Corona virus: Bavaria, Saarland and Berlin close schools – DFL wants to interrupt operations

Governments worldwide are trying to curb the coronavirus pandemic. The Number of dead and infected increases daily. The events in the news blog.

Crisis causes VW sales to collapse worldwide

11.00 a.m .: The Corona virus crisis and the weaker economy in many countries put a heavy burden on sales of the VW Group in February after an initial slump in January. As the company announced on Friday in Wolfsburg, worldwide deliveries during the past month fell by 24.6 percent year-on-year to 546,300 vehicles. In the most important single market, China, they fell by almost three quarters (74.0 percent) to 60,900 cars.

A key reason was the high level of uncertainty caused by the spread of the Covid 19 pathogen, which also led to a sharp decline in demand in some other markets. VW expects the situation to stabilize somewhat soon.

Hanover game against Dynamo Dresden canceled

10.50 a.m .: Because of two coronavirus cases in the Hannover 96 team, the game of second division soccer team Dynamo Dresden at the Lower Saxony was canceled. This was announced by the German Football League on Friday. All Hanover players will be in home quarantine for the next 14 days. Dynamo Dresden had previously announced that they would not travel to the game on Sunday.

DFL Presidium proposes interruption of game operations

10:28 am: The German Football League wants to stop playing in the Bundesliga and the 2nd division from next Tuesday until April 2nd. The game day this weekend should continue to take place as far as possible without spectators in the stadiums, announced the DFL on Friday.

Lower Saxony closes schools on Monday

10.03 a.m .: Lower Saxony is the next federal state to close all schools due to the spread of the corona virus. According to dpa information, they remain tight from Monday onwards. After two weeks of unscheduled closure, two weeks of Easter vacation would begin seamlessly on March 30th.

DFL advises on the immediate cessation of play

According to consistent media reports, the German Football League (DFL) advises on an immediate cessation of play in the 1st and 2nd Bundesliga due to the effects of the corona pandemic. The “Rheinische Post” and the “Sportschau” experienced this. This could mean that the current match day, which should take place in the stadiums completely without fans, could be canceled. The sports show also writes on Friday that the DFL is giving the clubs intensive advice on the possibility of having the Bundesliga season play until June 30, 2020.

Bavaria bans visiting old people’s and nursing homes

9:22 am: Because of the spread of the corona virus, the Free State of Bavaria largely prohibits relatives from visiting old people’s homes and nursing homes. The right to visit is significantly restricted, said Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) on Friday in Munich. The care of children should not be organized with the grandparents.

Due to the coronavirus crisis, the state government has also ordered all schools, kindergartens and daycare centers to be closed from Monday until the Easter holiday begins on April 6. In fact, the educational institutions in Bavaria are closed until April 20. “Since there are no medicines, we have to take other measures to slow the spread,” said Söder. In the Free State (as of Thursday) at least 500 people tested positive for Sars-CoV-2.

The Saarland and Berlin also announced that they would close the schools from Monday. Other federal states could follow. In Italy, schools have long been closed nationwide, and in France this was also ordered on Thursday.

Schools in Berlin are closed

9:16 am: In view of the increasing number of people infected with the novel corona virus, schools and daycare centers in Berlin will gradually cease operation from next week. The Governing Mayor Michael Müller (SPD) announced on Friday. The closure is scheduled to begin on Monday with the upper level centers.

Australian Home Secretary suffers from coronavirus

8.20 a.m .: Australian Home Secretary Peter Dutton has the corona virus. He was in the hospital, Dutton said on Friday. He woke up in the morning with a high temperature and a sore throat and had himself tested. He is fine. The Sars-CoV-2 virus is also spreading more and more in Australia. The government therefore recommended that events with 500 or more people be canceled as of Monday if they are not absolutely necessary.

Virologist: Closure of schools and kindergartens “without alternative”

8:03 a.m .: According to the virologist Alexander Kekulé, schools and kindergartens across Germany should remain closed in order to curb the spread of the novel corona virus. Nationwide closings are “absolutely no alternative,” he said on Friday in the ZDF “Morgenmagazin”. Statistically, each infected child would infect two or three other children. This would trigger an “avalanche of infections” that would be difficult to stop.

Kekulé criticized: “Unfortunately, politics has been lagging behind for weeks here.” The reported figures for infected people would only reflect a level of ten days ago. The reason is the incubation period of the Sars-CoV-2 virus on the one hand, and the time that elapses before the diagnosis is made on the other. That is why Kekulé called for “proactive action” from those responsible. He gives the example of the special leave of up to ten days a year that parents can take when their child is ill. The federal government should clarify that parents could also take this vacation for quarantine.

Bavaria closes all schools due to corona virus

7.48 a.m .: Because of the corona virus crisis, Bavaria closes all schools on Monday. All kindergartens, schools and daycare centers will be closed by the beginning of the Easter holidays on April 6, as the German Press Agency learned from government circles on Friday. Saarland had previously announced that it would be the first federal state to close schools and daycare centers nationwide by the end of the Easter holidays.

