Corona virus live ticker – France imposes curfew

Cologne closes restaurants and pubs in the city from Tuesday in the fight against a further spread of the corona virus. It goes beyond the decree of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, city director Stephan Keller said on Monday. The country has strict regulations for restaurants – including a minimum distance of two meters between the tables. “We said that it is simply not possible to monitor these requirements and to check that they are being complied with,” said Keller. One considers a general closure for “more practicable”.

5:20 pm – Spain is closing borders

Spain is also closing its borders because of the coronavirus crisis. At all border crossings, controls would be reintroduced at midnight, Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said in Madrid. This measure will initially apply for the duration of the 15-day alarm condition that came into force on Sunday.

According to the Minister, Spaniards and foreigners living in Spain are still allowed to enter the country. Diplomatic staff are also exempt from the entry ban. Otherwise, foreigners are only allowed to enter “in situations of force majeure” in the next few days, emphasized Grande-Marlaska. The transport of goods is not affected. This measure was taken after consultation with all partners of the European Union.

5:05 p.m. – Government calls medical students to volunteer corona use

The Bavarian government is calling on medical students to volunteer in the Corona crisis. “Especially in the medical field, we will need all the support we can in the coming weeks to advise and protect our population and provide the best possible care for people who are already infected,” said Science Minister Bernd Sibler (CSU) on Monday. “Therefore, I ask our medical students to tackle where it is necessary.”

For example, budding doctors could provide support for patients or help advise the population – for example, on telephone hotlines, the joint call from Sibler and the six Bavarian university clinics said.

4:52 p.m. – Flight operations in Frankfurt also at night if necessary

In the course of the corona virus crisis, take-offs and landings at night should also be possible at Frankfurt Airport. “We are in an exceptional situation,” said Hesse Transport Minister Tarek Al-Wazir (Greens) on Monday. “It is therefore important to maintain flight operations around the clock for the take-offs and landings affected by the Corona virus.”

For Germany’s largest airport there is usually a night flight ban from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. Delayed planes are allowed to land until midnight.

4:42 pm – Von der Leyen proposes a 30-day entry ban into the EU

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has proposed a 30-day travel ban for the majority of EU citizens. This is the best way to limit the spread of the corona virus, said von der Leyen on Monday in Brussels.

3:45 p.m. – The federal government and the federal states pass drastic restrictions

The federal and state governments want to limit the spread of the corona virus in Germany with drastic restrictions. A large number of shops are to be closed, church services and meetings in clubs prohibited and playgrounds blocked, as a decision of the federal government and the heads of state of the states on Monday shows. The aim is to further limit social contacts in the public sphere. The measures should apply immediately. Supermarkets and other shops that serve to supply people should remain open, however.

2:47 p.m .: Considerations for constitutional change due to corona epidemic

In the Bundestag, there are initial considerations for an amendment to the Basic Law in order to remain able to act if Parliament can no longer meet due to the corona epidemic. The German press agency dpa learned this after a conversation between Bundestag President Wolfgang Schäuble (CDU) and the parliamentary leaders of the parliamentary groups. The aim is to include a regulation similar to that already in the constitution in the event of a defense. In the telephone conference call, however, there was agreement to allow the parliamentary meetings scheduled for next week to take place.

Four MPs have now tested positive for the Corona virus. In the event that there are more, a so-called pairing solution is considered: other parliamentary groups also withdraw parliamentary votes, so that the original majority relationships are preserved.

2:35 p.m. – First public prosecutor’s office has to stop regular operations

The Itzehoe public prosecutor’s office must restrict its regular operations. Employees were sent to the home office. Negotiations are not carried out. Important and time-critical processes are an exception. According to its own statements, the public prosecutor wants to fill them.

12:50 p.m .: Muslims should not go to the mosque

Muslims in Germany are called to pray at home instead of in the mosque because of the corona virus. This was announced by the Central Council of Muslims in Germany (ZMD) and the Coordination Council of Muslims (KRM). They advised all congregations, clubs and associations not to perform the five daily prayers in the mosque. This applies immediately, it said. According to the information, the mosques remain open for pastoral matters and individual appointments.

12:45 p.m .: South Africa imposes a visa requirement for travelers from Germany

In view of the spread of the corona virus, South Africa is introducing a visa requirement for Germans and other travelers from high-risk areas. Interior Minister Aaron Motsoaledi announced this at a press conference. In addition to Germany, the minister also named Italy, China, the USA or Iran. The Cape State is a popular destination with just under 350,000 German holidaymakers every year. Until now, it was possible to stay for up to three months without a visa. South Africa has had 61 coronavirus cases to date.

