Australian Grand Prix cancelled, Europe braces for more disruption as coronavirus takes hold

Record ID: 1463854

  • Title: Australian Grand Prix cancelled, Europe braces for more disruption as coronavirus takes hold
  • Date: 13th March 2020
  • Summary: WASHINGTON, D.C. UNITED STATES (MARCH 12, 2020) (UNRESTRICTED POOL) (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. REPRESENTATIVE KATIE PORTER (D-CA) SAYING: "I hope that that answer weighs heavily on you. Because it is going to weigh very heavily on me and every American family." (SOUNDBITE) (English) ENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION DIRECTOR ROBERT REDFIELD SAYING: "Our intent is to make sure every American gets the care and treatment they need at this time of this major epidemic. And I'm currently working with HHS to see how to best operationalize it." PORTER: "Dr. Redfield, you don't need to do any work to operationalize. You need to make a commitment to the American people so they come in to get tested. You can operationalize the payment structure tomorrow." REDFIELD: "I think you're an excellent question. So my answer is yes." PORTER: "Excellent. Everybody in America hear that you are eligible to go get tested for coronavirus and have that covered regardless of insurance. Please, if you believe you have the illness, follow precautions. Call first, do everything the CDC and Dr. Fauci (NIH National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci) God bless you for guiding Americans in this time, but do not let a lack of insurance worsen this crisis."
  • Embargoed: 27th March 2020 11:56
  • Keywords: Australia Grand Prix France Indonesia Israel Italy Philippines Russia Thailand coronavirus sport
  • Location: VARIOUS LOCATIONS
  • City: VARIOUS LOCATIONS
  • Country: Various
  • Topics: Health/Medicine,Editors' Choice
  • Reuters ID: LVA006C4VYUYV
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: The Australian Formula One Grand Prix was scrapped and the Players Championship golf event halted on Friday (March 13) as the unprecedented shutdown of elite sport triggered by the coronavirus pandemic continued around the globe.
    The coronavirus outbreak has left sporting bodies wrestling with the contradiction of holding events designed to bring large numbers of people together at a time when governments are desperate to stop the spread of a virus transmitted by close contact.
    More events look likely to be affected in coming days.
    In Italy, the worst affected country in Europe, the death toll passed 1,000 in Europe's deadliest outbreak and the government imposed a blanket closure of restaurants, bars and almost all shops except food stores and pharmacies.
    In France, pharmacies distributed disinfectant and parents prepared for a nationwide shutdown of schools ahead of Monday's (March 16) closure of all nurseries, schools and universities in the country until further notice.
    In Madrid, travellers rushed to board flights to the United States after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed sweeping restrictions on travel from the continent, a decision that angered European leaders and frightened investors.
    Moscow transport agency unveiled new security measures, requiring authorities to clean metro cabins four times a day using fumigation agents.
    Parents in Tel Aviv were also preparing for Monday's school closures.
    Indonesia disinfected mosques and transport hubs. Former Indonesian vice president and head of the Indonesia Mosque Council, Jusuf Kalla, said 2 million litres were being distributed to disinfect 10,000 mosques around the archipelago.
    He urged worshippers to bring their own prayer mats or a cloth to put their foreheads on when praying.
    Thailand's Super Rich foreign exchange company disinfected both incoming Thai and foreign currency banknotes before the bills go back into circulation from their branches.
    In the Philippine capital Manila, hundreds queued at a bus station hoping to beat a localised travel ban which includes the halt of domestic land, sea and air travels in the capital and community-based quarantine for villages affected by the coronavirus.
    And on Thursday (March 12), a United States lawmaker questioned CDC Director Robert Redfield repeatedly on the affordability of coronavirus testing during a congressional hearing on the country's response to the coronavirus outbreak.
    (Production: Angie Ramos)
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