Coronavirus - What's Happening: Virus Fears Hit Markets, Africa, Churches

Amusement parks, sports events, religious gatherings, even school. More and more things in a growing swath of the world are now affected by the new virus. And that’s messing with global financial markets as basic business, trade and tourism suffers from the disruptions.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres (centre) attends a briefing on the COVID-19 outbreak. The briefing was also attended by Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), and Sylvie Briand, Director of the Global Infectious Hazard Management of WHO,
24 February 2020, Geneva, Switzerland~ **UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré**6

Here are some of the latest developments:

Is Africa next?

The virus has now officially reached sub-Saharan Africa, as Nigeria reported its first case. The patient is an Italian traveler who recently arrived in Lagos, Africa’s largest city – home to 20 million people. Isolated cases of the virus were confirmed in Egypt and Algeria in north Africa in recent days, but there is growing concern that cases around Africa are going unreported. When the World Health Organization declared this virus a global health emergency last month, it was precisely because of worry that it could hit countries with weak health systems. And that’s increasingly what’s happening, from Africa to Afghanistan and beyond.

No more holy water

Cologne Cathedral, one of Germany’s main religious sites, is emptying its basins of “holy water” to prevent the spread of infection. Priests will also stop placing communion wafers in believers’ mouths. The exceptional move comes as religious leaders struggle around the world to welcome the faithful while protecting against disease. Iranian authorities canceled Friday prayers in the capital Tehran and the city of Qom, the epicenter of Iran’s outbreak. Some Italian churches shut their doors for Ash Wednesday this week. And in the U.S., the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is postponing a key April meeting of its top global leaders.

Investor worries accelerate

After Wall Street endured its biggest one-day drop in nine years, markets kept dropping Friday in Asia and Europe. A growing number of major companies are issuing profit warnings and say factory shutdowns in China are disrupting supply chains. Germany’s DAX skidded more than 5%, Tokyo and Shanghai closed 3.7% lower and New York markets looked set for more losses. Investors had been growing confident the disease that emerged in China in December might be under control. But outbreaks in Italy, South Korea, Japan and Iran have fueled fears the virus is turning into a global threat that might derail trade and industry. And that worries U.S. President Donald Trump in an election year.

The dangers of amusement

While parts of China had already banned fun events, the damage to the rest of the entertainment world is spreading as fast as the virus. Disney closed its parks in Tokyo for two weeks, after doing the same in Shanghai and Hong Kong. South Korea exports entertainment worldwide but is shutting down its own shows, as K-pop superstars BTS called off an upcoming concert series in Seoul. Green Day did the same. The Emirates Bicycle Tour was canceled. And the Swiss government is now banning any events involving more than 1,000 people. The biggest victim:the annual Geneva International Motor Show, one of the car industry’s showcase events.

Charged for lying to doctors

A Chinese couple was charged in court on Friday with allegedly providing false information to Singapore’s government and obstructing efforts to trace the spread of the virus. According to court documents seen by the AP, the man is accused of lying to a Health Ministry officer about their movements and whereabouts from Jan. 22-29. They now face up to $10,000 in fines each if convicted under the country’s Infectious Diseases Act. Health officials depend heavily on information provided by infected patients to prevent further spread of the virus. The couple sat emotionless during Friday’s hearing, and left wearing sunglasses and masks~VOA