The latest figures for Germany and Europe

Fighting the corona virus

For experts, the corona virus is unstoppable worldwide. More and more countries are affected. And the number of unreported cases should be large. The number of detected coronavirus infections is increasing in Germany. In the video you will learn how the spread in Germany should be slowed down and with the RTL.de live ticker you will always be up to date.

Expert Dr. Specht answers the most important questions about the corona virus here.

11:40 p.m. – 100-year-old infected survived coronavirus

While corona infection can be particularly dangerous for the elderly and people with pre-existing conditions, Chinese authorities report that a 100-year-old was able to leave the hospital after the infection had passed. According to the Chinese state news agency Xinhua, the man is the oldest corona survivor to date.

After being admitted to Wuhan on February 24, he was allowed to leave the hospital on Saturday. He was treated with drugs that were once used to fight Ebola, it is said. The patient suffered from several previous illnesses such as heart problems and high blood pressure. The man is said to have already developed Alzheimer’s. At first, his condition was so critical that the clinic called in specialists. But after almost two weeks, he was now classified as healed.

9:45 p.m. – The latest figures for Germany and Europe

According to the WHO, there are already 113,851 infected worldwide, over 80,000 of them in China alone. With 4,015 coronavirus deaths worldwide, 3.53 percent of those infected died from the virus. In Germany alone there are 1,296 laboratory-confirmed cases and two deaths: An 89-year-old woman from Essen and a 78-year-old man from the Heinsberg district. A 59-year-old hamburger had previously died in Egypt. After the first infected persons were reported in Saxony-Anhalt on March 10, almost 16 weeks after the first laboratory-confirmed case in Germany, all 16 federal states are affected.

While the number of new infections in China is already declining and 70 percent of the sick are cured, Italy in particular is reporting increasing numbers. Today alone, the country reported 168 more deaths and 1,022 more people infected. On March 9, the exclusion zone of the worst affected regions was therefore extended to the whole country. More than 60 million residents are encouraged to leave their homes only in extreme emergencies. Most of the cases in Europe are in the following countries:

• Italy: 10,149 infected – 631 dead
• Iran: 7,161 infected – 291 dead
• France: 1,402 infected – 30 dead
• Germany: 1,296 infected – 2 dead
• Spain: 1,024 infected – 28 dead

Source: World Health Organization, As of March 10, 2020, 9:30 p.m.

German doctor reports from Italy

9:05 pm – Allow Sunday work and lift driving bans for trucks

The Federal Government is launching further crisis measures in the fight against the Sars-CoV-2 coronavirus. The federal government should now also take over central procurement for intensive care in clinics, as announced on Tuesday evening after a meeting of the crisis team of the Ministry of Health and the Interior. In order to avoid delivery and supply bottlenecks, trucks should exceptionally also be allowed to drive on Sundays and more Sunday work should be possible. The federal police should intensify its controls “particularly at the southern borders” of Germany.

9:00 p.m. – Overview: Germany without a uniform solution in the fight against corona virus

The advice of Federal Minister of Health Jens Spahn do not penetrate everywhere. Only 6 federal states have now banned events with more than 1,000 people: Bavaria (until April 19), North Rhine-Westphalia (unlimited), Hesse, Thuringia, Lower Saxony, Bremen and Schleswig-Holstein. In Thuringia, events with more than 500 people have to be specially approved. Rhineland-Palatinate, Hesse and Saarland only recommended canceling large events. There are no prohibitions here. No decision has yet been made in the other federal states.

In addition to festivals and trade fairs, the major events canceled also include sporting events. While some football games in the Champions League and Europa League take place without spectators, the German Ice Hockey League (DEL) ended the current season prematurely.

8:43 p.m. – 25 billion euros from the EU

The EU Commission is preparing help to mitigate the economic damage caused by the corona virus. Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen has announced a fund to be endowed with 25 billion euros. In addition, guidelines are to be presented by the end of the week on how budget and subsidy rules can be used flexibly.

8:38 pm – Jürgen Klopp: “Some things are more important than football”

Liverpool coach Jürgen Klopp has expressed doubts as to whether ghost games are the right way to fight the new corona virus. “I don’t know enough how much that would help with football matches,” said Klopp on Tuesday. “But the problem with soccer games is that when you’re not in the stadium, you watch them in closed rooms, maybe with several. I honestly don’t know which is better in this case. » In the coming weeks there will be several football games in the Bundesliga and the Champions League without spectators.

Liverpool are scheduled to host their Champions League game against Atlético Madrid on Wednesday. If the audience should be excluded in the coming weeks, Klopp would understand. “Whatever is decided, we will respect that because we all have families, parents, children, friends and we want them to be well,” he said. “I think some things are more important than football, and I think we are becoming aware of that right now. All we need now is time to find a solution. »

Before the game against Atlético, Liverpool FC called on its website to “good hygiene behavior”. Hand disinfectants and antibacterial soap are said to be available in Anfield, along with posters with medical instructions.

6:45 p.m. – Slovenia closes border with Italy

Slovenia wants to close the border with Italy, as Prime Minister Marjan Sarec announced on Twitter. According to the STA news agency, the border will only be closed for non-commercial traffic, but will remain open for freight traffic.