Japan’s Prime Minister Abe: Olympia is taking place as planned

07.22 a.m .: Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has rejected US President Donald Trump’s proposal to relocate the Tokyo Olympics. Despite the corona virus pandemic, preparations for the summer games in Japan’s capital are still on schedule, Abe said a spokesman for Trump in a phone call on Friday. Trump had previously said in a White House media round on the Olympics: “Maybe, but that’s just my opinion, postpone it by a year. Maybe that’s not possible either. “

The Summer Games are scheduled to take place from July 24th to August 9th. Abe had told the US President in the conversation of Japan’s efforts to host the Olympics as planned, a spokesman said. Both heads of government had agreed to work closely together for this. After the Summer Games, the Paralympics in Tokyo are scheduled to begin on August 25. Sports events had recently been canceled or postponed worldwide due to the spread of Sars-CoV-2.

China reports fewer new infections again

4:51 a.m .: With only eight newly detected virus cases, China’s authorities have again reported a new low in infections since the daily reports of the epidemic began seven weeks ago. Seven other people also died of Covid-19 lung disease, the Beijing Health Commission reported on Friday. The daily increase in deaths was also the lowest in weeks.

The health agency had already announced on Thursday that China had passed the peak of coronavirus spread. “Overall, the peak of the current epidemic in China has been exceeded,” said a spokesman for the commission. The number of new infections with Sars-CoV-2 continues to decrease. The extent to which the official statistics reflect the true situation and the number of unreported cases is still unclear. Since the outbreak of the corona virus, 80,813 infections and 3,176 deaths have been reported in mainland China.

ProSieben records several shows without an audience

04.00 a.m .: The television station ProSieben wants to record several television shows without an audience to protect against the corona virus. Until further notice, the programs “The Masked Singer”, “Late Night Berlin”, “Who sleeps, loses!” And “Joko & Klaas against ProSieben” would take place without viewers, the broadcaster said on Friday night.

Among other things, “The Masked Singer” had a successful start to the second season on Tuesday evening. With a market share of 25.3 percent, the ProSieben music show was the strongest format for 14- to 49-year-old viewers at prime time from 8:15 p.m.

Before duel with Bayern: Chelsea’s Hudson-Odoi infected

3:45 am: Shortly before the Champions League duel at FC Bayern, FC Chelsea striker Callum Hudson-Odoi tested positive for the corona virus. The 19-year-old, once courted by Munich, is the first player in the Premier League to become infected with Sars-CoV-2. He showed symptoms comparable to a mild cold on Monday morning and hasn’t exercised since. Hudson-Odoi is now in quarantine. This also applies to all people who have last had contact with him in the team building. This affects the entire first team, the coaches and some coaches, as the English first division team announced on Friday.

Everyone who had no close contact with the teenager should return to training in the next few days. Hudson-Odoi is doing well, Chelsea continued to write.

Wife of Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau fell ill

03.41 a.m .: The wife of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been infected with the novel corona virus. Sophie Grégoire Trudeau’s test was positive, the prime minister’s office said on Thursday (local time). But she is fine. The Prime Minister is “in good health” and shows no symptoms. A test with him is not planned. As a precaution, however, he would consider a 14-day quarantine. A few hours earlier, Trudeau’s office had announced that the head of government and his wife had quarantined. The First Lady reportedly returned from a lecture tour in London with “mild flu-like symptoms”.

Disney theme parks in California, Florida and Paris are closing

03.14 p.m .: Because of the corona virus crisis, the US entertainment giant Walt Disney temporarily closes all its amusement parks. The company announced Thursday night (local time) that the Disney Disney World amusement parks in Florida and Disneyland in Paris would close for several weeks from Sunday to the end of the month.

A few hours earlier, Disney had announced that its oldest amusement park, Disneyland in California, will be closed Saturday through March. Disney theme parks in Tokyo, Hong Kong and Shanghai have been closed for several weeks.

No cases of coronavirus infections have been reported in Disneyland, California, but the closure is in the best interest of visitors and employees, the release said. It follows the recommendation of the California governor not to hold events with more than 250 people in the west coast state.

The attractions on the Anaheim site just outside of Los Angeles are a big tourist magnet. Most recently, the amusement park opened in 1955, which likes to pretend to be “Happiest Place on Earth”, was closed after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 in the United States.

Formula 1: 14 McLaren employees as suspected cases

2:56 a.m .: After the first confirmed coronavirus case at McLaren, another 14 people from the English Formula 1 racing team were quarantined. As a precaution, a team member must stay at the Melbourne hotel for 14 days as a precautionary statement. These people were in close contact with the proven first case. According to information from the German Press Agency, these are neither drivers Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris nor team boss Andreas Seidl. McLaren had withdrawn from the now canceled Grand Prix of Australia after a positive test.

The other suspicious McLaren employees were released to return to the paddock to help with the dismantling. They are then expected to return to the United Kingdom. Then, as a precaution, they are not allowed to visit McLaren’s headquarters in Woking for 14 days.

Belgium closes schools, cafes and restaurants

2:08 a.m .: Belgium is closing all schools, cafes and restaurants in the fight against the corona virus. All rallies would be canceled “regardless of their size,” said Belgian Prime Minister Sophie Wilmès after a session of the National Security Council on Thursday evening before journalists in Brussels. All cultural events would also be canceled, Wilmès said. The new measures to curb the corona virus therefore come into effect on the night of Saturday. The nationwide closure of the schools applies until April 3, Wilmès said.

