March 25, 2020, 5:28 pm | Read time: 14 minutes

10:40 a.m. – Sick leave rules in Germany are being further relaxed due to the crisis. From now on, patients with mild upper respiratory tract illnesses or suspected coronavirus can receive a certificate of incapacity for work for up to 14 days after a phone consultation. Visiting a doctor’s office is not required for the sick leave. The regulation is initially valid until June 23, as announced by the National Association of Statutory Health and Long-Term Care Insurance Funds in Germany. For about two weeks now, doctors have been allowed to issue sick leave for up to one week over the phone.

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Further Updates in the Coronavirus Ticker

6:10 p.m. – In Italy, 7,503 people have died from the coronavirus. Within 24 hours, another 683 patients succumbed to the lung disease Covid-19, according to the civil protection agency. The increase is slightly less steep. On Tuesday, 743 new deaths were reported, compared to 602 on Monday and 650 on Sunday. The highest number of deaths since the virus outbreak on February 21 was reported on Saturday: 793 in a single day. The total number of infected people rose to 74,386 on Wednesday, up from 69,176 confirmed cases the previous day. Italy is the country most affected by the epidemic worldwide.

6:02 p.m. – In Poland, the number of infected people has risen to over a thousand. The coronavirus has been detected in 1,031 people, according to the health ministry. So far, 14 patients have died from the lung disease Covid-19 caused by the virus. To curb the spread of the epidemic, the government in Warsaw is extending the border closure until April 13. Schools, theaters, and cinemas are to remain closed until Easter.

5:45 p.m. – According to a FAZ report, German doctors are preparing to make life-and-death decisions if intensive care capacities become insufficient. In this case, seven medical societies have adopted a catalog of recommendations, from which the newspaper quotes. It states that it is “likely that even in Germany, in a short time and despite already increased capacities, there will not be enough intensive care resources available for all patients who need them.” This would create decision conflicts, which the new guidelines are intended to help resolve. According to the recommendations, the medical indication and the patient’s will are decisive for further treatment.

5:35 p.m. – In Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases has risen to 9,765 from just under 9,000 the previous day, according to authorities. 103 people have died from the disease, 13 more than previously.

5:25 p.m. – In the U.S., the number of virus deaths has jumped to 737 within a day. On Tuesday, there were 544 deaths, according to the CDC. Currently, 54,453 people have tested positive for the coronavirus, compared to 44,183 the previous day. New York City is particularly hard hit. There, 210 people have died, and 25,667 have tested positive for the coronavirus. New York City Governor Andrew Cuomo announces the closure of streets to traffic and the ban on contact sports in public parks to contain the spread of the virus.

4:55 p.m. – The second test for German Chancellor Angela Merkel for the coronavirus has also come back negative, a government spokesperson in Berlin announced.

4:30 p.m. – In Lombardy, 296 people have died from the coronavirus within 24 hours, according to an insider. This is a significantly weaker increase than on Tuesday, when 402 deaths were reported in a single day. In total, 4,474 people have succumbed to the lung disease caused by the virus in the northern Italian region, which is particularly hard hit by the epidemic. Italy reported 6,820 deaths on Tuesday and is the country with the most virus deaths worldwide. Spain follows with 3,434 deaths, overtaking China. In Spain, 47,610 people have tested positive for the virus.

3:49 p.m. – According to an Ipsos survey, every second German fears for their job due to the coronavirus pandemic. The fears are even greater in Vietnam, where 66 percent of people are worried about their jobs, the institute reports. Italy follows closely with 63 percent.

2:05 p.m. – In the UK, a 21-year-old has reportedly died from the coronavirus. The young woman had no pre-existing conditions, reports the newspaper “The Sun.” The family from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire urged the public on their Facebook account to stay home to stop the spread of the virus. The death of the 21-year-old should be seen as a wake-up call to take the pandemic seriously.

1:42 p.m. – In the UK, the demand for intensive care beds is expected to peak in the next three weeks, according to an expert. This is contingent on the current protective measures working as expected, says epidemiologist Neil Ferguson, who advises the government. How many people will become infected with the virus in the next six months depends heavily on the region. It is possible that up to ten percent of the population in the Greater London area could become infected during this period.