6:30 p.m. – Sudden increase in deaths in Italy

In Italy, the number of infected people exceeded the 10,000 mark. According to the information provided by civil protection, it increases by 10.7 percent to 10,149 within a day. The number of people who died of lung disease increased by 36 percent to 631.

6:08 pm – Ice hockey season completely over: No master this year

The season in the German Ice Hockey League is prematurely terminated as a result of the expansion of the corona virus. As the DEL announced in the evening, there is no master this year.

Here you can read all the background information from colleagues from sports

6:01 pm – “It’s about life and death”

In martial terms, ghost games have been ordered for the first time in the Bundesliga. Ironically, the derbies Borussia Mönchengladbach against 1. FC Köln and Borussia Dortmund against FC Schalke 04, which are eagerly awaited by the fans, may only take place without an audience due to the rapid spread of the corona virus. “This is really about life and death for the audience,” said Mayor Ulrich Sierau (SPD) of Dortmund on Tuesday. This is not a scaremongering, but a sober assessment.

5:56 p.m. – Also Champions League game of Bayern without spectators

And the next game without fans in the stadium: The round of 16 second leg of Bayern Munich against Chelsea on March 18 is a ghost game. As the German football record champions announced on Tuesday, this game will be played in front of empty spectator stands due to the consequences of the new corona virus.

5:42 p.m. – First hospital in Germany imposes a visit ban

The Sankt Elisabeth Hospital in Eutin (Ostholstein district) has had a general visitor stop since Monday due to the corona virus. Since “the spread of the coronavirus has also reached Schleswig-Holstein and a decline in the wave of infections is not yet foreseeable, we have to do everything possible to keep the risk of infection for our patients as low as possible”, the clinic explained the decision on its website . As a palliative and geriatric center, older and seriously ill patients are cared for there. According to them, the course of the infectious disease Covid-19 was particularly difficult after their first experiences at home and abroad. The time between infection and the onset of symptoms is two to 14 days. A visitor who feels perfectly healthy could still carry the virus to the hospital.
Exceptions to the visitor stop are possible on the palliative care unit or when visiting patients with cognitive impairments and other medically and / or ethically justified cases.
Urgent personal items such as changing clothes or toiletries for patients can be left in the reception area. Until the end of the measure, patients can stay in touch with relatives free of charge by telephone, it said.

5:23 p.m. – 12 dead after riots in Italian prisons

According to the authorities, twelve people have died in prison riots in Italy since Sunday. Most were believed to have been killed by misuse of stolen medication. The government reports that the most violent protests are now under control. However, there are still demonstrations in ten prisons. The inmates in the overcrowded detention centers are protesting measures to contain the virus crisis, in particular restrictions on visits. There were hostage-taking, arson and outbreaks from a detention center.

5:20 p.m. – Merkel supports action by the authorities

Chancellor Angela Merkel has spoken out for the authorities to adopt a strict approach in the fight against the new corona virus. All unnecessary events should be canceled, the CDU politician said on Tuesday during the meeting of the Union faction in the Bundestag, as the German Press Agency learned from participants. With regard to Bundesliga soccer games without spectators, Merkel said: “Games in front of empty seats are not the worst thing that can happen to this country.”

According to participants, Merkel thanked Minister of Health Jens Spahn (CDU) for his work. She was quoted as saying: “Jens Spahn does it really well.” The MPs then gave long and loud applause. Brinkhaus therefore announced that his group would cancel all internal events that were not absolutely necessary because of the corona virus. However, this does not apply to parliamentary group meetings.

4:30 p.m. – International match Germany against Italy without spectators

The international match of the national team against Italy on March 31 in Nuremberg will be held in front of empty ranks due to the spread of the corona virus. The city of Nuremberg informed the German Football Association on Tuesday, as the DFB announced.

4:10 p.m. – A billion for the fight against the corona virus in Germany

According to Union fraction leader Ralph Brinkhaus (CDU), the Bundestag will release up to one billion euros more for the fight against the new corona virus. “We will provide additional budget funds of up to one billion euros,” Brinkhaus announced on Tuesday before a parliamentary group meeting in Berlin. Among other things, this should enable research measures. The Parliament wants to send the very clear signal: “The Federal Minister of Health, the health authorities will get all the resources they need to tackle the corona crisis.”

Union budget expert Eckhardt Rehberg (CDU) said around 275 million euros would be made available for protective equipment and breathing masks. There would also be a further 500 million euros and 145 million euros as part of Germany in the CEPI research network, which is responsible for vaccine research, among other things. The budget committee of the Bundestag will take note of the corresponding unplanned expenditure this Wednesday

3:50 pm – NRW wants to ban all major events with more than 1,000 participants

Armin Laschet, CDU Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, has called for nationwide uniform rules for the handling of games in the Bundesliga. “We need a uniform regulation,” said Laschet at a press conference in Düsseldorf today. With regard to other major events, he referred to today’s decree that all other major events with more than 1,000 participants in North Rhine-Westphalia should be canceled.

Health minister Karl-Josef Laumann (CDU) said: “After the decree, the local authorities must generally cancel events with more than 1000 visitors. Sports events without spectators can take place.” For events with less than 1000 visitors, an individual assessment of the local authorities of the districts or cities is required.