First case with the United Nations

1.11 a.m .: At the United Nations in New York, there is a first documented case of the novel corona virus. A Philippine diplomat was tested positive, according to an internal letter from the UN mission on Thursday, which is available to the German Press Agency. The last time she was on Monday at the UN headquarters on the East River was for about half an hour. The entire Philippine UN mission is cordoned off, the employees are in voluntary quarantine. “We assume that we were all infected,” it continues.

The case could affect precautionary measures throughout the UN headquarters. The United Nations had already announced to its employees on Tuesday that the 39-story building would initially be closed to visitors. The complex in Manhattan houses, among other things, the UN General Assembly with 193 member countries of the world and the UN Security Council.

Arsenal coach Arteta tested positive

0.25 a.m .: Arsenal’s Spanish coach, Mikel Arteta, has tested positive for the corona virus. This was announced by the club of German soccer professionals Bernd Leno, Mesut Özil and Shkodran Mustafi on Thursday evening. The 37-year-old Arteta is already in quarantine. The club expected that a “significant” number of people, “including the entire squad and coaching team of the first team” would also have to isolate themselves.

“This is really disappointing, but I took the test after feeling bad,” Arteta was quoted in the club announcement. “I’ll be at work as soon as I’m allowed back.”

The impact of the finding on the English Premier League schedule is unclear. Arsenal can no longer play games for at least 14 days – the maximum duration of the virus incubation period. The next game would have been the away game at Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday.

The quarter-finals at Sheffield United were scheduled for March 22 in the FA Cup. Last Saturday’s opponents for London were West Ham United. When and how Arteta got infected was initially unclear.

Formula 1 start in Melbourne canceled due to cornavirus

0.18 a.m .: The start of the Formula 1 World Championship 2020 in Melbourne, scheduled for Sunday, was canceled on Friday due to a corona event in the paddock. This was announced by the World Automobile Federation FIA, the premier class and the promoter of the Australian Grand Prix. Formula 1 reacted to the positive test of a mechanic from the McLaren team, who had therefore already announced his retirement from the Grand Prix on Thursday evening, but it took a whole night until the race was canceled, around 10 a.m. on Friday morning ( Local time) tens of thousands of fans were already at the gates of the track at Albert Park and hoped in vain to get in. The first free practice session was supposed to begin two hours later.

It is still unclear how things will go in Formula 1. The second Grand Prix next weekend in Bahrain (March 22) was already planned as a ghost race without spectators, but given the new location, it seems highly unlikely that the race will take place. There was a question mark behind Vietnam (April 5), the fourth race in China (originally April 19) had already been canceled in February.

Belgium closes schools, cafes and restaurants due to Coronavirus

11 p.m .: Belgium is closing all schools, cafes and restaurants in the fight against the corona virus. All rallies would be canceled “regardless of their size,” said Belgian Prime Minister Sophie Wilmès on Thursday evening to journalists in Brussels. Schools will close until April 3, she said.

NRW state government advises Friday about school closure

10.15 p.m .: School closures are being discussed in several federal states. Nationwide “Corona Holidays” were not planned so far. As the “Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger” found out on Thursday evening, the NRW state government met on Friday morning to discuss school closure. School Minister Yvonne Gebauer (FDP) is said to have spoken in favor of closing the schools. Opposite her is Prime Minister Armin Laschet, who does not yet want to implement school closings.

The “Corona Holidays” conference of culture ministers did not rule out beforehand. On Thursday, the NRW Parents Association asked to stop teaching. “We get a lot of calls from concerned parents,” said chairwoman Andrea Heck. Federal Minister of Education Anja Karliczek (CDU) said they are trying to maintain normal operations for as long as possible. She pointed out that parents also need care for their children.

Four municipalities in Catalonia cordoned off for coronavirus

10:01 p.m .: The Catalan authorities have cordoned off four municipalities in northern Spain because of the coronavirus pandemic. The total of 66,000 inhabitants of the cities of Igualada, Òdena, Santa Margarida de Montbui and Vilanova del Camí should not leave the “urban core”, said civil defense on Thursday, citing instructions from the Catalan regional government in the short message service Twitter. However, people are allowed to leave their homes.

+++ Chancellor Angela Merkel at a press conference on the corona crisis +++

9.30 p.m .: As little as possible to go among people, also cancel smaller events and keep hospital places free for corona patients: the federal government and the federal states have agreed on measures to prevent the spread of the virus. The Chancellor urges. The measures at a glance:

To largely avoid social contacts because of the corona virus

Chancellor Angela Merkel has asked the population to refrain from social contacts wherever possible because of the rapid spread of the corona virus. The CDU politician said on Thursday evening after consultations between the federal government and the prime ministers of the federal states in Berlin.

“All unnecessary” events with fewer than 1000 participants should also be canceled. “This is an appeal to everyone,” said Merkel. So far, the Federal Government has requested that events with 1,000 or more participants be canceled.

Kindergartens and schools can be closed

The temporary closure of kindergartens and schools, for example due to the advance of Easter holidays, is another option, said Merkel. The spread of the virus is not expected to stop in any region.
The epidemic will also have grave traces in the economic system, said Merkel. “This is an unknown challenge for us,” said Merkel. “We are dealing with a dynamic outbreak, which means that the number of infected people is increasing very rapidly.”