12:20 p.m .: Thousands of Germans are stuck abroad

The federal government assumes that several thousand Germans are stuck abroad due to travel restrictions in the wake of the Corona crisis. According to the Federal Foreign Office, citizens in Germany, especially in Turkey, Morocco, Indonesia and the Philippines, have difficulties returning to Germany. Spokeswoman Maria Adebahr said that there was an intensive discussion with airlines and tour operators “in order to find the most pragmatic and fastest possible solutions” for an exit.

In recent days, more and more countries have cut flight connections and borders have largely been closed. That is why the Federal Foreign Office has generally advised against traveling abroad since Sunday – an unprecedented process. “The risk that you will no longer be able to start your return journey due to the increasing restrictions is currently high in many destinations,” Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (SPD) wrote on Twitter.

12:10 p.m .: Ryanair cancels most of the flights

Europe’s largest low-cost airline Ryanair is cutting its flight program by up to 80 percent in April and May due to the corona virus crisis. CEO Michael O’Leary wants to defy the challenges and steer the airline safely through the turbulence.

However, within the next seven to ten days, the majority of the fleet in Europe will no longer be able to take off. In the meantime, Ryanair wants to continue the planned flights as far as allowed to bring customers back home. However, some countries have banned international flights.

11:30 a.m .: Cologne Mayor Henriette Reker in quarantine

After contact with a person who tested positive for the coronavirus, Cologne’s mayor Henriette Reker (independent) is in home quarantine. The city announced on Monday. So far, however, she has had no symptoms and feels good. “She does her official and official business from home,” said Rekers spokesman. The quarantine started on the advice of the health department on Sunday evening.

11:20 am: RKI classifies three US states as coronavirus risk areas

The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) now also classifies the US states of California, Washington and New York as corona virus risk areas. According to the assessment of the US health authorities, there is a continuing virus transmission within the population, RKI Vice President Lars Schaade justified the step. So far, Italy and Iran as well as regions in China, South Korea, France (Grand Est region), Austria (Tyrol) and Madrid in Spain have been classified as risk areas. In Germany, the Heinsberg district in North Rhine-Westphalia is “particularly affected”.

11:05 a.m .: Baden-Württemberg wants to stop air traffic

The state government of Baden-Württemberg wants to stop operating at all airports in the state because of the corona virus. The German press agency learned this on Monday from government circles in Stuttgart. Travelers from abroad would still be brought back.

10:12 am: Bavaria provides ten billion euros – sports and playgrounds are closed

To protect the Bavarian economy from the consequences of the corona crisis, the Free State of Bavaria is providing up to ten billion euros in special funds. “We don’t leave anyone alone,” said Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) in Munich on Monday. In order to curb the spread of the virus, Bavaria has decided to also close sports and playgrounds. In addition, the debt brake is also overridden. The disaster is effective immediately, said Söder.

10:00 am: Robert Koch Institute: Number of cases in Germany increases “rapidly”

In Germany, 4,838 people are currently infected with the corona virus. That is 1043 more cases compared to the previous day (March 15). “The number of cases is still increasing relatively quickly,” said the Robert Koch Institute in its daily press briefing. 134 countries are currently affected.

8:45 a.m. – North Rhine-Westphalia launches central corona virus site and citizen phone

The state of North Rhine-Westphalia has bundled all information on the coronavirus epidemic on the Internet and has activated a nationwide citizen phone for inquiries. Via the website land.nrw/corona the state announced on Monday that all decisions of the NRW state government, the decrees and their backgrounds are available. Information is also passed on in Turkish and Arabic on the site. The citizens’ phone can be reached on 0211/9119 1001.

8:10 am – Postponement of surgery due to corona: «more than every second intervention»

The postponement of predictable operations due to the coronavirus epidemic could affect more than every second intervention in North Rhine-Westphalia. That said the president of the hospital society NRW, Jochen Brink, on Monday in the WDR. For the hospitals, this means a “huge challenge”. Hospital managers across the country are currently busy reorganizing their operations. The treating doctor decides which procedures could be postponed for a few months without harming the patient. After his first impression, the patients reacted “very understandingly,” said Brink.