In the current situation, according to Laschet, “it is important to put aside individual and personal interests. We prefer to say a few things now so that the curve of infections becomes flatter.”

2:33 p.m. – Vatican blocks St. Peter’s Square

The Vatican has blocked St. Peter’s Square in Rome from the public for protection against the coronavirus wave. This was announced by the press office of the Papal State on Tuesday. The closure will initially apply until April 3. This is also the date by which the Italian government restricted freedom of movement across the country to curb the spread of the virus.

The Vatican had already closed its museums and thus the much visited Sistine Chapel, as the Papal States announced on Sunday. Pope Francis’ traditional Angelus prayer was only broadcast on St. Peter’s Square by video – usually the Pope stands at the window of the Apostolic Palace and speaks directly to the crowd. Italy is the hardest hit country by the virus wave in Europe. The Vatican City is in the middle of the Italian capital.

2:14 p.m. – Thuringian and Hessian municipalities are to forego major events for the time being

In order to curb the spread of the new corona virus, no events with more than 1000 participants are to take place in Thuringia and Hesse for the time being. A corresponding instruction had been given to all municipalities on Tuesday.

“Our aim is to reduce the risk through these strict requirements,” said Health Minister Heike Werner in Thuringia. In addition, events in Thuringia with 500 to 1000 participants should only be allowed after an examination in exceptional cases and proportionality. In the current situation, Werner does not consider the general closure of schools and daycare centers to be necessary. In Hesse, the Ministry of Social Affairs also announced that large crowds of people, “especially in closed rooms”, are to be avoided.

2:03 p.m. – Lit.Cologne canceled due to corona virus

The literary festival Lit.Cologne has been canceled due to the spread of the corona virus – on the day of the planned opening. This was announced by the festival management in Cologne. It follows a recommendation from Cologne’s Mayor Henriette Reker. Actually, the 20th edition of the festival should take place from March 10th to 21st in the cathedral city.

With more than 200 events and over 100,000 visitors over twelve days, the Lit.Cologne is the largest literature festival in Europe. It should start on Tuesday evening with a gala for the awarding of the audio book price. However, this kick-off event had already been canceled on Tuesday morning.

2:01 p.m. – EU Council of Ministers on coronavirus outcomes due to coronavirus

The EU Council of Ministers has canceled its next trade meeting because of the corona virus. This was confirmed by a spokeswoman for the Croatian EU Presidency in Brussels on Tuesday. This Thursday’s meeting should address, among other things, the impact of the Covid-19 outbreak on global supply chains and trade flows. It was initially unclear whether there would be a replacement date.

12:51 p.m. – Schleswig-Holstein prohibits large events – including Bremen – Leverkusen without spectators

Schleswig-Holstein’s state government will ban events involving more than 1,000 people because of the new corona virus. The cabinet decided on Tuesday on the proposal of Health Minister Heiner Garg (FDP), said a spokesman for the Ministry of Health. The decree was due to be launched on Tuesday. Bavaria already banned major events until April 19 (see also the report from 12:27 p.m.). In addition to the Derby’s Mönchengladbach against Cologne and Dortmund against Schalke the Bundesliga match between Bremen and Leverkusen will also take place on Monday without spectators. Bremen’s mayor demands that the DFL cancel the entire match day.

In Poland, all major events were canceled to prevent the corona virus from spreading further. A recently passed law gives the government more leeway in preventing coronavirus prevention. Accordingly, all major entertainment and sports events, including football games, will be canceled.

12:40 p.m. – Federal government advises against traveling to all of Italy

Due to the rapid spread of the corona virus in Italy, the Federal Government is now advising against all unnecessary trips to the country. The travel information of the Federal Foreign Office was updated accordingly on Tuesday. The Italian government had previously extended the restrictions and restrictions on freedom of movement to the whole country. So far, the Federal Foreign Office has expressly advised against traveling to particularly badly affected regions in the north of the country.

On a travel warning – as for parts of China – the Federal Government continues to waive. Travel warnings are only given when there is an acute danger to life and limb and are therefore rare. You can allow travel to be canceled free of charge.

The Federal Foreign Office points out that it is still possible to return to a place of residence both inside and outside Italy. Controls and inquiries from security and law enforcement officers must be expected. A self-declaration about the need for a trip within the country must be filled out and carried.

12:27 pm – Bavaria prohibits events with more than 1,000 people

Because of the spread of the novel corona virus, the Free State of Bavaria prohibits events with more than 1,000 people. The state government recommends that events with 500 to 1,000 people be canceled, after consulting the authorities, as the German Press Agency learned from government circles on the sidelines of a cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

12:16 p.m. – China’s President Xi Jinping visits the crisis region

Chinese President Xi Jinping said the visit to the coronavirus epidemic epicenter said the work to curb the disease in Wuhan, a metropolis of millions, and in Hubei Province was laborious. But the official news agency Xinhua quotes the head of state that the first steps towards a turnaround have been made. The virus is affecting Hubei’s economy, but the long-term positive driving force is not affected.