Furthermore, the Chancellor announced further “comprehensive” measures to support the economy in the Corona crisis. Minister of Economics Peter Altmaier (CDU) and Minister of Finance Olaf Scholz (SPD) would present measures on Friday. She pointed out that the federal government had already made it easier to reduce short-time work benefits.

Söder: Prevent deep recession in Germany

According to Bavaria’s Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU), the federal and state governments want to prevent an economic crisis in Germany as a result of the corona virus. “We will do everything that is necessary to maintain economic stability,” said Söder after consulting the Prime Minister with the Federal Government in Berlin on Thursday evening. The increase in liquidity aid is “central”. Germany is a rich country. A “deep recession” should be avoided.

Söder recalled Mario Draghi’s legendary statement in summer 2012. At the height of the euro debt crisis, the then president of the European Central Bank had stabilized the euro zone with the promise that “the ECB will do everything to save the euro” (“Whatever it takes.” “).

Söder: The next five weeks will be crucial in the fight against Corona

In the fight against the rapid spread of the corona virus, the next four to five weeks will be crucial, according to Bavaria’s Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU). All measures would initially be scheduled until April 20, after which an inventory would be taken, said the CSU chief after a meeting with the prime ministers of the federal states on Thursday evening in Berlin. Chancellor Angela Merkel said this period was “very, very crucial” for how it will go on afterwards.

Federal and state governments: Postpone all operations that can be planned from Monday

Furthermore, the following applies: In order to keep the hospitals free for corona patients, all operations, admissions and interventions that can be planned should be postponed, according to the will of the federal and state governments. As far as medically justifiable, this should apply from Monday for an indefinite period, according to the decision of the Federal Government and the Prime Ministers of the federal states on Thursday evening.

France closes all schools, colleges and daycare centers from Monday

20:20: Because of the coronavirus crisis, all schools in France are closed. “From Monday and until further notice, all kindergartens, schools, colleges and universities will be closed,” said French President Emmanuel Macron in a TV address on Thursday evening. He also called on people over 70, people with chronic illnesses or respiratory illnesses, to stay in their homes as much as possible.

Observers had expected France to cancel the upcoming local elections. The first round of elections was scheduled for March 15, the second for March 22. Local elections in France will take place as planned, with a first ballot on Sunday, as the president said. He had consulted health experts and they believed that there was no reason why the French, even the weakest, shouldn’t vote. However, the French would have to adhere strictly to hygiene rules.

Another coronavirus patient dies in the Heinsberg district

8:18 pm: A fourth patient infected with the coronavirus died in North Rhine-Westphalia. The 78-year-old died on Thursday afternoon of pneumonia in a hospital in Heinsberg, as the group particularly affected by the epidemic said. It is not yet known where the patient was infected with the virus.

Netanyahu calls for emergency government in Israel

8.05 p.m .: Given the spread of the corona virus, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on Thursday to form an emergency government. Such a government should be set up “tonight” for a limited time, “to save the lives of tens of thousands,” the 70-year-old told journalists. “What we need is national responsibility,” said Netanyahu. At present, one should only think of the well-being of the State of Israel and the health of its citizens.

First coronavirus death in Greece

7:35 p.m .: Greece has reported its first death from the novel corona virus. According to the Ministry of Health, this is a 66-year-old Greek who returned from a trip to Israel in late February. He died on Thursday morning. According to the ministry, the number of infections detected rose by 18 to 118. In view of the significant increase in cases of infection, the Greek government announced a tightening of protective measures. All cinemas, theaters and nightclubs were closed for 15 days, the Ministry of Health said.

Turkey closes schools nationwide

The neighboring country Turkey also imposed drastic protective measures to contain the virus on Thursday. After an almost six-hour cabinet meeting, a spokesman for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced the closure of all schools for the next two weeks. All universities were closed for three weeks from Monday, the spokesman said. He also announced a ban on spectators for all football games in Turkey until the end of April.

Break for Draisaitl: NHL also stops playing

7.12 p.m .: The NHL is the second of the major North American professional leagues to stop playing. The 31 ice hockey teams have an indefinite break because of the corona crisis, the league announced on Thursday. The decision was made in consultation with medical professionals. Previously, the professional basketball league NBA had pulled the ripcord and stopped their season with 189 main round games still outstanding. Among them Leon Draisaitl from the Edmonton Oilers, currently with 110 points (43 goals, 67 assists) top scorer in the league, Dominik Kahun (Buffalo Sabers) or Philipp Grubauer (Colorado Avalanche).

“After yesterday’s news that an NBA player tested positive for the corona virus, and given that our leagues share so many facilities and changing rooms, and now it is likely that a member of the NHL community would eventually test positive , it is no longer appropriate to continue playing games, ”said the NHL. The aim is to “start playing again as soon as possible”.

In the meantime, eight schools and two daycare centers across Berlin have closed

7 p.m .: The number of schools closed in Berlin because of the new corona virus has risen to eight. The Senate Department for Education announced on Thursday on request. At least five other schools or at least individual classes or teachers are in quarantine. “However, the situation can change every day,” said Martin Klesmann, spokesman for the Senate administration.

Due to the rapid spread of the corona virus, the conference of culture ministers does not rule out the comprehensive closure of schools throughout Germany or in individual regions.