The postponement, which had been recommended nationwide and by the NRW Ministry of Health, is intended to keep intensive care beds and ventilators free for the treatment of seriously ill coronavirus patients. The decision is understandable and will be implemented quickly, Brink assured. However, the renunciation of so many operations would result in a loss of revenue “at a very high level”. The federal and state governments had promised a financial protection shield for the already strained clinics. “I hope that this will be implemented without small and small,” said Brink.

07:25 – What do Sars-CoV-2 and Covid-19 actually mean?

In the meantime, many terms are circulating around the coronavirus: Sars-Cov-2, Covid-19 or simply coronavirus. But what do they actually mean? Here is a simple overview:

Sars-CoV-2: This is the official name of the new type of corona virus. So it’s just his name

Covid-19: This is the name of the lung disease that is caused by the Sars-Cov-2 virus and can lead to death

Coronavirus: When it had no name, the virus was always referred to as a “novel coronavirus”. Now it is still used – also by us – to simplify the somewhat bulky term “Sars-CoV-2”.

07:14 – Institute researches with animals on the novel corona virus

The Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI) near Greifswald has started animal experiments to research the novel coronavirus Sars-CoV-2. Pigs, chickens, ferrets and Nile fruit bats were selected for this, a type of bat, as FLI President Thomas Mettenleiter of the German Press Agency said. These experiments are currently the most urgent research project on the island of Riems.

“It is important to know whether the virus could also cause difficulties in livestock farming,” said the scientist. Results are expected at the end of April at the earliest. The Federal Research Institute for Animal Health has been commissioned to maintain the health of food-producing animals and to protect people against zoonoses – infectious diseases that can be transmitted between animals and humans.

06:41 am – These are the current figures: almost 170,000 infected worldwide

Good morning, we hope you are well. To start a day that is sure to be shaped by the corona virus, here are the current figures:

Germany: 5,813 infected 13 dead

Italy: 24,747 infected 1,809 dead

France: 5,437 infected 127 dead

Worldwide: 169,387 infected 6,513 dead

05:25 am – Federal President Steinmeier: “We will defeat the virus”

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier called on people in Germany to exercise prudence and consideration in the fight against the corona virus. “We will defeat the virus,” the head of state told the news portal “t-online”. “But what kind of society we will live in and what kind of world it depends on how we act today.”

The main thing now is to slow down the spread of the virus. “Drastic and immediate cuts in our daily life, our day-to-day work are necessary for this, we have to do without old habits such as hugs, the kiss of greeting, shaking hands for a while,” said Steinmeier.

3:30 a.m. – Bavaria will call disaster

Monday is a time in Bavaria that has never been seen before: schools, daycare centers and crèches will remain closed throughout the country for the next five weeks. The state government has also imposed extensive requirements for visits to hospitals, old people’s homes and nursing homes.

Bars, cinemas and swimming pools are to be closed on Tuesday before selected shops have to close on Wednesday. In addition, the state government wants to declare a disaster so that, for example, the Bundeswehr and its hospitals can be included in the crisis plans.

That was the news from Sunday, March 15th

7:36 p.m. – Four infected federal police officers

The federal police recorded four cases of infected people. This is the state of Saturday, says the chief of the federal police, Dieter Romann. As a precaution, 240 are in contact with quarantine.

7:34 p.m. – 4,838 infections confirmed in Germany

The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) reports an increase in laboratory-confirmed infections in Germany. These are given as 4,838. On Saturday there were 3,795. Of these, 4,195 COVID-19 cases were electronically transmitted to the RKI. The number of deaths was given as twelve (as of 3:00 p.m.).

7:32 p.m. – Rush of returnees to the United States leads to chaos at airports

The rush of returnees to the USA from Europe has led to long waiting times at the designated airports due to health checks on entry. On television pictures and on social media, extremely long queues of people were standing in line, crowded together. US President Donald Trump has had an entry freeze for foreigners from the Schengen countries because of the spread of the corona virus. Americans and people with a permanent green card from these countries are allowed to return to the United States, but only at 13 selected airports. You have to undergo a short health check there.

7:25 p.m. – Lockdown in Bavaria from Tuesday and Wednesday

Because of the corona virus, all bars, cinemas and swimming pools in Bavaria will be closed from Tuesday, and from Wednesday selected shops will also close their doors. The German press agency learned this on Sunday from government circles in Munich. Accordingly, despite the further expansion of Sars-CoV-2, all grocery stores, pharmacies, drugstores, banks and petrol stations remain open. Basic care was thereby maintained, was emphasized. Nevertheless, the closures impose further significant restrictions on public life in the Free State.