12:05 p.m. – Number of coronavirus deaths in Iran continues to rise

In Iran, the number of coronavirus deaths and infections has risen again dramatically. Within a day, the death toll increased from 237 to 291, said ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur in Tehran. The number of officially recorded infections in the country increased to 8042 – 881 more than the previous day. Most infections were again in the capital, Tehran, where it has been proven that over 2100 people were infected with the Sars-CoV-2 coronavirus. At the same time, 2,731 patients were cured from the hospitals, the spokesman said.

Another country in the Arab world, Lebanon, has reported its first deaths due to the novel corona virus. It was a 56-year-old, the Lebanese Ministry of Health said on Tuesday, as reported by the state news agency NNA. He came to Lebanon from Egypt last month.

According to the Red Cross, there are currently 41 coronavirus infections in Lebanon. The country maintains close contacts with Iran, which is severely affected by the virus called Sars-CoV-2.

12:00 PM – Hong Kong quarantines visitors from affected regions

Hong Kong has ordered a two-week quarantine for visitors from North Rhine-Westphalia, parts of Japan and France and for all visitors from Italy, according to the French consulate.

11:48 am – Austria wants to largely stop entry from Italy

In the fight against the new corona virus, Austria wants to largely stop entry from Italy. Exceptions are only possible with a medical certificate, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz announced on Tuesday in Vienna. Courses at universities and technical colleges will also be temporarily suspended from Monday.

All outdoor events with over 500 people and indoor events with over 100 visitors will be canceled by early April.

11:47 am – More and more airlines cancel flights to Italy

The low-cost airlines Norwegian Air Shuttle and Wizz Air from Hungary announced on Tuesday that all connections to Italy will be terminated by April. The British budget airline Easyjet canceled the majority of its flights to Milan, Venice and Verona. British Airways canceled all Italy flights on Tuesday. The airline referred to the recommendation of the British government to make only necessary trips to Italy due to the spreading infection. On Monday, the largest European low-cost airline Ryanair canceled domestic flights in Italy and further thinned the flight plan to northern Italy from outside.

Italy is doing its utmost to prevent the spread of the corona virus. The German Foreign Office also advises against traveling to northern Italy. “Limit travel in and to Italy to what is currently necessary,” is the recommendation.

In Denmark, aircraft from regions particularly affected by the coronavirus are no longer allowed to land. Air traffic from the so-called red zones – including Iran, large parts of northern Italy and areas in Austria, China and South Korea – will be discontinued, said the Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen at a press conference in Copenhagen on Tuesday.

11:10 am – Tourists have to leave Israel within a few days

After tightening the entry requirements due to the spread of the corona virus, tourists now have to leave Israel within a few days. “Tourists staying in Israel will be given time to travel in an orderly manner over the next few days,” said the Health Ministry statement. An exact date was not given. Should tourists show symptoms of illness beforehand, they should immediately report to the emergency services, it said. Otherwise, they should follow hygiene rules, avoid crowds, and document their itinerary in Israel. A return to neighboring countries after departure is not possible.

On Monday evening, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided that everyone entering Israel would have to spend two weeks in home quarantines because of the spread of the corona virus. The decision initially applies to two weeks. According to media reports, the Interior Ministry specified that the decision will apply immediately to Israelis, and it will come into force for foreigners from Thursday. After that, foreigners can no longer enter the country unless they can prove that they can stay in quarantine conditions for 14 days. Thousands of citizens are currently in quarantine in Israel. According to the Ministry of Health, the virus has now been detected in 50 people in Israel. No deaths have been recorded so far.

11:02 am – The Bundesliga game BVB against Schalke 04 is also a ghost game

According to RTL / ntv information, the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and Schalke 04 next Saturday will also take place without spectators. Previously, it was already known that the teams at the Rhein derby between Borussia Mönchengladbach and 1. FC Köln from the ranks without fan support.

In the video, the President of the Robert Koch Institute, Lothar Wieler, explains why it makes sense to cancel major events with the current spread of the coronavirus.

10:56 a.m. – Train drivers wash their hands more often on board

After the spread of the new corona virus, rail travelers pay more attention to hygiene: the consumption of soap and disinfectants on board trains has increased by up to 20 percent in the past few days and weeks, a spokesman for Deutsche Bahn said. The group is also gradually shortening the cleaning intervals for long-distance trains. “The railway is currently distributing 100,000 face masks to customer service staff (train attendants, bus drivers),” it said.

10:13 – RKI: district councilors, mayors and hospitals should activate crisis plans

The Robert Koch Institute has declared all of Italy a risk area because of the outbreak of the new corona virus. That’s what RKI President Lothar Wieler said in Berlin.

There are now 1139 laboratory-confirmed cases in Germany, the focus is still on North Rhine-Westphalia, there are 484 cases, 204 in Baden-Württemberg and 256 in Bavaria.

The threat in Germany is assessed as moderate, but it differs in different areas. It is higher in particularly affected regions, such as the Heinsberg district. Wieler speaks of a serious situation, all district administrators, mayors and hospitals should activate their contingency plans, he said. For example, hospitals should postpone non-urgent operations to keep hospital beds free.

Cases are also increasing worldwide, there are currently 111,000 cases, and the dynamic is still very high, says Wieler.

