Iran has reported 149 more deaths from Covid-19 and more than 1,000 new cases. Daily death tolls in Iran have been over 100 since Tuesday and continue to grow. Michel Barnier has coronavirus The EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, has tested positive for Covid-19. The diagnosis is expected to hold up already delayed trade talks between the EU and the UK. UK government says it won’t ban travel to and from London The UK government has ruled out banning people from leaving or entering London. It also played down the prospect of shutting down the transport network in the capital, despite the closure of dozens of tube stations. Russia and Costa Rica record first deaths The first deaths from the virus have been reported in Russia and Costa Rica. The first confirmed cases have been reported in Bermuda and Mauritius, together with measures to block flights to those islands. France could extend two-week lockdown France appears poised to extend its two-week lockdown. The interior minister, Christophe Castaner, said people ignoring the measures were “idiots”. The country could also ban Britons from entering if the UK does not impose a strict lockdown. Germany’s number of cases rising The number of confirmed cases in Germany has risen to 12,853 and the number of deaths to 34. Politicians, police and prominent figures appealed to Germans to stay at home or risk facing the introduction of curfews as in France. China records no new patients infected inside the country China reported no new cases of Covid-19 being acquired inside the country for the first time since the outbreak began. It recorded a rise in infections from abroad, but no new cases in Hubei province. The lockdown of Wuhan may be lifted once there have been no new cases for 14 days, the state-backed China Daily reported. New Zealand and Australia close borders New Zealand and Australia have barred entry to foreigners. The bans apply to all non-residents and non-citizens. New Zealand’s comes into effect on Thursday at midnight and Australia’s on Friday at 9pm. No end date for the measure was given. The move is unprecedented in both countries. Olympic Games under threat Japan’s deputy prime minister has said the Tokyo Olympics are “cursed”, as speculation mounts that the Games will have to be postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Japanese island ends state of emergency The country’s northernmost island of Hokkaido has lifted its state of emergency, less than three weeks after its governor, Naomichi Suzuki, asked residents to remain indoors after a surge in the number of local cases of the virus. Hundreds stuck in Panama Between 400 and 500 foreigners are stranded in Panama after a “tribal” festival and music event ended, with many of them quarantined at the concert site near the Caribbean beach of Playa Chiquita.