7:10 p.m. – Seehofer: Temporary border controls from Monday 8:00 a.m.

At the borders with France, Switzerland, Austria, Luxembourg and Germany, border controls will be reintroduced from Monday 8:00 a.m. “The situation is very serious,” said Interior Minister Horst Seehofer. However, goods traffic and commuter traffic remain possible. Other travelers without a serious reason will not be allowed to enter.

6:24 p.m. – Fourth corona death in Bavaria

Another person died in Bavaria after being infected with the novel corona virus. The Ministry of Health announced on Sunday in Munich, citing the State Office for Health and Food Safety, that it was an 80-year-old patient with previous illnesses from Würzburg. The deceased was a resident of the same nursing home from which the first coronavirus death in Bavaria came.

This means that four people in Bavaria have died after being infected with the novel corona virus. At least 886 people have been tested positive for Sars-CoV-2 so far. This includes the first 14 infected people, all of whom were related to the auto supplier Webasto from Gauting-Stockdorf near Munich. Also included are three Bavarians who tested positive outside of the Free State.

5:41 p.m. – Sixth coronavirus death in NRW

A sixth person infected with the coronavirus died in North Rhine-Westphalia. An 81-year-old, who tested positive for the virus a week ago, had died on Sunday, the city of Düsseldorf said without giving any further details.

An 84-year-old woman from Gangelt with serious previous illnesses died of pneumonia in a hospital in Neuss on Friday night, as the district administrator of the district of Heinsberg, Stephan Pusch, had previously announced. In this case, too, the source of the virus infection is still unknown.

5:29 pm – Günther: The border to Denmark is closed on Monday

Germany wants to close its border with Denmark on Monday at 6 a.m. Federal Minister of the Interior Horst Seehofer (CSU) promised this to him on a phone call, said Schleswig-Holstein’s Prime Minister Daniel Günther (CDU) in Kiel on Sunday.

5:24 p.m .: Munich: Police ask Corona to file online reports

To protect against infections with the corona virus, the police are asking that many reports only be submitted online. Anyone wishing to report bicycle theft, property damage to a bicycle, theft of parts from a vehicle, theft of objects from an unlocked vehicle and property damage to a vehicle or fraud by means of an online auction should go to the website www.polizei.bayern.de use. The police emergency number 110 is still available around the clock without restrictions.

17:14 – Hamburg prohibits all events

In view of the spread of the novel corona virus, all events are prohibited in Hamburg. This applies to all public and non-public events and meetings regardless of the number of participants, said the Senate on Sunday.

5:08 p.m. – NRW decides on further measures in the leisure sector

The state government of North Rhine-Westphalia has decided to take further measures to contain the coronavirus pandemic. Already on Sunday, almost all leisure, sports, entertainment and educational offers in the country should be discontinued by decree of the Ministry of Health, the state chancellery said.

4:42 p.m. – Fifth coronavirus death in NRW

A fifth person infected with the coronavirus died in North Rhine-Westphalia. An 84-year-old woman from Gangelt with serious previous illnesses died of pneumonia in a hospital in Neuss on Friday night, said District Administrator of the Heinsberg District, Stephan Pusch, on Sunday. In this case, too, the source of the virus infection is still unknown. “I am deeply saddened by each of these messages. My sincere condolences go out to the family,” said the district administrator.

A 78-year-old had previously died on Thursday afternoon from pneumonia in a Heinsberg hospital. The first fatality in North Rhine-Westphalia and also nationwide was an 89-year-old from Essen, the second a 78-year-old from Gangelt in the Heinsberg district. Then on Wednesday a 73-year-old died in a Heinsberger hospital.

4:41 p.m. – RKI declares California and New York risk areas

For the first time, the Robert Koch Institute has declared three US states to be risk areas because of the corona virus. California, Washington and New York were among the areas where “continued transmission of the virus from person to person” is suspected, the virologists explain.

4:39 pm – Kiel seals off islands in the North and Baltic Seas for tourists

In the fight against the spread of the novel corona virus, Schleswig-Holstein wants to cordon off its islands in the North and Baltic Seas for tourists from Monday morning at 6 a.m. That was decided by the state government in Kiel, as Prime Minister Daniel Günther (CDU) announced after a conference call by the cabinet.

