March 30 coronavirus news

Tokyo 2020 organization committee president Yoshiro Mori said he expects International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach to call with the new date for the postponed Olympics within the week.

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Bach last week agreed to postpone the Olympics until 2021.

The IOC had been facing mounting pressure to delay the Games, which were originally scheduled to take place from July 24 to August 9, amid the novel coronavirus outbreak.

Mori made the remarks at the beginning of the first Executive Board meeting of Tokyo 2020 since the postponement was announced.

Two possibilities for the games: Organizing committee CEO Toshiro Muto said that the Executive Board discussed two possibilities for the games - in spring or summer of 2021 - but denied there was any discussion on a specific starting date.

Muto said the postponement might mean the same locations are reserved twice, resulting in "considerable" amount of additional costs. He added Tokyo 2020 will continue discussions with the IOC on any final decisions.

The Hungarian parliament will Monday vote on whether to allow Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to rule by decree because of the coronavirus. 

Parts of Monday's vote would include the possibility of a parliamentary suspension, punishing journalists for what the government deems to be inaccurate reporting and heavier punishment for violating quarantine regulations.

During the rule by decree, no elections or referendums could take place, the proposed legislation says.

“We cannot react quickly if there are debates and lengthy legislative and law-making procedures. And in times of crisis and epidemic, the ability to respond rapidly can save lives," Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Hungarian national Kossuth radio last week.

"The Government is not asking for anything extraordinary: it is asking for the ability to rapidly enact certain measures. We don’t want to enact measures that the government has no general right to enact: we simply want to do so swiftly,” he added.

Warnings from human rights group:

Amnesty International has warned against the move. 

The vote needs a two thirds majority of Hungarian parliamentarians present in the chamber. There are 199 MPs altogether, and the ruling block of Fidesz and the Christian Democrats KDNP have 133 MPs.

Here's when things could happen: The legislation would have to be signed by first the President of the Hungarian Parliament and then the President of Hungary, Janos Ander. This could happen as early as midnight Monday into Tuesday, a spokesman for the Hungarian parliament said.

A top advisor to the British Prime Minister is self-isolating after showing symptoms of the coronavirus, an official spokesperson for the prime minister told CNN.

Dominic Cummings was seen running out of 10 Downing Street on Friday after Boris Johnson tested positive for the virus.

READ MORE: How can Boris Johnson run the UK while suffering from coronavirus?

There are at least 139,733 cases of coronavirus in the U.S. as of 6 am ET Monday, according to CNN's tally of US cases that are detected and tested through US public health systems. At least 2,429 people have died in total in the US from coronavirus. 

New York approaches grim milestone: The state of New York is approaching 1,000 deaths, while the states of Hawaii and Wyoming have yet to report any deaths. 

Trump extends federal social distancing guidelines to April 30: Americans will be encouraged to avoid leaving their houses and keep working from home, as infections rise across the country. "The better you do, the faster this whole nightmare will end," President Donald Trump said Sunday.

Up to 100,000 people could die of virus, expert says: The coronavirus could infect more than a million Americans and kill up to 100,000 people in the country, Dr Anthony Fauci, a leading member of the US coronavirus taskforce, told reporters Sunday. "What we’re trying to do is not to let that happen," he said.

And from around the world:

Italy is on the verge of 100,000 cases: The coronavirus is spreading rapidly across Europe, with the worst affected countries still Italy, Spain and Germany. With more than 97,000 cases of the virus, Italy is likely to soon become the second country in the world to break the 100,000 mark after the United States.

First royal coronavirus death: Spain’s María Teresa of Bourbon-Parma has become the first royal to die from coronavirus, according to a statement from her brother Prince Sixto Enrique. The Princess, a distant cousin of Spain's King Felipe, was 86 and died in Paris on Thursday, her brother said.

Moscow goes into quarantine: From Monday, the Russian capital will impose a citywide quarantine on all residents regardless of age. People will not be able to leave their homes except to get groceries or medical help.

UK coronavirus outbreak showing signs of slowing, according to an epidemiologist: The coronavirus outbreak in the UK is showing early signs of slowing, according to Neil Ferguson, a professor of mathematical biology at Imperial College London, who said the development of an antibody test will be “critical” to getting more accurate data on the extent of the outbreak.

