25/03/20 COVID-19 Global News Update

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. senators and Trump administration officials have reached an agreement on a massive economic stimulus bill to alleviate the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak, White House official Eric Ueland said early on Wednesday.

OTTAWA (Reuters) - An emergency aid package for Canadians facing economic harm from the coronavirus outbreak was stalled on Tuesday as a related move by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to gain new spending powers raised opposition concerns.

RIYADH (Reuters) - Leaders from the Group of 20 major economies will convene a video conference on Thursday to discuss the coronavirus epidemic, the Saudi secretariat said, amid criticism that the group has been slow to respond to the global crisis.

(Reuters) - Major corporate sponsors of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics are standing by the International Olympic Committee after the Games were postponed and experts familiar with the deals said the companies would not likely seek the return of billions of dollars committed to the agreements.

Facebook has reported a “weakening” of its advertising business during the coronavirus crisis, despite a surge in people using its services.

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - U.S. businesses expect a “very large and very negative impact” from the coronavirus pandemic and efforts to slow its spread, according to a survey published on Monday by the Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank.

The online shopping platforms eBay and Amazon Marketplace are failing to crackdown on a surge in profiteering by sellers due to the coronavirus, a consumer group has warned, after its investigation uncovered a wide range of products on sale at “extortionate” prices.

Businesses are to be given an extra three months to file their accounts with Companies House to let them prioritise responding to the coronavirus pandemic, the government announced.

The UK chancellor has told airlines to find other forms of funding and not turn first to the government for help getting through the coronavirus crisis.

One in 20 people in the UK has lost a job due to coronavirus, a Yougov poll has suggested, while almost one in 10 are seeing their hours reduced as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Grocery sales at UK supermarkets soared by £467m as customers stockpiled amid escalating fears over the spread of coronavirus in the UK, according to the latest research.

The annual reporting of gender pay gaps at UK businesses will not be required this year. The Equality and Human Rights Commission and Government Equality Office made the announcement as the country comes to terms with unprecedented restrictions to combat coronavirus.

Dyson has announced it will develop a new type of medical ventilator for the NHS, to help with coronavirus.

The government is facing growing pressure to stop non-essential construction work to help tackle the spread of coronavirus in the UK. On Tuesday, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said those who cannot do their jobs from home should go to work to "keep the country running".

The government is considering releasing some offenders from prisons in England and Wales to ease pressures caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Significant problems are being reported after an "incredible" number of benefit claims in recent days due to the economic fall-out of the coronavirus.

Parents of children with special educational needs (SEN) say they "don't know how they will cope" after schools were closed due to coronavirus.

Victims are losing confidence in the criminal justice system, new research has suggested as coronavirus delays cases. A report by the victims’ commissioner found “there is growing dissatisfaction amongst victims with how cases are handled”.

Universities across the UK have closed down class teaching and are running online seminars and tutorials because of the coronavirus pandemic.

A GP has criticised the practice of giving doctors surgical masks with expiry dates that have passed.

The government has been urged to introduce emergency measures to protect women trapped at home with abusive partners in the wake of concerns domestic abuse could soar under social isolation measures brought in to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.

The UK government has bought 3.5m antibody tests for coronavirus, the health secretary has said, promising that frontline doctors and nurses will be able in due course to find out whether they have been infected and are safe to go back to work.

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told New Zealanders on Wednesday to behave as if they had the coronavirus and cut all physical contact outside their household when the country heads into a one-month lockdown at midnight.

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australian officials warned that an accelerating number of coronavirus infections could start overwhelming the country’s intensive care units, as stricter social distancing measures came into force on Wednesday.

Reopening the US by Easter 'a beautiful timeline'

As Britain continues to ramp up its response to the coronavirus outbreak, MPs have voted through a bill that gives the government new powers to tackle the crisis.

Businesses will be given an additional 3 months to file accounts with Companies House to help companies avoid penalties as they deal with the impact of COVID-19.

Guidance on the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) for non-aerosol generating procedures (APGs).

Guidance on the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) for aerosol generating procedures (AGPs).

24 March 2020 Matt Hancock has made a statement on the lockdown measures introduced by the UK Government yesterday, which aims to slow the spread of coronavirus.