1:18 p.m. – Spain’s army is calling on NATO partners for help in the fight against the coronavirus. Spain has requested coronavirus tests, ventilators, and protective equipment, says Spain’s Chief of Defense Staff Miguel Villarroya. In Spain, 738 people have died from the virus in the last 24 hours, the highest increase since the outbreak in the country.

1:00 p.m. – Pope Francis prays the “Our Father” with Christians worldwide simultaneously. In his introductory words, the head of the Catholic Church says the prayer is directed at the sick and their families, health workers and those assisting them, as well as authorities, police officers, and clergy. Francis had called on all Christians to recite the “Our Father” together on Wednesday at 12 p.m. Italian time.

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12:15 p.m. – The German government is currently not discussing how to scale back measures to contain the coronavirus pandemic. The situation will be reassessed after Easter as planned, says a spokesperson for the Federal Ministry of Health. “We are experiencing a slight flattening of the infection curve.” However, this is not yet a reason to give the all-clear. Germany is still at the beginning of the epidemic. It is currently not possible to predict how the situation will develop.

11:47 a.m. – On Monday and Tuesday, the federal government distributed one million FFP2 protective masks to the states and medical associations, according to the Federal Ministry of Health. Last week, about 200,000 people in Germany were tested for coronavirus infection.

11:10 a.m. – According to the German Hospital Federation (DKG), around 1,000 coronavirus patients are currently being treated in intensive care units in German hospitals. Overall, the hospitals are currently caring for up to 4,000 coronavirus patients, says DKG President Gerald Gaß to the newspapers of the Funke Media Group. The DKG expects a significant increase in infection numbers in the coming days: “I assume that by the end of this week we will have about 70,000 registered infections,” says Gaß.

11:02 a.m. – In the Netherlands, the spread of the coronavirus has significantly slowed, according to the national health institute. Currently, it is assumed that an infected person only infects one other person. This means that “the exponential growth of the outbreak has most likely come to a halt,” said Jaap van Dissel from the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM). The number of new confirmed cases in the Netherlands rose by 17 percent to 5,560 on Tuesday compared to the previous day. These numbers likely reflect infections from early March before the government banned public gatherings and closed schools, it said.

10:38 a.m. – Health Minister Jens Spahn points out in the Bundestag that many people are complying with the regulations and staying at home. “This discipline and sense of responsibility are saving lives now,” he says. “The time we are gaining now protects our healthcare system from overload and overwhelm.”

10:30 a.m. – Regarding the necessity of wearing protective masks for the mouth and nose, RKI President Lothar Wieler says that sick and infected people should wear such a mask. The most common transmission route of the coronavirus is through droplets, such as sneezing and coughing. A mask significantly reduces the spread.

10:25 a.m. – The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) supports considerations for using antibodies from recovered patients. “It is a sensible idea. We must try all concepts that we consider meaningful,” says RKI Chief Lothar Wieler. The Paul Ehrlich Institute is working on it.

10:18 a.m. – RKI Chief Lothar Wieler says it is currently impossible to say when the existing restrictions in Germany can be relaxed. The epidemic will certainly remain in the country “for a few more weeks.” However, he is optimistic that the measures are effective. It is important to keep a distance and for sick people to stay at home.

10:15 a.m. – The Robert Koch Institute states that only people with symptoms should generally be tested. This conserves laboratory resources, says RKI Chief Lothar Wieler. Those with only mild signs of illness should simply stay at home.

10:10 a.m. – The President of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), Lothar Wieler, comments on the fact that there have been relatively few deaths in Germany so far. This is partly because testing was widespread from the beginning. Therefore, the pathogen could be detected relatively early, and there have been many mild cases. In addition, not many elderly people have fallen ill in Germany. However, Wieler emphasizes again: “We are at the beginning of the epidemic.” Of course, the number of deaths will increase. “It is completely open how this epidemic will develop.”

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10:06 a.m. – Russia records a record increase in the number of coronavirus infections. Compared to the previous day, 163 new cases have been confirmed, according to the government’s website. The total number of confirmed infections is now 658.

9:53 a.m. – According to Japanese media reports, more than 40 coronavirus infections were reported in Tokyo on Wednesday. This is the largest increase within a day so far.