Germany has almost twice as many vacant intensive care (ICU) beds as Italy‘s entire number of ICU beds, the country's health minister Jens Spahn said in an interview with Germany‘s public broadcaster ZDF.  

Germany has the highest number of ICU beds in Europe and is looking to double that number, Spahn said.

Germany has among the highest number of coronavirus cases worldwide, but a fairly low death toll so far. German virologists believe that is the result of early and extensive testing as well as the widespread availability of intensive care capacities. Patients from hard hit European countries are being flown to Germany for treatment.

Spain’s María Teresa of Bourbon-Parma has become the first royal to die from coronavirus, according to a statement from her brother Prince Sixto Enrique.

The Princess, a distant cousin of Spain's King Felipe, was 86 and died in Paris on Thursday, her brother said.

A funeral was held in Madrid on Friday.

Other royals with coronavirus: Prince Charles, the Queen's son and the first in line to the British throne, has also tested positive for coronavirus and is now self-isolating in Scotland.

According to a statement last week from Clarence House, he was displaying mild symptoms but was otherwise in good health.

The coronavirus outbreak in the UK is showing early signs of slowing, according to Neil Ferguson, a professor of mathematical biology at Imperial College London.

“We think the epidemic is just about slowing in the UK right now,” he told BBC Radio on Monday. “It is the result of the actions people have taken and governments have taken.”

However he cautioned that the outbreak is in different stages in different parts of the country.

In central London, Professor Ferguson says it’s possible 3-5% of the population has been infected. However the figure is more likely 2-3% in the UK as a whole.

The UK had more than 19,500 positive cases as of Sunday, according to figures from the department of health and social care. At least 1,228 of those hospitalized have died.

Need for antibody test: He says the development of an antibody test will be “critical” to getting more accurate data on the extent of the outbreak.

Junior Health Minister Helen Whately told BBC Radio that she is aware of work being undertaken to develop the test, but would not confirm when it would be available.

She also defended the UK’s record on testing for coronavirus, while conceding there are a “handful” of countries that are doing more testing.

First UK doctor dies of coronavirus: An ear, nose and throat consultant has become the first UK medical practitioner to die of the coronavirus. Health authorities wouldn't confirm his age, but said he died Saturday at Glenfield Hospital in Leicester, England.

Zimbabwe started a three-week lockdown on Monday as part of the government’s efforts to contain the spread of Covid-19, but critics are calling for more action.

Police are driving around using loudspeakers asking people in Harare to stay indoors. Their message: “Please do not force the police to show you the way to your homes. Kindly go back now.”

On Friday President Emmerson Mnangagwa said he said he feared the situation would worsen with winter around the corner, despite Zimbabwe having few cases of Covid-19. The country had seven confirmed cases, including one death, as of Monday

Most supermarkets are open, Monday. The country’s largest brewing company, Delta Corporation, was given an essential services letter by the government, allowing it to continue to operate during the three-week lockdown.

Concern over lockdown impact: Meanwhile, workers are concerned about how the lockdown will affect Zimbabweans and their livelihoods.

Mnangagwa is expected to meet business leaders Monday.

“I hope they find a way to help us. I have no other way to get money if I remain at home,” said Shadrick Muhovo a vegetable vendor. “I will comply with the directive though to stay home.”

Malaysia will only allow shops selling daily necessities to operate between 8am and 8pm, as the country steps up its measures to combat the novel coronavirus outbreak.

The measures apply to outlets such as supermarkets and petrol stations.

Speaking during a press conference Monday, Minister of Defence Ismail Sabri said all restaurants and food delivery services will also be restricted to the same business hours, according to state-run news agency Bernama. The new measures will be implemented on April 1.

Sabri also announced a ceiling price for face masks. Masks cannot be sold for more than US$0.34 (RM1.5) per piece starting from April 1, Bernama reported.

Since March 18, Malaysia has been under a nationwide lockdown, although essential services such as healthcare, transportation and the food industry can still operate.

The country has at least 2,470 cases of coronavirus.