9:51 am – Rhein derby on Wednesday evening will be a ghost game

The Bundesliga game Borussia Mönchengladbach against 1. FC Köln is a ghost game according to ntv / RTL information. According to information from our editorial team, the city will announce this later in the afternoon. The Bundesliga game is scheduled to kick off on Wednesday at 6 p.m.
It is the first ghost game in the history of the first Bundesliga.

9:41 am – Saxony-Anhalt reports the first coronavirus case

The first coronavirus infection also occurs in Saxony-Anhalt: Sars-CoV-2 has been detected in a man from Halle, the Ministry of Social Affairs said in Magdeburg on Tuesday. All federal states are now affected by the corona virus.

9:32 am – Berlin’s Senator Geisel calls limit value for event cancellation “arbitrary”

Andreas Geisel, Interior Senator of Berlin, has criticized the cancellation of events with more than a thousand participants recommended by Federal Minister of Health Jens Spahn. “It is difficult to simply put an order of magnitude in the room, but then not to issue a clear regulation by the federal government that can be used as a guide,” the SPD politician told the RTL / ntv editorial team.

“We need a nationwide uniform regulation.” Theaters with a maximum of 700 seats are likely to continue. “It also shows the arbitrariness of a thousand people down,” said Hostage in the RTL / ntv early start.

8:30 am – Coronavirus case in northern Cyprus – German tourists affected

A 65-year-old vacationer from Germany was diagnosed with a coronavirus infection in Cyprus. The group of 30 tourists was quarantined in a hotel in the port city of Famagusta. This was announced by the authorities in the Turkish-occupied part of the island on Tuesday, the Cypriot State Broadcasting Corporation (RIK) reported.
The number of illnesses on the tourist island rose to three. The Cypriot health authorities confirmed on Monday for the first time two cases of infections with the novel corona virus in the Greek Cypriot southern part of the island.

08:29 – Employee of the European Central Bank in Frankfurt is infected

Since the new corona virus was diagnosed in an employee of the European Central Bank (ECB), around 100 employees who worked near the infected colleague remain at home as a precaution and work in the home office. According to the bank, the offices have been thoroughly cleaned.

To curb the spread of the virus, the ECB had already taken precautionary measures such as restricting business travel, expanding work opportunities at home, and canceling or postponing conferences and meetings.

8:13 am – Altmaier: Extend measures for the economy if necessary

The Federal Government has signaled its willingness to support the economy further. In order to avoid bankruptcies and layoffs, the grand coalition had already adopted a package of measures on Monday night, which among other things provides for a reduction in short-time work.

“We will expand these measures if necessary,” said Economics Minister Peter Altmaier on Tuesday in the ZDF morning magazine. On that day there were consultations in Berlin with the economics ministers of the federal states to ensure that the consequences of the virus outbreak were manageable.

8:03 am – Appeal to blood donors: No fear of coronavirus

The German Red Cross has appealed to blood donors not to refrain from donating for fear of being infected with the new coronavirus. At the DRK blood donation service North-East there is currently an increased decline in donor numbers, as the medical director, Prof. Torsten Tonn, explained.

The background is the corona epidemic, but also the seasonal increase in colds and influenza. “It is important that donations are increased in an early phase of the epidemic, where the infection is still limited to isolated cases, so that we can stock up so that patients can continue to be safely treated with blood preparations in therapy and emergency care,” explained Tonn .

06:06 am – Quarantine in hotel in Tenerife ended

It is one Redemption for dozens of holidaymakers in Tenerife: You were stuck in a hotel for around two weeks – now the quarantine has ended. Almost 1,000 vacationers were affected at times. The authorities had ordered the Quran to be found after the coronavirus was found in an Italian hotel guest. The man had been isolated in a hospital. The joy of the vacationers – and to whom they are particularly grateful – you can see in the video.

4:45 am – China’s President Xi Jinping visits Wuhan

China’s head of state and party leader Xi Jinping unexpectedly visited the metropolis of Wuhan in central China, which was severely affected by the new corona virus. The visit is for “inspection of the work to prevent and control the epidemic,” reported the official Xinhua news agency.

In the The Sars-CoV-2 virus first appeared in the city of eleven million at the beginning of December and from there it spread throughout China and finally worldwide. In Wuhan and the surrounding province of Hubei, where more than 40 million people have largely been isolated from the outside world since the end of January, 67,000 infections and around 3,000 deaths were counted alone.

00:15 – Egypt tests passengers of a Nile cruise ship for corona virus, including Germans

The passengers on the Egyptian ship “Habi 5” had to undergo a coronavirus test. The Nile cruise ship is anchored in Luxor. When asked by RTL, the Federal Foreign Office said: “We assume that this measure will also affect a medium to high double-digit number of Germans.”

This was the news from Monday, March 9th:

9:50 p.m. – Italy extends blocking measures across the country

The Blocking measures that were initially imposed on the 15 particularly affected regions of Italy will apply to the whole country from Tuesday. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said on Monday evening. “We are aware of how difficult it is to change our habits. I have the greatest understanding of all Italians,” said Conte. Curbing the coronavirus is a top priority.