9:50 a.m. – The number of people in France who have died from the coronavirus is significantly higher than indicated, according to the country’s hospital association. The reason is that the official daily government tally only includes those who die in hospitals. “The increase in official data is already significant, but the absolute numbers would undoubtedly be much higher if we included what happens in nursing homes and how many people die at home,” said Frederic Valletoux, president of the French hospital association, on France Info Radio.

9:25 a.m. – Union parliamentary group leader Ralph Brinkhaus praises the commitment of the people in Germany. The country is facing the greatest challenge of its recent history with the crisis: “It really affects everyone,” says Brinkhaus. “We will fight.”

7:58 a.m. – The OECD sees the global economy facing a deep recession. “It is increasingly likely that GDP will shrink worldwide and in various world regions in this and the next quarters of 2020,” writes Angel Gurría, Secretary-General of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), in “Handelsblatt.” He calls for better global cooperation among states in health, research, and economic policy, as well as banking supervision, to combat the crisis.

7:13 a.m. – The number of infections in Germany has increased by 4,191 to 31,554, according to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI). The number of deaths has risen by 36 to 149, the institute reports, citing data from Wednesday, 12:00 a.m.

5:09 a.m. – The German Patient Protection Foundation warns of catastrophic conditions in elderly care in light of the coronavirus crisis. “People in need of care, their relatives, and elderly care workers are being forgotten by politics,” says foundation board member Eugen Brysch to the newspapers of the “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland.” “They are the losers when it comes to the distribution of disinfectants, face masks, gloves, and protective goggles.”

4:41 a.m. – The Indian government bans the export of the drug hydroxychloroquine. Experts are currently testing the malaria drug for its effectiveness in treating patients infected with COVID-19. Earlier this week, the U.S. pharmaceutical association ASHP said hydroxychloroquine was in short supply.

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3:34 a.m. – U.S. President Trump is in talks with South Korean President Moon Jae-in about the urgent delivery of medical equipment, primarily test kits to detect infection. Trump has promised to help Korean producers obtain approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the products, the South Korean Blue House office said.

3:14 a.m. – South Korea announces it will tighten border controls for travelers from the U.S. by Friday. The government in Seoul had already implemented strict border controls for visitors from Europe, China, Italy, and Iran. The Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) reports 100 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 9,137. The number of deaths rises from 125 to 126.

2:37 a.m. – Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro considers the measures to contain the coronavirus “hysteria.” In a national address, he urges the mayors of the locked-down cities of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo to “return to normality.” Bolsonaro is increasingly criticized for his handling of the virus, which he has called a “fantasy” and “little flu.” The number of deaths in the country rose from 34 to 46 on Tuesday, according to government figures, and the number of confirmed cases increased to 2,201 from 1,891.

1:59 a.m. – New Zealand declares a state of emergency. As of midnight (local time), the country is under a full lockdown, the government announced. The country had confirmed 47 new cases as of Wednesday. New Zealand’s Director-General of Health, Dr. Ashley Bloomfield, says at a press conference that the number of cases will continue to rise for at least 10 more days before a trend reversal is evident.

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1:47 a.m. – According to authorities, the number of new confirmed coronavirus cases in China is decreasing. New infections fell from 78 the previous day to 48, the health department reports. All are travelers from abroad. This brings the total number of confirmed cases on the Chinese mainland to 81,218, with deaths totaling 3,281 by the end of Tuesday, plus four.

12:32 a.m. – U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo intensifies his criticism of China’s handling of the coronavirus outbreak. In the program “Washington Watch,” Pompeo repeats earlier accusations that Beijing’s delay in disclosing information when the virus first appeared created risks for people worldwide. “My concern is that through this cover-up, this disinformation, the world still lacks the information it needs to prevent further cases or a repeat of such an epidemic.”

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12:14 a.m. – Edmund Stoiber (CSU), supervisory board member of FC Bayern and former prime minister, appeals in “Bild” to all Bundesliga soccer professionals to help their colleagues with normal incomes who have to register for short-time work due to coronavirus.

12:01 a.m. – The deputy chairman of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, Carsten Linnemann (CDU), has called for a quick end to the economic shutdown due to the coronavirus crisis. “For some companies, the limit has already been reached,” Linnemann told “Bild.” “For the entire economy and our state, the damage will be sustainable and not compensable for decades if we do not gradually ramp up the economy again by Easter at the latest.” The time until then must be used to contain the virus and prepare the healthcare system for the epidemic.