4:32 p.m. – Majority of tourists in Mallorca due to corona virus: Airport almost empty

The alarm status due to the corona virus in Spain has also been clearly noticeable at Mallorca Airport since the weekend. Where tourists usually crowd and wait in long lines in front of the check-in counters, there was little activity on Sunday. Many passengers wore protective masks.

The government in Madrid had imposed a curfew of 15 days across the country on Saturday evening, severely restricting people’s freedom of movement. Vacationers are allowed to return to their main residence. Nevertheless, the decree also contains the requirement to restrict air traffic by at least 50 percent.

4:22 pm – Trade association: supply of German consumers is ensured

Stefan Genth, General Manager of the German Trade Association (HDE), assures that the supply to German consumers is guaranteed. “There are enough products on the market. However, bottlenecks will temporarily not be avoidable for one or the other product.” Genth refers to the strong increase in demand and the associated requirements for delivery logistics. He therefore appeals to consumers to continue shopping as needed. The association denies rumors about restricted opening times in the food trade.

4:17 p.m. – Lufthansa brings up to 4000 vacationers back to Germany

With 15 special flights, Lufthansa plans to bring around 3,000 to 4,000 vacationers from the Caribbean and the Canaries back to Germany by Wednesday. A Lufthansa spokesman said on Sunday of the German press agency. They are people who would otherwise not have been able to return because of the travel restrictions as a result of the coronavirus crisis – holidaymakers from the islands and cruise passengers.

Several shipping companies and tourism companies have commissioned Lufthansa to fly the vacationers back. In addition to the 15 special flights, there would be two regular flights from the Dominican Republic and Barbados.

Large Boeing 747 and Airbus A340 aircraft are used. Departure points are Tenerife, Punta Cana and Barbados. Destination airports are Frankfurt, Munich, Hamburg and Berlin. According to Lufthansa, the planes usually fly empty to the Caribbean or the Canary Islands. The first returnees were expected in Germany on Sunday.

4:10 p.m. – SPD parliamentary group vice president does not rule out “complete lockdown”

The deputy head of the SPD parliamentary group, Bärbel Bas, does not rule out a very extensive shutdown of public life as a result of the Corona crisis. “If the number of new infections cannot be slowed down with the current measures, a complete lockdown must also be considered,” she told Die Welt.

4:01 p.m. – Federal government looks after stranded Germans in Morocco

The federal government comes to the aid of German tourists who are stuck in Morocco because of canceled return flights. “The Federal Foreign Office and the German Embassy Rabat are working intensively with the tour operators and the EU partners to create return travel opportunities for German nationals from Morocco,” said a spokesman in Berlin on Sunday. The tour operators are the first point of contact for package travelers. “We are also working with the travel companies to ensure that flight and ferry connections are available for individual travelers to leave,” it said. The Federal Foreign Office is also committed to the Moroccan government. Travelers are asked to keep themselves informed on the website of the Federal Foreign Office and the Rabat embassy.

Given the spread of the corona virus, Morocco had decided to stop all flight connections to Germany, Belgium, Portugal and the Netherlands.

3:30 p.m. – Six employees from University Hospital Groningen infected with coronavirus

At the university clinic in Groningen, near the border with Lower Saxony, six employees were infected with the corona virus. The clinic announced on Sunday that the patients and other employees the affected people had been in contact with were updated. The six people work in radiotherapy, dentistry, surgery, the children’s department and in the intensive care unit. Surgery should only be carried out to a limited extent on Monday in order to reduce the possible spread of the disease.

In the meantime, 200 employees have already been examined without any evidence of further infections. One of the people affected is an ICU trainee who was in contact with other students from other institutions. These were informed. All six employees were examined after complaining of fever, cough, or shortness of breath.

3:10 p.m. – First corona death in Hungary

According to a report by the state media, a person died of the corona virus in Hungary for the first time.

3:05 p.m. – Bavaria plans restrictions for restaurants and shops

In view of the corona virus crisis, Bavaria is planning further restrictions on public life. Extensive closings of meeting places such as bars and swimming pools as well as restrictions in the catering trade and for shops are planned, as the German press agency learned on Sunday from government circles.

