Unlike many news organisations, our reporting is free and available for everyone. We need your support to keep delivering unbiased, factual journalism that’s open and independent. The events of 2020 so far have demonstrated the need for clear, reliable information that explains the news in steady, measured tones. We check facts, meticulously source information, and keep the people most impacted by the news at the heart of our reporting. Support us with as little as $1. It only takes a minute. Make a contribution - The Guardian 6m ago 02:54 Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro took selfies with supporters and celebrated their demonstrations in major cities on Sunday, drawing criticism from congressional leaders for encouraging large gatherings that could worsen the spreading coronavirus, Reuters reports. Bolsonaro also appeared to shrug off the advice of medical experts suggesting he take precautions after several members of his recent delegation to Florida tested positive for the virus. The president tested negative for the virus, but newspaper O Estado de S.Paulo reported that Bolsonaro’s medical team has suggested he remain isolated until early next week. The paper also reported on Sunday that a seventh member of Bolsonaro’s entourage in Florida had tested positive for the coronavirus, along with four members of the trip’s support team. Bolsonaro strode down the ramp of the presidential palace in a Brazilian soccer jersey and met a throng of protesters at the gate, where he bumped fists, grabbed cell phones to take pictures and leaned in for selfies with the crowd. In streaming video of the encounter from his official Facebook account, Bolsonaro said it was “priceless” to see so many public demonstrations in favor of his agenda, playing down his warnings against them in a Thursday address to the nation. Facebook Twitter 12m ago 02:49 Ben Butler Ben Butler An update on Australia’s markets now. After showing some signs of recovery at lunchtime the Australian market is again tanking following the Reserve Bank’s announcement it was ready to wade into the market and start buying government bonds. At around 1.30pm the benchmark ASX200 index was down by about 7.8%. The RBA and other regulators are trying to avoid a credit freeze. On Friday, the central bank waded into debt markets and spent $8.8bn to keep money flowing, and this morning it said it would be doing more through a program of so-called “quantitative easing” - basically, buying up Australian government bonds and other assets. On the markets, travel stocks have taken a pounding. Brisbane-based Corporate Travel Management, which is under siege by short-sellers, has plunged almost 18% and Flight Centre has fallen 13%. Sydney Airport stock has tumbled almost 16%. But losses have been clawed back at Qantas, which is down just 1.26%. The other Australian-listed airline, Air New Zealand, is in a trading halt after announcing savage capacity cuts and job losses this morning. Argentina Sunday expelled 270 foreign tourists for refusing to comply with the mandatory two-week self-isolation for new arrivals from countries where coronavirus is widespread, authorities said. Police Saturday arrested a group of 90 tourists from the downtown Sheraton hotel in the capital city of Buenos Aires who were refusing to comply with the mandatory quarantine, took them to Ezeiza International Airport and Sunday boarded them on flights out of the country. A further 180 passengers were refused entry on Sunday at the same airport when they refused to accept the mandatory self-isolation as a prerequisite for being allowed to disembark. Facebook Twitter 21m ago 02:41 Joan E Greve Joan E Greve In the US, Donald Trump’s campaign has criticised the debate, which has ended, and praised the US president’s coronavirus response. The president’s reelection campaign has released a statement criticising Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders while praising Trump’s response to the coronavirus crisis. “Unable to articulate a coronavirus plan, both Bernie and Biden offered little more than plagiarising President Trump’s response, which will now be the model for all future pandemics,” said Kayleigh McEnany, the press secretary of Trump’s campaign. Both Biden and Sanders criticised Trump’s response to the crisis, accusing the president of dangerously downplaying the health threat and undermining health experts. Earlier this evening, Trump spoke at a White House press conference and claimed the government has “tremendous control” on the situation, a statement that was contradicted moments later by Dr Anthony Fauci, who said the worst was yet to come in the US. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci listens during a news briefing on the coronavirus at the White House, in Washington, DC, USA, 15 March 2020. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci listens during a news briefing on the coronavirus at the White House, in Washington, DC, USA, 15 March 2020. Photograph: Chris Kleponis/EPA Facebook Twitter Advertisement 26m ago 02:35 Naaman Zhou Naaman Zhou Australia’s deputy chief medical officer, Paul Kelly, spoke earlier in the country’s capital of Canberra. He said that Australia now has nearly 300 cases of Covid-19 and five deaths. He warned that “people over the age of 60 are more susceptible to this disease. And we are finding in the much older age groups 80 and above, the death rate is actually quite high.” Facebook Twitter 28m ago 02:34 Katharine Murphy Katharine Murphy The Australian government today announced that it will prepare a second economic stimulus package in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Most readers will know the Morrison government last week unveiled an economic stimulus package worth AU$17bn (US$10.5bn). It wasn’t clear at the time that would be enough, and obviously events are now moving at a clip. The Reserve Bank this morning signalled it is preparing to move to quantitative easing. I gather the government has begun work today on a second package of measures. People are telling me round two will involve support for business and another round of stimulus for households. Cabinet (the regular one, not the special one, which is the rolling meeting of the prime minister and the premiers) is due to meet tomorrow. Facebook Twitter Advertisement 31m ago 02:30 You can find the full statement from United Airlines here, but these are a few of the numbers that led to the decision to reduce flight capacity by half for April and May and cut corporate officers’ salaries by 50% As the leaders of the 100,000 people of United, we feel a deep obligation to each of you to run our company in a way that protects you – and your ability to provide for your family at home. ... We want to share some numbers to help you understand just how bad the impact of the coronavirus has been on our business. As you know, March is typically our busiest month of the year. But this year, in just the first two weeks of March, we have welcomed more than one million fewer customers on board our aircraft than the same period last year. We’re also currently projecting that revenue in March will be $1.5 billion lower than last March. Facebook Twitter 35m ago 02:27 In more airline news, NBC reports that United Airlineswil “cut corporate officers’ salaries by 50% and reduce flight capacity by 50% in April & May.” Susan Kroll ✔ @suekroll United Airlines to cut corporate officers" salaries by 50% and reduce flight capacity by 50% in April & May. 79 4:17 AM - Mar 16, 2020 Twitter Ads info and privacy 72 people are talking about this Facebook Twitter 36m ago 02:25 Steph Harmon Steph Harmon The Australian live performance industry has escalated calls on the federal government for an “emergency industry support package” to help creatives, workers and organisations stay afloat amid the coronavirus crisis. On Friday, after numerous gig, festival and stage cancellations through the week, Scott Morrison’s recommended all non-essential gatherings of more than 500 people be called off. Coronavirus: Australian arts industry calls for "emergency support package" Read more Facebook Twitter Advertisement 38m ago 02:24 Here is everything we know about the US Centers for Disease Control recommendation that events of 50 people and over be postponed: Americans urged to scrap gatherings of 50 or more people as states start shutdowns Read more The new advice came as the nation sank deeper into chaos over the crisis. Hours earlier, Donald Trump urged Americans to refrain from panic buyingbasic supplies, as the administration announced plans to expand testing for the virus and health officials were preparing to release “advanced guidelines” on how to mitigate its spread. During a press briefing at the White House on Sunday evening, Trump again appeared to downplay the threat of the virus. “Relax, we’re doing great,” he said, during short, meandering comments that focused mostly on celebrating a decision by the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates. “It all will pass.” Facebook Twitter 42m ago 02:20 In New York, here is the full statement from Mayor Bill de Blasio regarding the closure of bars, restaurants and entertainment venues from Tuesday morning. Our lives are all changing in ways that were unimaginable just a week ago. We are taking a series of actions that we never would have taken otherwise in an effort to save the lives of loved ones and our neighbours. Now it is time to take yet another drastic step. The virus can spread rapidly through the close interactions New Yorkers have in restaurants, bars and places where we sit close together. We have to break that cycle. Tomorrow, I will sign an Executive Order limiting restaurants, bars and cafes to food take-out and delivery. Nightclubs, movie theaters, small theater houses, and concert venues must all close. The order will go into effect Tuesday, March 17 at 9:00 AM. This is not a decision I make lightly. These places are part of the heart and soul of our city. They are part of what it means to be a New Yorker. But our city is facing an unprecedented threat, and we must respond with a wartime mentality. We will come through this, but until we do, we must make whatever sacrifices necessary to help our fellow New Yorkers. Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) The virus can spread rapidly through the close interactions New Yorkers have in restaurants, bars and places where we sit close together. We have to break that cycle. Tomorrow, I will sign an Executive Order limiting restaurants, bars and cafes to food take-out and delivery. March 16, 2020 Updated at 2.21am GMT Facebook Twitter 44m ago 02:18 In the US, the Baltimore city’s health department has a pretty convincing (one only hopes) new ad campaign promoting social distancing: Alec MacGillis (@AlecMacGillis) Powerful new ad campaign from the Baltimore City Health Department. pic.twitter.com/3FeXSxXjh6 March 16, 2020 Facebook Twitter Advertisement 53m ago 02:09 More now on New York mayor Bill de Blasio’s decision to shut the city’s bars, restaurants and entertainment venues: De Blasio says he will tomorrow sign an executive order “limiting restaurants, bars and cafes to food take-out and delivery. Nightclubs, movie theatres, small theatre houses, and concert venues must all close. The order will go into effect Tuesday, March 17 at 9:00am.” NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio announces of closing all public schools because of COVID-19 epidemic at City Hall Mayor Bill De Blasio press conference, New York, USA - 15 Mar 2020 NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio announces of closing all public schools because of COVID-19 epidemic at City Hall Mayor Bill De Blasio press conference, New York, USA - 15 Mar 2020 Photograph: Lev Radin/Pacific Press/REX/Shutterstock Facebook Twitter 1h ago 02:05 New York shuts restaurants and bars Breaking: New York will shut its bars and restaurants, Mayor Bill De Blasio’s press secretary has announced on Twitter Freddi Goldstein @FreddiGoldstein Statement from Mayor de Blasio on New York City bars, restaurants, and entertainment venues: View image on Twitter 139 3:58 AM - Mar 16, 2020 Twitter Ads info and privacy 186 people are talking about this Facebook Twitter Advertisement 1h ago 02:01 The midwestern US state of Ohio is announcing the closure of its bars and restaurants, WBNS 10 News reports. “Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine will be issuing an order to close all bars and restaurants Sunday night at 9 p.m. to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. “During a press conference, Gov. DeWine added that establishments can stay open for carry-out and delivery but what we can’t have is people congregating and seating.” Earlier, DeWine tweeted: Governor Mike DeWine ✔ @GovMikeDeWine No one alive has seen anything like this, so it"s understandable that it"s taking awhile for people to wrap their heads around this. It"s my job to be as honest as I can with people and tell our citizens what we know when we know it. #COVID19 #COVID19OhioReady