A total of 7,985 Italians have been infected with the corona virus, 463 sufferers have already died from the lung disease. The measure forces the country’s over 60 million inhabitants to stay at home. Schools, universities and kindergartens will be closed until April 3rd. All sporting events, including Serie A games, will also be suspended. All cinemas, theaters, museums and other public facilities remain closed.

Only a few exceptions are possible to enter or leave. Germans who are in northern Italy can still travel back to Germany, the Federal Foreign Office said. International train and flight connections as well as local public transport are also spared from the blocking measures.

8:12 pm – Two cases reported in Cyprus: All 27 EU countries affected

Cyprus reported two coronavirus infections on Monday evening. This now affects all 27 EU member states. Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou announced in a press conference that the return would be from abroad. He particularly regrets that a 64-year-old man only reported his symptoms five days after the first appearance. After all, he was a doctor himself.

Across the EU, 11,577 people have contracted lung disease and 396 have already died. In the fight against the corona virus, the European Commission set up a five-person crisis management team to deal with the key issues of prevention, mobility and the economy. Research into the virus alone has already contributed 10 million euros.

7:36 p.m. – Interior Minister Horst Seehofer in domestic quarantine

Federal Interior Minister Horst Seehofer did not come to Berlin at the beginning of the week because a participant in the EU Interior Ministers meeting was said to have had contact with a person infected with coronavirus last week. The spokesman for the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Steve Alter, said on Monday that Seehofer and all members of the German delegation had tested negative for the novel corona virus after the trip. However, one also wanted to wait for the test result of the contact person. The minister will therefore remain at his place of residence in Ingolstadt for the time being.

On Twitter, the spokesman said Seehofer and the contact person were in the same room during a meeting. The interior ministers of the EU had a special meeting in Brussels last Wednesday to discuss the tense situation on the Turkish-Greek border.

7:10 p.m. – Israel puts all travelers in quarantine, Italy closes all ski resorts

The measures to contain the coronavirus are becoming more and more intensive worldwide. While Bavaria is the first federal state to follow Spahn’s recommendation and prohibit all events with more than 1,000 guests, Italy and Israel are also intensifying their security measures.

All travelers, whether from a risk area or not, should be in quarantine in Israel for a total of 14 days. “It is a difficult but indispensable decision in the name of maintaining our health,” said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The measure applies to the next two weeks. According to the Robert Koch Institute, there are 39 laboratory-confirmed infections in the country.

Italy, one day after the 15 most affected regions were sealed off from the outside world, also announced that all ski resorts in the country would be closed. Italy has the third most infected worldwide. Of a total of 9,172 laboratory-confirmed cases, 463 have already died from the coronavirus, according to the Italian authorities on Monday evening.

6:50 p.m. – 78-year-old dead man from Heinsberg was previously sick

Stephan Pusch, District Administrator of Heinsberg (NRW), announced in a press conference that the 78-year-old dead from Heinsberg was previously ill. The man from Gangelt, who died of the coronavirus, reported to the hospital on Friday and died of heart failure on Monday around 2:00 p.m. The man was probably infected at a carnival session in Gangelt and then developed symptoms such as diarrhea, fever and cough.

Since the man had “a variety of previous illnesses such as diabetes and heart problems”, he was admitted to the hospital, said Pusch. Only later it turned out that the patient from Heinsberg is the second casualty in Germany. An 89-year-old woman died at 12:44 p.m. in the university clinic in Essen. The patient was admitted to the hospital due to diarrhea and blood sugar problems and died of pneumonia.

6:30 p.m. – Spahn expects massive restrictions in the Bundesliga

Health Minister Jens Spahn assumes that the Bundesliga “will no longer take place this way”. In conversation with RTL Aktuell, he welcomed the statement by the German Football League that health is the most important thing and is taking precedence. The restrictions on major events, such as football games, are an important step to curb the spread of the virus: “These are areas where we have to do without a bit in everyday life in order to protect ourselves as a whole and especially the weaker in society fine.”

Many citizens find it easier to dispense with such large-scale events in everyday life than to cope with the daily train journey to work or the closure of schools or daycare centers, says Spahn. “We have to classify what is easier for us to do without than society and as an individual and where it is very, very difficult to do without,” he explained.

5:30 p.m. – World Health Organization sees potential for pandemic

The World Health Organization said at a press conference that the coronavirus would continue to develop into a pandemic. The danger is now “pretty real”. The number of infected people would increase drastically worldwide. “But it would be the first pandemic in history that can be controlled,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director General.

At the same time, the agency announced that 70 percent of all infected people in China are now cured again. The numbers would also decline in the particularly affected regions in South Korea. Over 260 million euros have already been invested in the fight against Covid-19. A total of 120 countries have already used WHO tools.

5:12 p.m. – For colds: sick leave without visiting a doctor for up to seven days

Patients with mild diseases of the upper respiratory tract can now get sick leave for up to seven days after consulting their doctor – to relieve the doctors in the coronavirus crisis. Patients do not have to go to the doctor’s office for this. The National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV) and the umbrella organization for statutory health insurance agreed on this Monday in Berlin, as both sides announced.

The regulation applies to patients who do not have severe symptoms or who meet official criteria for suspected infection with the new coronavirus. This agreement applies immediately and initially for four weeks.