Number of deaths in Italy rises to over 1000

18.35 p.m .: In Italy, the death toll from the coronavirus crisis has risen to over 1,000. Civil protection in Rome announced that the death toll is now 1016. The day before, there were 827 dead. The number of infected people rose to 15,113, an increase of 2651 compared to Wednesday.

Virus again causes panic on the stock exchanges

6.20 p.m .: The worsening coronavirus crisis led to massive turmoil in the global financial markets on Thursday. As at the beginning of the week, investors fled securities perceived as safe, such as American and German government bonds, while stocks flew from investors’ portfolios worldwide. The leading German index Dax, which had already dropped by more than 500 points to below 10,000 points at the start of trading, closed 12.24 percent lower at 9161.13 points. It is the second-largest percentage daily loss in its more than 30-year history on a closing price basis.

Bolsonaro employees tested positive for coronavirus after meeting with Trump

17:51: Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro’s chief of communications has tested positive for the novel corona virus after returning from a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at his Florida home. Fabio Wajngarten has contracted Covid-19, the Brazilian government said on Thursday. “All necessary preventive measures were taken to protect the health of the President and all employees who traveled to the United States with him,” it said.

Wajngarten had accompanied Bolsonaro to a dinner with Trump in Florida last Saturday. In the online service Instagram, Wajngarten had published a photo in which he was seen together with Trump and his Vice President Mike Pence.

Handball Bundesliga interrupts the season until April 23

5:35 p.m .: Because of the Corona crisis, the Handball Bundesliga (HBL) is ceasing to play for the time being. HBL press spokesman Oliver Lücke confirmed this to the SID. For the time being, the mandatory break was scheduled until April 23. “Nobody knows how things will develop in the coming weeks. But there is also a social responsibility that we take for granted, ”said Lücke. The final four for the trophy of the German Handball Association (DHB) is to be played at the end of the season in June.

Mediengruppe RTL does without an audience at shows

17:27: Until further notice, the stations of Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland will be giving up their audience for their shows tomorrow. The broadcasting group thus fulfills its responsibility to protect the public and contributors from possible infection with the Corona virus, even without a specific ban. This does not apply to friends and family of the protagonists.

This currently applies to the two RTL shows “Let’s Dance” on Friday, March 13th. and “Deutschland sucht den Superstar” on Saturday, March 14th. at 8.15 p.m.

Ministers of Education do not rule out comprehensive school closings

5.18 p.m .: Due to the rapid spread of the corona virus, the conference of culture ministers does not rule out the comprehensive closure of schools throughout Germany or in individual regions. That said the chair, the Rhineland-Palatinate Minister of Education Stefanie Hubig, on Thursday after consulting with her colleagues from the other 15 federal states in Berlin.

However, the ministers are also preparing for the second possible scenario that school operations will continue during the coronavirus crisis. It would then be limited to teaching, teacher and school conferences. School trips abroad and excursions domestically would then have to be avoided.

Evangelical Church does not have the Lord’s Supper

5:06 p.m .: The Protestant parishes in the Rhineland should initially refrain from the sacrament because of the corona virus. The confirmations, which are actually celebrated in spring, should postpone the presbyteries, the Evangelical Church in the Rhineland recommended on Thursday.

“The background to all recommendations is the concern for particularly vulnerable people, ie older people and people with previous illnesses,” said the head of the regional church office, Johann Weusmann.

90 kilometers of truck traffic jams at the Brenner

5:02 p.m .: The Italian government is outraged by the truck obstructions on the Brenner. Because Austria introduced strict border controls due to the spread of the corona virus, the trucks temporarily blocked up to 90 kilometers.

“We expect Austria to return to normality this evening,” said Transport Minister Paola De Micheli on Thursday. Most loads are destined for Germany and Northern Europe and only for transit through Austria. Therefore, normality in rail and road transport must be restored as soon as possible. Rome has asked the EU Commission to intervene.

No more major events in the Netherlands

4.35 p.m .: In order to curb the coronavirus, events with more than 100 participants in the Netherlands have to be canceled. This was decided by the government in The Hague, according to the Dutch news agency ANP. For example, sports competitions, theater performances or exhibitions are affected, said Health Minister Bruno Bruins after a cabinet crisis meeting.

The measure initially applies until April 1. In total, 614 infections with the new corona virus were registered in the Netherlands by Thursday, five people died.

Hardly any operation at Frankfurt Airport

4:29 pm: At Germany’s largest airport, Frankfurt am Main, the terminals are currently quite empty due to the effects of the corona pandemic. The operator Fraport said that the number of passengers in February fell by four percent year-on-year to 4.4 million.

In the last week of February to March 1, the number even fell by 14.5 percent. This negative trend even accelerated in the first week of March. The reason is the large number of canceled flights due to the spread of the corona virus.

Basketball Bundesliga suspends game operations

4:21 pm: The Basketball Bundesliga (BBL) temporarily ceases to play due to the corona crisis. This was announced by the BBL on Thursday after a meeting in Stuttgart. The basketball players hope to be able to continue their series later in the year.

“In careful consideration and taking into account the top priority to counteract the further spread of the corona virus, it was unanimously decided to suspend the game operations of the easyCredit Basketball Bundesliga until further notice,” says a message from the league.

