International COVID-19 Megathread

[Middle-aged Europe]

Germany: 546 confirmed infections. 302 in North Rhine-Westphalia, 89 in Baden-Württemberg, and 73 in Bavaria, who combined account for 85% of all infections in the country. The odd man out is still Saxony-Anhalt with zero reported infections.

Italy: 3,858 confirmed infections, 148 deaths.

[Middle-aged Europe]

4,636 confirmed infections and 197 deaths in Italy. Now second-highest official coronavirus death toll worldwide (although unofficially Iran is probably higher).

[Middle-aged Europe]

689 cases in Germany.

358 in NRW. Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria tied with 116 each. Then comes a huge gap and eventually Berlin, Lower Saxony, and Hesse with 19, 18, and 17 confirmed cases respectively.

[Middle-aged Europe]

Nicola Zingaretti, leader of the Democratic Party (PD) in Italy, has been tested positive on the coronavirus.

[Middle-aged Europe]

Germany: 782 confirmed infections
- NRW: 377
- Baden-Württemberg: 170
- Bavaria: 117

[Middle-aged Europe]

Germany: 947 cases
- NRW: 484
- Baden-Württemberg: 182
- Bavaria: 148

No deaths.


Italy: 5,883 cases, 233 deaths.

[Middle-aged Europe]

My 92-year old grandma is in the hospital with pneumonia. Fortunately, she's living in Saxony-Anhalt, the only state which continues to be the only one without any confirmed infections so far.

[Middle-aged Europe]

Germany has surpassed 1,000 this afternoon.

We have now 1,028 confirmed infections. 484 in NRW, 214 in Bavaria, and 182 in Baden-Württemberg.

Federal health minister Jens Spahn has recommended that any public event with more 1,000 attendees should be cancelled. This would among other things include soccer games, and Bundesliga officials are planning to discuss this soon. A possible compromise is to continue the current soccer season, but to ban all spectators from the stadiums.

[Middle-aged Europe]

It has happened. Almost two weeks after the beginning of the current outbreak in Germany, North Rhine-Westphalia has reported the first two deaths: One in the county of Heinsberg and one in the city of Essen.

Confirmed infections now at 1,156.
515 in NRW, 256 in Bavaria, and 199 in Baden-Württemberg.

[Middle-aged Europe]

The first case in Saxony-Anhalt, the only remaining German state which so far had been completely unaffected, has occurred.

Total confirmed infections: 1,239
NRW: 534
Bavaria: 262
Baden-Württemberg: 236



Italy has 9,172 confirmed infections and 463 deaths now, officially ranking second in both statistics worldwide.

[Middle-aged Europe]

Austria and the Czech Republic have banned all public events in closed buildings with more then 100 attendees.

Austria has also effectively closed its southern border, banning people from Italy from entering the country, unless they can provide a doctor's certificate.

Serbia has banned people from Italy, certain provinces in China, South Korea, Iran and Switzerland from entering the country.

Israel has banned all foreigners from entering the country unless they enter a 14-day quarantine and they also ordered all tourists currently being in the country to leave ASAP.

David Sassoli, President of the European Parliament, has entered a 14-day quarantine too.

In Germany, the state of Bavaria has banned all public events with more than 1,000 attendees and federal interior minister Horst Seehofer has also entered a 14-day quarantine. On the coming weekend, the first Bundesliga soccer games will take place in front of "empty ranks", spectators being banned from the stadiums.

[Middle-aged Europe]

Schleswig-Holstein has joined Bavaria in issuing a ban of public events with more than 1,000 attendees.

[Middle-aged Europe]

Schleswig-Holstein has joined Bavaria in issuing a ban of public events with more than 1,000 attendees.

And Bremen did as well now.

Berlin on the other hand refuses to issue such a restriction, arguing there needs to be a federal solution.

[Middle-aged Europe]

North Rhine-Westphalia has joined Bavaria, Schleswig-Holstein, and Bremen in banning all public events with more than 1,000 attendees.

[Middle-aged Europe]

1,524 confrmed infections in Germany. 642 in NRW, 313 in Bavaria, and 277 in Baden-Württemberg.

Bans on large public events in effect in five states (NRW, Bavaria, Schleswig-Holstein, Bremen, and Thuringia). The state of Hesse has issued a "recommendation" to that effect.

The German Ice Hockey League has decided to terminate its current season early.

[Middle-aged Europe]

The third death was reported in Germany, again in the county of Heinsberg in North Rhine-Westphalia. Heinsberg is essentially the main focal point of the German outbreak.

1,619 confirmed infections now. 689 in NRW, 317 in Bavaria, and 283 in Baden-Württemberg.

Public life gets gradually shut down here. I hope that I'll still be able to do things like going to the cinema in a week from now... but maybe not.

[Middle-aged Europe]

Just saw an interview with a German sports scientist who gives his take on whether the banning of spectators from soccer stadiums will eliminate the "home advantage" for teams:

https://www.zeit.de/sport/2020-03/geisterspiele-heimvorteil-bundesliga-zuschauer

Life under coronavirus is pretty weird.



1,898 confirmed infections in Germany now. 801 in NRW, 366 in Bavaria, and 283 in Baden-Württemberg.

Italy: 12,462 infections, 827 deaths.

[Middle-aged Europe]

Starting tomorrow, public buses in Berlin will keep their front doors closed. Boarding will only occur through the rear doors, and the driver will be separated from passengers by stop-bands.

The first member of the German Bundestag (someone from the FDP) has been tested positive on the coronavirus.

[Middle-aged Europe]

Germany has surpassed 2,000 infections now.

A total number of 2,090 have been reported, with 909 in NRW, 374 in Bavaria, and 344 in Baden-Württemberg.

In soccer news, Sky Group has decided to switch the broadcasting of Bundesliga games from Pay TV to Free TV due to the coronavirus outbreak. YAY!

[Middle-aged Europe]

The fourth coronavirus death - and the first one outside of NRW - has occurred. A 67-year-old man in Baden-Württemberg has succumbed to the disease.

Also, Berlin becomes the fourth German state to surpass 100 infections.
There are now 2,136 total infections in Germany. Berlin has 118.

[Middle-aged Europe]

The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) has decided to suspend all competitions. This applies for instance for all continental club championships/champions leagues.

http://www.fiba.basketball/news/fiba-competitions-suspended

[Middle-aged Europe]

And Lower Saxony becomes the fifth German state to surpass 100 infections. They're now at 119, and the total count for Germany is 2,200.

[Middle-aged Europe]

The first death in Bavaria has occurred, the fifth overall for Germany. Total infections: 2,326.

[Middle-aged Europe]

North Rhine-Westphalia alone has now surpassed 1,000 infections (1,041 to be precise). Total infections in Germany: 2,484.

[Middle-aged Europe]

Italy update: 15,113 infections, 1016 deaths.

Germany update: 2,527 infections, 5 deaths.