4:34 pm – Two deaths in Germany in the district of Heinsberg and in Essen

Two people died in Germany in connection with the coronavirus. The district of Heinsberg and the city of Essen announced this on Monday. An 89-year-old woman died in Essen and was found to have had the virus last Tuesday.

The patient’s general condition was already severely limited at the time of admission. The patient’s health deteriorated further, and around noon she died of pneumonia as a result of an infection with the coronavirus. No information has yet been published on the person from Heinsberg.

This increases the number of Germans who died from the coronavirus to three. The Egyptian Ministry of Health announced on Sunday that a 60-year-old firefighter from Hamburg had died in Egypt. There are now 1139 infections confirmed in Germany, 484 of them in North Rhine-Westphalia (as of March 9, 3:00 p.m.).

4:26 pm – Up to 5000 people in Brandenburg in quarantine at home

According to a suspected coronavirus at a school in Brandenburg, 4,000 to 5,000 people are in quarantine at home. That said the official director of the small town Neustadt / Dosse, Dieter Fuchs, on Monday of the dpa.

Teachers at a comprehensive school in Neustadt / Dosse (Ostprignitz-Ruppin district) had contact with a Berliner who had been infected with the corona virus. The health department then ordered domestic isolation. According to the authority, this affects school pupils, teachers, administrative staff and their relatives. Students from all over Germany and the region learn at the school. Initially, Fuchs was unable to name a very specific number of people in domestic isolation.

The district did not want to confirm the number of up to 5000 people. Reliable surveys are not yet possible, said a spokesman for the German Press Agency. The school with affiliated elementary and special needs schools is attended by a total of 730 students from all over Germany and the region.

4:00 p.m. – First Corona cases in the Maldives – GNTM candidate in quarantine

Several hundred holidaymakers are stuck in the Maldives. There were two confirmed Covid 19 cases on the small island of Kuredo at the end of the week. Hotel employees are said to have contracted an Italian guest before they left home. The authorities then cordoned off the entire island and quarantined all holidaymakers and hotel staff. Among the vacationers, top model candidate Mareike Lerch and her boyfriend are said to be like one Bavarian travel blogger reported. No other corona cases have occurred on the island yet. A total of approximately 1,400 people are said to be affected by the quarantine.

2:20 pm – Head of the Robert Koch Institute: “Be there for each other” – statement in the video

“We have to expect that we will run straight into an epidemic wave,” said the head of the Institute of Virology at the Berlin Charité, Prof. Dr. Christian Drosten, at a federal press conference. According to the current state of research, the seasonal effect of the corona virus is not as great as that of some other cold viruses. Therefore, Drosten does not assume that the spreading rate will slow down significantly in spring and summer due to the temperature.

The virus researcher sat next to Health Minister Jens Spahn and the head of the Robert Koch Institute Prof. Dr. Lothar Wieler on the podium. The RKI leader had a specific request to all citizens in Germany – in the video.

1:45 pm – Jens Spahn: “It’s easier to miss a football game than to go to work”

At a federal press conference on Monday afternoon, Health Minister Jens Spahn stated that the primary goal was to slow the spread of coronavirus. It takes society as a whole to slow down the dynamics so that the corona virus does not become a major “challenge for our health system”, says Spahn: Every German can and should help.

The Minister of Health’s recommendation: “Do everything exactly as if you wanted to protect yourself from the common cold or flu.” He wanted to be careful not to restrict everyday life more than necessary. “What is easier to do without? Playing football or going to work?” Spahn asked, clearly seeing the answer when playing football. “I appeal to individual responsibility,” emphasized the CDU politician.

1:29 pm – Uprising in 27 Italian prisons – several dead

In numerous prisons in Italy, several corpses have been protested in the midst of the coronavirus crisis. Six prisoners died in Modena, several were seriously injured, the media reported on Monday, citing the prison administration. More than 50 had tried to escape there. The prison police union spoke of riots in 27 detention centers across the country.

Media reports said the reason for the protests were measures against the corona virus. Visits to prisons were suspended. The prisoners may have died from an overdose of medication.

12:03 p.m. – First confirmed coronavirus case on Lesbos

The first confirmed case of coronavirus infection has been confirmed on the Greek island of Lesbos. That reports RTL reporter Stephan Richter from the Mediterranean island, where over 20,000 refugees hope to come to mainland Europe.

According to RTL information, the woman suffering from Sars-CoV-2 is in the hospital. In addition, the result of the corona virus test for a toddler from a refugee camp is still pending, reports Stephan Richter from the island of Lesbos.

11:49 am – ghost game for BVB in the Champions League against Paris

Borussia Dortmund’s round of 16 second leg in the Champions League on Wednesday (9:00 p.m.) near Paris Saint-Germain takes place in front of empty places due to the corona virus. The police prefecture of the French capital announced on Monday afternoon. BVB won 2-1 in the first leg.

The The return leg between RB Leipzig and Tottenham Hotspur, however, will take place with spectators as planned. The city of Leipzig, in coordination with the health department and the club, decided against carrying out the game (9:00 p.m.) as a “ghost game” due to the spreading coronavirus epidemic. Leipzig won the first leg 1-0 in London.

