Chinese coronavirus: collapse in oil prices, ban on cruises and quarantined millions

At the moment, more than 110 thousand cases of coronavirus infection have been recorded worldwide, of which almost 4 thousand people have died. Writes about it "Voice of America".

Photo: Shutterstock

Most of the deaths were recorded in China, but now people are dying of the disease and outside the PRC. The largest number of deaths is in Italy, where 366 people have already died from the coronavirus, followed by Iran with 327 cases, and South Korea is in third place with 53 deaths.

In the USA, 566 cases of the disease were recorded and 22 people died.

Coronavirus has been reported in 90 countries. Over the past XNUMX hours, the first cases were reported by Colombia, Costa Rica, Cambodia, Malta and Paraguay.

Catastrophe

About 30 people remain trapped after a five-story hotel designed to quarantine patients with signs of coronavirus collapsed on Saturday, March 7, in the southeastern Chinese city of Quanzhou.

Increased economic damage

Bad news for the economy does not think to end: according to the trade report, Chinese exports declined significantly in the first two months of 2020, and imports slowed, as measures taken to curb the outbreak caused significant disruptions to companies, global supply chains and economic activity .

In Iran and South Korea, the number of cases is growing

Iranian authorities reported 1000 new infections per day, while in South Korea the number of infected people increased by 448, totaling a little over 7000 cases.

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More than half of the infections in South Korea are related to a secret sect - the number of infected people rose sharply after an infected woman attended a service in the prayer house of Jesus Sinchonji Church in mid-February.

Dangerous Cruises

The United States is considering ways to convince people to use cruise ships. Vice President Mike Pence said older people should act with “common sense and caution” and remember that huge floating “hotels” are now a particular problem for healthcare professionals.

The 21 people on the cruise ship who were banned from mooring in San Francisco were found to be carriers of coronavirus based on test results.

The U.S. Department of State recommends that U.S. citizens do not travel on cruise ships, as new coronavirus cases continue to spread around the world. Writes about this USA Today.

“U.S. citizens, especially those with underlying health conditions, should not travel on cruise ships,” the State Department wrote in its warning.

The warning coincided with the new recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which includes tips for people who decide to travel on cruise ships.

“Like many viruses, COVID-19 appears to spread more easily between people in close proximity on cruise ships,” the CDC writes.

The CDC reports that those with health problems and older travelers should generally avoid cruise ships, as well as long flights by plane and in crowded places. CDC advises:

• avoid contact with sick people;
• try not to touch your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands;
• wash hands frequently by washing them with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing 60–95% alcohol. Soap and water should be used if hands are noticeably dirty;
• it is especially important to wash your hands after going to the toilet; before meals; and after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose;
• Avoid traveling if you are sick.

“COVID-19 spreads from person to person, and countries are reporting both travel-related cases and community spread,” the CDC writes. “As the COVID-19 outbreak continues, the risk of infection remains for travelers boarding cruise ships and crew members.”

For those who have been on a cruise ship for the past two weeks, the CDC recommends monitoring your health for 14 days after returning to the United States, staying home if you feel unwell, limit your communication with others, wash your hands, and see a doctor.

“To curb the spread of COVID-19, many countries implemented strict screening procedures that denied ships port entry and prevented passengers from disembarking,” the State Department wrote. “In some cases, local authorities allowed disembarkation but subjected passengers to local quarantine procedures.”

Cancel music festivals and conferences

On Friday, March 6, it became known about the cancellation of the music and technology festival South by Southway, which is traditionally held in Austin (Texas). Prior to this, it became known about the abolition of mass sports, business and other events around the world.

Congressmen at stake

Two Republican lawmakers, Senator Ted Cruz and Congressman Paul Gosar, said on Sunday March 8 that they would quarantine themselves after attending a conservative meeting in late February, which was attended by a person whose coronavirus tests tested positive, writes "Voice of America".

Cruz and Gosar were among American politicians and activists who gathered on February 26-29 at the annual Conference of Conservative Political Action (CCPA) near Washington. The theme of the conference was “America against socialism”.