First death in Bavaria

4:09 p.m .: There was also a first death in Bavaria after an infection with the corona virus. The 80-year-old patient had previous illnesses and had died in the Würzburg hospital on Thursday night, the health ministry in Munich said in the afternoon. This increases the number of deaths nationwide to five.

Semper Opera and stages in Hamburg closed

15:58: Due to the spread of the corona virus, the Semperoper and the Dresden State Theater will initially cease their operations until April 19. This was announced by the Saxon Ministry of Culture. The museums should remain open for the time being, but take special hygiene measures.

In Hamburg too, all events in state theaters and concert halls were prohibited by decree due to the Corona crisis. This was announced by the cultural authority.

Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg are considering school closings

3.48 p.m .: In Bavaria and Baden-Wuerttemberg, there could soon be complete school closings. Bavaria’s Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) said on Thursday on the sidelines of the Prime Ministers’ Conference in Berlin that he had called on his responsible ministers to prepare the necessary steps.

According to Söder, “very, very serious” is also being considered in Baden-Württemberg. There is, however, no uniform attitude among the federal states on the subject of school closings.

As Söder said, the decision for Bavaria should be made on Thursday evening or Friday morning. However, solutions should be found for high school graduates to be able to take their exams. Söder also wants to debate possible complete closures for daycare centers.

Hannover 96 team under quarantine

3.42 p.m .: The second division club Hannover 96 quarantines its entire team for 14 days. Former FC player Jannes Horn has tested positive for the corona virus. The club applies to the German Football League for the suspension of the second division games against Dynamo Dresden on Sunday and to VfL Osnabrück.

Slovakia closes borders practically completely

3:28 pm: According to government circles, Slovakia imposes entry bans on practically all foreigners. Only Poles are still allowed to enter. There are 16 confirmed cases of infection with the corona virus in Slovakia (as of Thursday afternoon).

Ski jumping season canceled early

3.18 p.m .: The World Cup season for ski jumpers was stopped early. “We have to inform you that the season is over,” said race director Walter Hofer from the International Ski Association after a crisis meeting in Trondheim. The Norwegian government had previously announced drastic measures to combat the corona virus.

In Trondheim, the penultimate individual competition of the season was planned for the evening as part of the raw air tour. The hosting of the Ski Flying World Championships in Planica, Slovenia (March 19 to 22) is more than questionable, but a decision has not yet been officially made.

Stefan Kraft won the overall World Cup for the second time in his career. The Austrian relegated the four-time season winner Karl Geiger (Oberstdorf / 1519) to second place with 1659 points.

Prague closes border for travelers from 15 countries

3:05 pm: The Czech Republic closes its borders for all Germans who have no permanent residence in the EU member state. The measure also applies to foreigners from Italy, Spain, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium, Great Britain, Denmark and France, Prime Minister Andrej Babis said after a crisis meeting on Thursday. He classified these states as risk areas for infection with the novel corona virus. There have been 96 confirmed cases of virus infection in the Czech Republic.

Spain reports an increase in cases of almost 850 cases in one day

2.41 p.m .: In Spain, the number of coronavirus cases is increasing rapidly: the government in Madrid reported almost 3000 cases of infection on Thursday. After 2140 cases on Wednesday evening, there were 2968 cases on Thursday, the Ministry of Health said. Almost half of the cases concerned the capital region of Madrid.

The number of deaths almost doubled within 24 hours from 48 to 84. In the Madrid region, where all schools have been closed since Wednesday, 1,388 cases of infection with the new corona virus were found. The Catalonia region plans to close schools on Friday.

Uefa apparently stops playing in the Champions League and Europa League

2.30 p.m .: According to the Spanish daily “Marca”, the European Football Union will suspend play in the Champions League and the Europa League due to the spread of the new corona virus. The Spanish association boss Luis Rubiales confirmed on Thursday that there are corresponding considerations. There was initially no official confirmation from UEFA.

The decision would be a novelty in the European premier class. In the past, eight group games had been postponed by a week since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York. Otherwise, there were mostly only shifts due to bad weather conditions.

There was no confirmation of the report in the early afternoon, as Bayer 04 explained: “The game is now playing. The Uefa delegate has no other information. “

Protective measures stop Kuciak’s murder trial

2:16 p.m .: Preventive measures against the spread of the novel corona virus have initially blocked the journalist murder process in Slovakia. The competent specialized court for organized crime in Pezinok near Bratislava canceled all trial hearings scheduled for March. It followed an order from the government to cancel all major events to prevent further corona spread, the court said. There were 16 confirmed coronavirus infections in Slovakia on Thursday.

The murder of investigative journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancé Martina Kusnirova in February 2018 triggered mass demonstrations that led to the overthrow of the government at the time. In January, hundreds of journalists and other observers from around the world watched the first phase of the process right in the courtroom.

Spanish football leagues have a break of 14 days

02.05 p.m .: Due to the spread of the corona virus SARS-CoV-2, the game operations of the 1st and 2nd division will be discontinued in Spain. The decision was made on Thursday at an emergency meeting with representatives of the national association RFEF and the Spanish health authorities in Madrid, the professional league said. It initially applied to the next two rounds.

European Central Bank increases bond purchases

13.55 p.m .: The ECB is spending an additional EUR 120 billion on bond purchases by the end of the year due to concerns about the economy as a result of the corona virus. The decision of the European Central Bank (ECB) decided on Thursday in Frankfurt.