11:06 am – Markus Söder: Coronavirus prevents faster soli abolition

CSU chief Markus Söder has defended the decision against an early abolition of the solidarity surcharge against criticism from the SPD. “In the current situation with the unclear development of the corona virus crisis, we have no scope for financial experiments,” said the Prime Minister of Bavaria after the Special meeting of the coalition committee on Monday in Munich.

The Union wants to cut back on solos – “but not half like the SPD, but for everyone”. By contrast, Finance Minister Olaf Scholz (SPD) accuses the coalition partner CDU / CSU of sided with the well-paid in the debate on the solidarity surcharge.

10:37 am – The Czech Republic controls immigrants for corona virus

In order to prevent the new type of corona virus from spreading further, the Czech Republic has started checking travelers at the borders with Germany and Austria. Since Monday morning at 7 a.m., fire fighters have been randomly measuring body temperature at ten selected border crossings.

They are supported by the police and customs. Drivers receive a multilingual information sheet. Many trucks are waved through without control, the newspaper Pravo reported online.

09:39 – Dax collapses at the start of trading, analyst: “Financial markets in panic mode”

The drop in the oil price and the economic consequences of the corona virus have caused the Dax to slide off. At the opening on Monday, the leading German index lost up to 7.8 percent to 10,637 points. He was heading for the biggest daily loss in more than 18 years.

“At the latest on Monday morning, the financial markets have switched to panic mode,” said Milan Cutkovic, market analyst at broker house “AxiTrader”.

9:00 am – Over 1,100 people infected with CoVid-19 in Germany

The Robert Koch Institute updated the case numbers for Germany on Monday morning: According to this, 1,112 people are infected with the corona virus. On Sunday evening the number was 902 infections. With 484 cases, North Rhine-Westphalia has the most cases, followed by Bavaria (256) and Baden-Württemberg (199).

8:11 a.m .: According to WHO, almost 110,000 coronavirus cases worldwide

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are 109,343 confirmed cases of coronavirus worldwide. China (80,904 cases) is followed by South Korea and Italy with over 7,000 infections. With 902 cases (figures from the Robert Koch Institute on Sunday afternoon), Germany ranks sixth among the countries with the most cases of infection. According to the WHO, there are cases of Sars-CoV-2 infection in 104 countries and autonomous regions.

7:39 am – Tennis tournament in Indian Wells (USA) canceled due to corona virus

Almost the entire world elite should hit here – and must now stay at home: That prestigious tennis tournament in Indian Wells has been canceled due to the corona virus been. This was announced by the organizers around tournament director Tommy Haas. “We are very disappointed, but health and safety are top priorities,” said former German top player Haas.

07:26 – year of birth is decisive on which day of the week South Koreans are allowed to buy protective masks

South Korea introduced new rules for the sale of protective masks on Monday: The last day of the year of birth depends on which day of the week South Koreans are allowed to buy protective masks in shops. On Mondays, customers are allowed to shop whose year of birth ends in one or six. The government has limited the number of masks that can be purchased per week to two.

South Korea is confident that there will soon be a change in the spread of the coronavirus. “I am still very careful, but there is hope that we will reach a turning point in the near future,” said Prime Minister Chung Sye Kyun. According to the Ministry of Health, it is too early to say that the crisis is over.

06:33 – NRW Minister of Health assumes ghost games in the Bundesliga

Because of the corona virus, the Bundesliga derby Borussia Mönchengladbach against 1. FC Köln on Wednesday, according to NRW Minister of Health Karl-Josef Laumann (CDU), is not expected to take place in front of an audience in the stadium. “Whether they play without an audience or not, the club has to decide, not me,” said Laumann on Sunday evening in the ARD program “Anne Will” on the subject of coronavirus. It is much more likely that this decision lies with the DFL.

But North Rhine-Westphalia would implement the recommendation of Federal Minister of Health Jens Spahn (CDU) – “tomorrow or now, perfectly clear”. Spahn had recommended that events with more than 1,000 participants be canceled due to the rapid spread of the new corona virus in Germany.

Laumann said that in the Bundesliga it was also important not to punish individual clubs, but to see it as a whole. He was certain that there was now a uniform implementation. “In truth, it’s like an order,” said Laumann of the Spahn recommendation.

03:04 – GroKo decides to support coronavirus for companies

Union and SPD have agreed on a comprehensive package to cushion the economic consequences of the spread of coronavirus in Germany. Among other things, the hurdles for receiving short-time allowance should be significantly reduced. Unlike in the past, employers should receive full reimbursement of social security contributions for lost working hours, the coalition committee decided in the night of Monday in Berlin at its meeting in the Chancellery.

The grand coalition also wants to put together an additional investment package worth billions. “In the years 2021 to 2024, we will increase the federal investments by 3.1 billion euros each and thus expand agreed investment paths and enable new priorities totaling 12.4 billion euros,” says the 14-page decision by Union and SPD.

1:13 am – Number of new infections in China continues to fall

The number of new infections and deaths in China fell again on Sunday, according to official figures. Accordingly, there were 40 new confirmed cases after 44 on Saturday. The death toll increased by 22 after 27 more the day before.

You can read about the events of March 8th here.