Coronavirus: Italy deaths jump by more than half, as UK sees third fatality and Boris Johnson prepares to chair Cobra meeting

‘Above all, we must protect the health of our grandparents,’ Italian premier tells public

The number of coronavirus-related deaths in Italy has leapt by more than half in just 24 hours, with 133 new fatalities announced on Sunday as UK officials warned against all but essential travel to the north of the country.

The worst-affected nation in Europe, Italy confirmed the death toll related to the Covid-19 virus within its borders had risen to a total of 366, 37 days after it was first observed there. Infections across the nation stood at 7,375 – up by almost 1,500 in a 24-hour period. The increase makes the country the second-worst afflicted worldwide, with only China confirming more cases so far.

Elsewhere across the world:

• A third person in the UK died of the virus as British cases jumped to 273 – the largest one-day increase so far. Boris Johnson is to chair a Cobra meeting amid plans to abandon "containment" phase of response
• France banned all gatherings of more than 1,000 people and announced a total of 1,126 cases and 19 deaths
• Saudi Arabia cancelled the Saudi Games sporting event while closing all schools until further notice. So far, 15 cases have been confirmed in the kingdom
• In the US, where 460 cases have been confirmed across 34 states, more than 3,500 passengers and crew aboard the Grand Princess cruise ship prepared to dock in California; 21 people have tested positive aboard the vessel
• Panic-buying led to stock running low on supermarket shelves and fights between customers, with some UK businesses instituting rationing

The latest developments come just a day after politicians decreed 16 million people will be quarantined in the north of Italy, with the cities of Milan, Venice and Bologna among the areas impacted. Initially revealed through leaks in the press, local media reported that the measure sparked attempts to flee the region on public transport before lockdown was enforced.

“From now on those who have a fever of more than 37.5 degrees centigrade and respiratory infections are strongly recommended to stay at home, regardless of whether they are positive or not,” prime minister Giuseppe Conte said in a press conference. “These measures will cause discomfort but this is a moment of self-responsibility, not a moment to be smart. Above all, we must protect the health of our grandparents.”

Alongside the human cost of the nation’s battle with the virus, which has claimed the lives of more than 3,800 people worldwide, the nation has also had to reckon with its damage to the economy – with tourism particularly struck.

The autonomous Vatican City announced it would be closing off access to its museums for the next month, barring access to a wealth of artistic and historic treasures including the Michelangelo fresco on the ceiling of the Sistine chapel – one of the world’s most visited tourist attractions. Pope Francis broadcast his Sunday address, rather than have people gather to hear it.

Italy’s latest death toll update was met with new travel advice from the UK’s Foreign Office, which advised against “all but essential travel to a number of areas in northern Italy” due to the outbreak. Anyone who returns to Britain from the region has also been told by Public Health England to self-quarantine for 14 days, whether or not they are showing symptoms.

And both budget airline Easyjet and Italian airline Alitalia confirmed they were cancelling flights into certain northern airports.

On Sunday evening UK officials confirmed a third death related to the virus – a man in his 60s who passed away at North Manchester General Hospital. He had recently returned from a trip to Italy and had “significant” underlying health problems.

Elsewhere in Europe, new infections in France left it the fifth most-affected country in the world after Iran, South Korea, Italy and China.

France confirmed 1,126 people had been infected so far – including three members of the national assembly – while 19 people had died.

In response, the French government has introduced a nationwide ban on gatherings of more than 1,000 people with caveats including events of national concern, demonstrations and public transport.

In the UK Boris Johnson is due to chair an emergency Cobra committee after the nation faced its largest single-day increase in infections, with the number rising to 278.

The prime minister’s meeting with officials on Monday could mark the moment the government decides to move the country into the “delay” phase of efforts to fight the virus – an acknowledgement there is now no chance of containing the Covid-19.

The government is understood to be moving towards allowing courts to sit virtually while introducing emergency legislation to allow employment protections for 3 million health and social care volunteers.

Panic buying has led supermarkets across the country to ration essential food and household items. Pasta, UHT milk, water, hand sanitiser, some tinned vegetables and certain children’s medication are all being limited in Tesco supermarkets, while Waitrose is also set to “temporarily cap” certain items online, such as hand sanitiser.

A spokesperson for the government’s Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said the environment secretary George Eustice would “hold a further call with chief executives from the UK’s leading supermarkets and industry representatives on Monday 9 March to discuss their response to the coronavirus. The meeting will discuss support for vulnerable groups who may be in isolation”.

Meanwhile UK citizen Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who is currently jailed in Iran under spying charges disputed by both her and the British government, is understood to be improving after exhibiting symptoms consistent with Covid-19. She is yet to be formally tested for the virus, which has spread rapidly in the country.

Less-affected nations have attempted to contain the virus with increasingly stringent measures. ​Saudi Arabia, which saw cases increase from seven to 15 over the weekend, confirmed it would close all schools and universities until an unspecified date to stop additional spread. The nation has also suspended all educational and Quranic activities at mosques, while the kingdom’s largest sporting event, the Saudi Games, usually attended by 6,000 athletes, has been cancelled until further notice.

In the US the cruise ship Grand Princess, which was barred from returning to port in San Francisco after it was found 21 passengers had been infected, is set to dock at nearby Oakland. From there, passengers, including 142 Britons, will be screened and sent to quarantine outside of the area if required.

So far 114 people have tested positive for the virus in California, while one person – who was previously aboard the Grand Princess on an earlier cruise – has died. “It is the right thing to do”, the mayor of Oakland, Libby Schaaf, said. “We have to not let our fears dictate or impede our humanity.”

Her comments came after Donald Trump suggested he would rather hold those infected on the cruise ship to keep the US infection rate low, for political reasons. He said on Friday: “I have great people, experts including our vice president who is working 24 hours a day, on this stuff. They would like to have the people come off. I’d rather have the people stay but I’ll go with them. I told them to make the final decision.”