The conference organizer, Chairman of the American Conservative Union, Matt Schlapp, said that he had “accidental” contact with a participant whose analyzes turned out to be positive. At the same time, he noted that he feels “as healthy as a horse” and did not hear that someone else was ill.

US President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence also attended the conference, but Schlapp said that none of them had contact with the infected.

Cases have been reported in most of the 50 US states. On Sunday, March 8, Virginia and Connecticut reported the first cases.

The spread of the epidemic disrupted the course of everyday life: some concerts and conferences were canceled, some universities asked students to stay at home and transferred classes to online mode.

On the subject: Coronavirus and personal hygiene: 7 habits that are worth adopting from American children

Cruz said that during the conference he had contact in the form of a handshake and a short conversation for less than a minute with a person whose analyzes thereafter turned out to be positive.

In his statement, Cruz noted that he had no symptoms of the disease, and that since the contact was 10 days ago and the average incubation period was 5-6 days, the chances of him becoming infected were "extremely small."

“However, as a precaution ... I decided to stay home in Texas this week until the full 14 days have passed since I contacted the conference,” he added, noting that the people with whom he spoke after the conference “didn’t should worry about the possible transmission of the virus.

Gosar, who reported that he had been in contact with the infected person for a longer time and shook hands with him several times, also noted that he had no symptoms, but that he would stay in his house in Arizona until 14 days had passed.

“As a precaution, I am closing my Washington office this week,” the Republican congressman from Arizona said on Twitter.

Gosar said that his Washington office would work remotely.

Anthony Fauci, a senior official in the US healthcare system, said Americans, especially those from vulnerable populations, may need to stop visiting large crowds as the coronavirus spreads.

In addition to Trump and Pence, the conference was attended by the new head of the White House’s office, Mark Meadows, president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and Congressman Jim Jordan, one of the largest allies in Congress.

Schlapp shook hands with Trump before the president spoke on the last day of the conference. But there was no infected member that day, Schlapp tweeted.

The incubation period of coronavirus is from 2 to 14 days, and the conference ended on February 29.

The CFCA statement said the Maryland Department of Health checked thousands of convention center and hotel employees, and none of them had any unusual illnesses.

The department recommended that workers measure body temperature twice a day and monitor for possible unusual symptoms. The conference organizer issued similar recommendations to the participants.

The situation in Italy

On Sunday, March 8, due to coronavirus, 16 million people were quarantined. Italy, in which about the same number of Covid-19 cases as in South Korea, introduced a quarantine regime in several northern regions at once. It applies to all of Lombardy and another 14 provinces. What can the Italians not do now, and is Europe in danger? Found out the publication with the BBC.

On Sunday in Italy, another 133 coronavirus deaths became known, the total number of deaths caused by the disease in the country thus reached 366.

The number of infected reached 7375, increasing by 25% in one day.

The introduction of restrictive measures was announced by Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte. They will affect the entire administrative region of Lombardy, as well as 14 provinces in other areas of the country. As a result, the cities of Milan and Venice that are popular with tourists will be quarantined. According to Conte, this is not only a ban on entering and leaving these regions, but also restrictions on movement in the quarantine zone itself. All sporting events in the quarantine zone will be held without spectators.

On the subject: Why everyone continues to wear masks, knowing that they do not protect against coronavirus

Limitations will last until at least April 3rd.

The price of oil fell by 30%, banks at night changed the exchange rate

After the international deal to limit production fell through, oil prices collapsed by 30%. There has not been such a rapid fall since 1991. Following the oil, the ruble exchange rate began to fall.

Some analysts believe that the decline in oil quotes may continue, and the price of a barrel of Brent will drop to $ 20-30.

Against the backdrop of a sharp drop in oil prices, the dollar rose to 9 rubles by the morning of Monday, March 75 - this is the highest value of the American currency since March 2016.

Read also on ForumDaily:

Canceled flights and fines: how coronavirus affected airline operations

Coronavirus and personal hygiene: 7 habits that are worth adopting from American children

When the coronavirus vaccine appears: expert forecasts

Why everyone continues to wear masks, knowing that they do not protect against coronavirus

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