2:55 pm – Report: Germany partially closes the borders

According to a report by the “Bild” newspaper, Germany is now closing the borders. Chancellor Angela Merkel, Bavaria’s Prime Minister Markus Söder, Federal Minister of the Interior Horst Seehofer, Baden-Württemberg’s Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann and Saarland’s Prime Minister Tobias Hans are said to have agreed on this by telephone. The borders to Austria, Switzerland and France should close from 8 a.m. on Monday morning.

2:32 p.m. – Lüneburg: 1,000 students and 100 teachers have to be quarantined

In Lüneburg, over 1,000 students and around 100 teachers have to be quarantined. The health department of the city of Lower Saxony decided this after a teacher from the municipal Johanneum secondary school tested positive for the new Coronavirus Sars-CoV-19. The teacher had previously been to a school class in Tyrol, the city said. Due to the large number of people around the sick teacher, the health department decided to isolate the entire workforce and all students at home.

1:55 p.m. – Number of coronavirus infections in Bavaria increased to 886

The number of confirmed infections with the novel corona virus is increasing rapidly in Bavaria. On Sunday (as of 12.00 p.m.), the Bavarian State Office for Health and Food Safety (LGL) reported 886 cases in which people in the Free State tested positive for Sars-CoV-2. That is 205 more cases than the day before.

With 471 there are the most registered infections in Upper Bavaria, of which 187 cases in Munich, 74 cases in Freising and 42 cases in Starnberg. Two more deaths were reported on Sunday. So far, three people have died of Covid-19 in the Free State.

1:25 p.m. – Will master the crisis with restrained action

French President Emmanuel Macron defends the restrictions in the country as well as the still running local elections. “I am the guarantor of the health of citizens, but also that of democratic life in the country,” he says after he has cast his vote in northern France. “We will master the crisis by dealing responsibly with one another.”

12:58 p.m. – Third death in Bavaria confirmed

In Bavaria, a second and a third death related to the corona virus were officially confirmed on Sunday in quick succession. This was announced by the Ministry of Health in Munich on Sunday. “According to the Neu-Ulm district office, a death is an over 80-year-old patient with previous illnesses,” said a ministry spokesman. The man had died on Sunday night. The AWO-Schwaben had previously announced that in one of its retirement homes in Kempten, an 86-year-old woman was found to have died in a retirement home after being infected with the novel corona virus.

It is now proven that three people in Bavaria have died of Covid-19. On Thursday, an over-80-year-old died of the disease at the Würzburg Clinic. Nationwide, ten people have died of the disease so far.

12:41 – AKK: Bundeswehr ready for administrative assistance in corona crisis

Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer sees the Bundeswehr’s operational readiness in the widening corona epidemic guaranteed. “We plan at all levels in such a way that we can safely cover all critical areas – including what is expected of us in terms of administrative assistance,” said the CDU chief of the “Welt am Sonntag”. “We have just called on our reservists to report to help with the Bundeswehr hospitals and the medical orderly. Whatever is needed now.”

12:32 p.m. – Corona Falls in NRW rise to 2,100

The number of coronavirus infections detected has risen above the 2,000 mark in North Rhine-Westphalia. As of 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, there were 2,100 confirmed diseases with the pathogen Sars-CoV-2, as the Ministry of Health in Düsseldorf announced. On Saturday, there were 1,636 cases at the same time, 464 fewer.

The district of Heinsberg remains by far the most affected with 650 proven infections. In Aachen and the city region of Aachen there were 140 infections with the new corona virus. In Cologne, the largest city in the state, there were 129 cases. 36 cases were known in the second largest city of Düsseldorf, 19 in Dortmund and 52 in Essen.

12:18 p.m. – Report: Deutsche Bahn switches regional traffic to an emergency plan

In regional traffic, Deutsche Bahn will presumably restrict its timetable from Tuesday or Wednesday, reports the magazine “Der Spiegel” with reference to railroad circles. Ticket controls should be eliminated. This happens because many parents cannot start work because of the care of their children.

12:08 p.m. – Iran reports 1,209 new infections and 113 new deaths

13,938 infections are now known in Iran, 1209 more than the previous day, as the health authorities report. The number of deaths rose by 113 to 724.

12:00 noon – France is returning due to Coronavirus long-distance traffic

In order to prevent the further spread of the corona virus, long-distance traffic in France is gradually being reduced. This included trains, buses and planes, Environment Minister Elisabeth Borne said on Sunday. Long-distance travel should be limited to what is absolutely necessary. But there would be no “brutal and complete” stop.