First death in Poland

1:10 p.m .: In Poland, a person infected with the Sars-CoV-2 coronavirus died for the first time. It is a 57-year-old woman who was treated in the Poznan hospital and died on Thursday, according to the city’s deputy mayor, Jedrzej Solarski, according to the PAP news agency. When she was admitted to the clinic, she had severe pneumonia and had been artificially ventilated.

McLaren does not start for Formula 1 in Australia

12.33 p.m .: Formula 1 racing team McLaren withdraws his team for the start in Australia after a coronavirus case in the racing team. The British racing team announced on Thursday that the Grand Prix in Melbourne, which is planned for Sunday, is likely to be canceled.

German economy is suffering from the consequences of the epidemic

12.25 p.m .: The spread of the corona virus and the consequences of the pandemic are having a hard time for the German economy: In a survey published by the Munich Ifo Institute on Thursday among just under 3,400 companies in industry, trade and services, 56.2 percent of the companies stated that they currently felt negative impacts.

The situation is worst for tour operators and travel agencies as well as in the hospitality industry. In industry, the proportion of companies that feel the negative effects of the epidemic is 63 percent, according to the Ifo survey.

Rome closes airport

12.22 p.m .: Due to the coronavirus pandemic in Italy, Ciampino airport in Rome is completely closed and a terminal of the main Fiumicino airport is closed. The handling of passenger flights in Ciampino will be stopped on Friday night, the operating company ADR announced on Thursday.

Terminal 1 of Fiumicino will also be closed on Tuesday. The closures became necessary because of the numerous cancellations of flights to and from Italy.

Real Madrid quarantines players

12.20 p.m .: The Spanish club Real Madrid puts the players of its soccer and basketball professional teams in quarantine with the German soccer player Toni Kroos. The emergency plan will be activated because a basketball player has tested positive for the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, the club said on Thursday.

CDU postpones federal party congress

12:16 pm: Due to the Corona crisis, the CDU is postponing its special party conference planned for April 25 to elect a successor to outgoing party leader Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer. A new date has not yet been set, as the German press agency learned on Thursday.

First death on Mallorca

12.11 p.m .: In Mallorca, a person infected with the Sars-CoV-2 coronavirus died for the first time. The 59-year-old woman had died on Thursday night at the University Hospital Son Espases in Palma, said the responsible authorities on the Spanish holiday island. The patient reportedly had previous illnesses.

According to the authorities, there are 17 cases of infection on Mallorca and the other Balearic Islands, but more than 2,200 infections throughout Spain. The woman in Mallorca was the 56th casualty in Spain.

Webasto also produces in China again

12.08 p.m .: Webasto, an automotive supplier from Upper Bavaria, where the first person infected with Corona was diagnosed in Germany at the end of January, sees itself on the way back to normal. “In the meantime, production has started again to a limited extent at all of our Chinese locations outside of the Hubei province,” said Webasto boss Holger Engelmann of the “Wirtschaftswoche.” According to the latest official information from the Chinese government, the plants in the Hubei province could also be in to be reopened this week.

Alpine skiing season ended prematurely

12 o’clock: The global corona virus crisis ended the alpine season abruptly. 12 hours after the cancellation of the women’s races in Are, the international association Fis canceled the last men’s competitions in Kranjska Gora planned for the weekend on Thursday. The health and well-being of athletes and coaches has priority, it said.

The World Cup final planned in Cortina d’Ampezzo was last canceled as a precautionary measure against Sars-CoV-2 in northern Italy, which was hit hard by the epidemic. In Kranjska Gora there was actually still a slalom and a giant slalom. Due to the cancellation, the Norwegian Aleksander Aamodt Kilde is the winner of the overall World Cup ranking.

DFB is considering canceling the season

11:54 a.m .: The German Football Association (DFB) sees the risk of the current season being canceled due to the rapid spread of the corona virus. “We have to deal with all scenarios in order to be prepared if the case should occur that the game operations should be interrupted or the season even had to be ended prematurely,” wrote DFB General Secretary Friedrich Curtius in a guest article for the specialist magazine kicker.

Covid-19 patient died in Baden-Württemberg

11.43 a.m .: According to the Ministry of Health in Stuttgart, a patient died in Baden-Württemberg from a coronavirus infection. Nationwide, the number of deaths increases to four. The first three fatalities all come from the Heinsberg district in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Halle closes all kindergartens and schools

11:26 am: The city of Halle in Saxony-Anhalt will close all daycare centers and schools from this Friday. That initially applies until March 27, said Mayor Bernd Wiegand (independent) on Thursday in Halle. In Halle, a city with almost 240,000 inhabitants, there are currently five confirmed cases of infection with the virus. The city is the first major German city to close all kindergartens and schools for two weeks.

Man with previous illnesses dies in Vienna

11.10 a.m .: In Austria, a person infected with the coronavirus died of the new coronavirus for the first time. As the medical crisis team of the City of Vienna announced on Thursday, the casualty was a 69-year-old man who had returned to Austria from Italy. According to the announcement, the man had previous illnesses and died in the hospital on Thursday night. As of Thursday, 8 a.m., 302 confirmed infections with the Sars-CoV-2 virus were recorded in Austria.

