Austrian tourism is heavily dependent on guests from Germany.

Coronavirus: The consequences for tourism Start of the season on the North Sea Islands Borkum, Juist (photo) and the other East Frisian islands are happy to be able to greet tourists again, even if it's a limited surge of visitors. Since May 11, overnight stays in holiday apartments and camping sites throughout Lower Saxony have been allowed again. Holidaymakers must stay at least one week. However, day tourists and hotel overnight stays are still prohibited.

Coronavirus: The consequences for tourism Will travel within Europe soon be possible again? Holidaymakers might also be able to travel to the Balearic or Greek Islands in summer. "If there are very few new infections there and the medical care works, one could also think about a summer holiday in those places", the government's commissioner for tourism, Thomas Bareiss, told the Tagesspiegel newpaper. Long-distance travel, however, is likely to be canceled this summer.

Coronavirus: The consequences for tourism Holiday season at the Baltic Sea to start Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is the first federal state to reopen to tourists from all over Germany: From May 25th they can again stay in hotels, guest houses and holiday homes. 60 percent of the bed capacity will be released for this purpose. This means that the tourist season can start with the Whitsun holidays in popular holiday regions like the Baltic Sea and the Mecklenburg Lake District.

Coronavirus: The consequences for tourism Germany extends worldwide travel warning Germany extended on Wednesday (April 29) its worldwide travel warning due to the coronavirus crisis to at least June 14. The Federal Foreign Office said that "severe and drastic restrictions in international air and travel traffic and worldwide entry restrictions, quarantine measures and restrictions on public life in many countries can still be expected."

Coronavirus: The consequences for tourism Oktoberfest in Munich canceled Oktoberfest has been canceled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. Bavaria's premier Markus Söder and Munich Mayor Dieter Reiter announced the decision on April 21."It pains us, and it is a great pity," said Söder. But in times of the coronavirus, the danger of infection at the folk festival, which attracts about 6 million visitors annually, would just be too great. Author: Andreas Kirchhoff, Susan Bonney-Cox



02:08 South Korea, one of the countries most affected by the outbreak, reported fewer than 150 new daily cases for the first time in two weeks. On Monday, the country confirmed a total of 131 new cases.

01:55 Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has called the coronavirus threat "overstated."

"In my opinion, that virus's destructive power is overstated. Maybe it is even potentially being exaggerated for political reasons," Bolsonaro said.

The far-right leader said that the recent fall of the world markets "basically has to do with the price of oil, which sank 30 percent, and with the coronavirus issue, too."

01:45 The Central American nation of Panama has confirmed its first case of coronavirus.

01:26 A nursing home in Seattle, Washington at the center of the outbreak in the US has reported 31 more confirmed cases. Since February 19, 26 of the home's 120 patients have died. Autopsies have confirmed that at least 13 of the deaths were due to coronavirus.

01:23 For the third day in a row, China has reported no new local coronavirus transmissions.

01:20 South Korea has reported 35 new cases of coronavirus, bringing the national total to 7,513.

01:12 Mongolia has confirmed its first case of coronavirus — a French national working in the country.

00:22 In mainland China, where the outbreak began, 80,754 people have been diagnosed with coronavirus thus far. Nearly 60,000 have already recovered. Nine new cases were confirmed on the mainland on Monday, compared to 40 the day before.

00:12 The head of the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW) expects coronavirus to bring on a recession in Germany this year.

"It's probable that Germany will experience a recession this year — employment is going to suffer visibly," the institute's chief economic forecaster Claus Michelsen told German daily Berliner Morgenpost.

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