11:50 am – In short: exit restrictions in Austria

The Austrian government is imposing exit restrictions for the whole country. Chancellor Sebastian Kurz told the APA news agency on Sunday. There will be police checks from Sunday. Larger groups that gather around playgrounds would be asked to go home. The Provincial Governor (Prime Minister) of Tyrol, Günther Platter, formulated his measures even more drastically: “Nobody is allowed to leave his apartment without a good reason,” he said. There are only a few exceptions. Tyrol is particularly affected by the corona virus.

Briefly specified a new catalog of measures from the morning. There should be only three reasons for exceptions to leaving the house: depending on the profession, work that cannot be postponed, necessary errands or help for other people. If you want to go outside in an emergency, “you can only do this alone or with the people you live with in the apartment,” said Kurz.

11:40 am – Second death in Bavaria

In Bavaria, another person has succumbed to an infection with the novel corona virus. Es handele sich um eine 86-jährige Frau aus einem AWO-Seniorenheim, die am Freitag mit Atemnot in das Kemptener Klinikum eingewiesen wurde, wie die AWO Schwaben am Sonntag bestätigte.

Das Gesundheitsamt Kempten habe das Heim darüber informiert, dass die Erkrankung und der Tod der Frau durch eine Infektion mit dem Virus verursacht wurde. It is now proven that two people in Bavaria have died of Covid-19. On Thursday, an over-80-year-old died of the disease at the Würzburg Clinic. Nationwide, nine people have died of the disease.

11:28 Uhr – Heil bittet Firmen um großzügige Regeln für Mitarbeiter mit Kindern

Angesichts wochenlanger Schul- und Kita-Schließungen in Deutschland appelliert Arbeitsminister Hubertus Heil an alle Firmenchefs und Behördenleiter, zusammen mit ihren Mitarbeitern großzügige Lösungen für die Kinderbetreuung zu finden. “Ich bitte Sie angesichts der akuten Lage, gemeinsam mit Ihren Arbeitnehmerinnen und Arbeitnehmern zu pragmatischen, unbürokratischen und einvernehmlichen Lösungen zu kommen, die nicht zu Lohneinbußen führen”, erklärte der SPD-Politiker am Sonntag in Berlin. “Ich bitte Sie, die Möglichkeiten der Lohnfortzahlung im Betreuungsfall großzügig auszugestalten.”

10:35 Uhr – Österreich fährt Land auf Notbetrieb herunter

Austria’s Chancellor Sebastian Kurz announces a ban on meetings in the country. The Chancellor’s Office announced that no place should meet more than five people at a time. Die einzigen Ausnahmen sind Aktivitäten, die der Bekämpfung des Virus dienen. Playgrounds and sports fields are closed. Restaurants will remain closed from Tuesday. The food supply is guaranteed through supermarkets and delivery service. Briefly appealed to people to isolate themselves and to maintain only those social contacts with whom they live. Insgesamt gibt es in Österreich laut Gesundheitsministerium mittlerweile 800 bestätigte Coronavirus-Fälle. So far, a dead person has been reported.

10:24 Uhr – Botschaft: Ausreise aus Marokko für Deutsche fast unmöglich

As the Deutsche Botschaft in Rabat am Sonntag mitteilt, ist die Ausreise aus Marokko derzeit fast unmöglich. Der Flugverkehr zwischen Deutschland und Marokko ist seit heute 9 Uhr bis Ende März eingestellt. French President Macron has already announced a return campaign for his citizens.

10:17 Uhr – Ehefrau von Spaniens Regierungschef mit Coronavirus infiziert

​Die Ehefrau des spanischen Ministerpräsidenten Pedro Sánchez ist positiv auf das Coronavirus getestet worden. María Begoña Gómez (45) is doing well, the Spanish government said on Saturday evening. She and the head of the socialist government followed all the doctors’ instructions at the Palacio de la Moncloa in Madrid, it was stressed.

Spanien hatte am Samstag die Bewegungsfreiheit im Land eingeschränkt und das ganze Land de facto 15 Tage lang unter Quarantäne gesetzt. Bürger dürfen nur noch zur Arbeit gehen oder den Einkauf in Apotheken und Lebensmittelgeschäften erledigen.

According to the authorities, infection with the new virus had been detected in more than 6,000 people in Spain by Sunday morning. The death toll was just under 200.

09:56 Uhr – Berlin: 42 Menschen nach Club-Besuch infiziert