RKI calls on youth to show solidarity with older people

11.08 a.m .: In view of the coronavirus pandemic, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) has also called on younger people to protect themselves and to show solidarity. At the moment, some of this group can be heard that they do not see themselves affected by Covid-19 and classify the disease as harmless in themselves, said RKI Vice President Lars Schaade on Thursday.

Indeed, the elderly and people with underlying diseases are particularly at risk. “But even if it rarely happens, there can be severe courses, including deaths, among younger and healthy people,” emphasized Schaade.

Everyone should take the situation seriously and protect themselves and others. “The younger ones should of course also show solidarity with the older ones who are at higher risk,” said Schaade.

Dax falls below 10,000 points

9.05 a.m .: The German stock index (Dax) fell sharply again at the start of trading on Thursday. The most important German stock market barometer fell by 5.32 percent to 9863.99 points and thus below the 10,000 point mark. It is the first time since summer 2016.

Greta Thunberg calls for digital climate strikes

7:50 a.m.: In view of the coronavirus pandemic, Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg has called on the supporters of the Fridays for Future movement to take climate action online. The 17-year-old urged on Twitter on Wednesday to follow the recommendations of health experts and avoid large crowds. “We young people are the least affected by this virus, but it is important that we act in solidarity with the most vulnerable people and act in the best interest for our society.”

The climate crisis is the “biggest crisis” for humanity, emphasized the initiator of the global climate protection movement Fridays for Future. In view of the coronavirus pandemic, it is now time to find “new ways” to draw attention to climate change. The activist therefore called on her followers to use the hashtag #DigitalStrike on social networks and upload strike photos.

Schools in the district of Heinsberg continue to be closed

7:30 a.m .: Schools in the Heinsberg district, which is particularly affected by the coronavirus, should remain closed for longer. “We have (…) decided to keep the schools closed until Easter, but in fact for another week,” said Heinsberg district administrator Stephan Pusch in a video published on Facebook on Wednesday.

A second patient infected with the Sars-CoV-2 virus died in the Heinsberg district on Wednesday. It was the third known death in Germany.

NBA breaks season after positive Covid 19 test

6:30 a.m.: After the first corona fall in the NBA, the North American professional basketball league is suspended until further notice. The measure comes into effect on Thursday. “The NBA will use this pause to determine further steps with a view to the spread of the coronavirus,” the message said. Previously, a pro from Utah Jazz had “provisionally” tested positive for the disease Covid-19, which is triggered by the virus. According to corresponding media reports, this is the French all-star Rudy Gobert (27).

The league had received the test result immediately before the start of the jazz championship game at Oklahoma City Thunder, team of German Dennis Schröder, on Wednesday evening. The encounter was then canceled at short notice. The affected player was not in the arena.

29 dead after quarantine hotel collapse in China

6:00 a.m.: After the collapse of a hotel used as quarantine accommodation in the eastern Chinese city of Quanzhou, the death toll rose to 29. 42 people were saved alive. The Xinjia Hotel in the metropolis of southeast China’s Fujian Province collapsed on Saturday. After initial investigations, renovation work could have been the trigger. The seven-storey hotel with around 80 rooms was used to quarantine and observe people from other provinces because of the new type of corona virus.

Tom Hanks and wife Rita Wilson infected with coronavirus

5:00 a.m.: Oscar winner Tom Hanks (63) and his wife, producer and actress Rita Wilson (63), are infected with the corona virus. The star announced from films such as “Philadelphia” and “Forrest Gump” on Wednesday on Instagram and Twitter. His spokeswoman confirmed the diagnosis to the German Press Agency on request.

They were in Australia and felt tired and feverish, like a cold, Hanks posted. He also put a photo of a rubber glove in a trash can. They were tested and the result was positive.
You would now follow the instructions of the health authorities, put yourself in isolation and “take as it comes every day”. They wanted to keep the world up to date with updates. “Take care of yourself!” Added Hanks.
Numerous followers on Instagram sent recovery wishes.

USA waive 30-day entry ban from Europe

3:00 a.m .: US President Donald Trump extends travel restrictions due to the spread of the corona virus to Europe. “We will suspend all travel from Europe to the US for the next 30 days,” Trump said at the White House Wednesday evening in a speech to the nation. This does not apply to travelers from Great Britain. Americans coming from Europe would have to undergo appropriate tests. According to the White House, the measure will apply from 11:59 p.m. on Friday (4:59 a.m.CET on Saturday). Passengers whose flight starts from Europe beforehand may therefore still enter. Trump’s Proclamation, published by the White House, said foreigners who had been in the 26 Schengen countries in the previous 14 days were no longer allowed to enter the United States.

Trump said on the grounds: “The EU has failed to take the same precautions (as the US) and limit travel from China and other trouble spots.” This has also led to the spread of the virus in the US. Trump said: “We have seen dramatically fewer cases of the virus in the United States than we do in Europe now.” The President goes unmentioned that the United States has so far tested relatively few suspected cases of the virus.

To date, at least 37 people in the United States have died from Covid 19 disease. According to statistics from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, more than 1,100 people in the United States are now infected with the Sars-CoV-2 coronavirus. The number of unreported cases is likely to be much higher because, according to the CDC, only a little over 11,000 people have ever been tested for the virus in the United States.

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