BRIEF – ME! – DAILY NEWS BRIEFING
In today’s briefing update, The headlines are – UK on LOCKDOWN, PM says avoid pubs, travelling and the office as new UK measures are introduced to fight the spread of coronavirus. ‘Hundreds’ of inmates have escaped Brazil’s jails ahead of a coronavirus lockdown. In France, 100,000 police are set to patrol the streets to enforce new lockdown measures.
Mike Pompeo tells China to quit blaming the US for the coronavirus pandemic, it comes after China suggested the US military brought the virus into Wuhan. Spain has become the fourth highest coronavirus-infected nation, taking over South Korea on Monday.
Entertainment, actor Idris Elba has confirmed he has Covid-19, says he has no symptoms but had found out he may have been exposed to the virus.
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Coronavirus: PM says avoid office, pubs and travelling
BBC News says the PM has said everyone in the UK should avoid “non-essential” travel and contact with others to curb the virus – as the country’s death toll hit 55.
Boris Johnson said people should work from home if they can and people in at-risk groups will be asked within days to stay home for 12 weeks.
The new key measures also include avoiding gatherings and crowded places such as pubs, bars and theatres.
Read the full story on BBC News
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‘Hundreds’ of inmates escape Brazil jails ahead of coronavirus lockdown
Arab News says Hundreds of prisoners broke out of four Brazilian jails on Monday, the day before their day-release privileges were due to be suspended over the coronavirus pandemic, Sao Paulo state prison reported.
The Sao Paulo state prison authority said it could not say how many inmates had escaped as it was “still tallying the exact number of fugitives.” But local media said as many as 1,000 had fled from four jails ahead of the lockdown.
A video on social media showed a long stream of prisoners purportedly fleeing a prison.
Read the full story on Arab News
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France to deploy 100,000 police to enforce coronavirus lockdown
France24 says France will deploy 100,000 police to enforce a lockdown ordered by President Emmanuel Macron aimed at curbing the coronavirus outbreak, the country’s interior minister said on Monday, and fixed checkpoints will be set up across the country.
“Stay at home,” Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said, adding that fines of up to 135 euros would be handed out to those flouting the restrictions.
Macron told the country that from Tuesday midday, people are to stay home unless it was to buy groceries, travel to work, exercise or for medical care.
Read the full story on France24
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Pompeo tells China to quit spreading ‘outlandish rumours’ and blaming US for Covid-19 pandemic
RT News says US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has warned China not to spread “outlandish rumours” about the Covid-19 virus and accused them of trying to shift the blame for the pandemic onto the US. 
In a phone call with China’s top diplomat Yang Jiechi, Pompeo relayed “strong US objections” to China’s recent suggestion that the virus could have been brought into the country by the US military.
Pompeo stressed to Jiechi that “this is not the time to spread disinformation and outlandish rumours,” a State Department spokesperson said.
A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said last week that it may have been the US Army “who brought the epidemic to Wuhan” and called on the US to be transparent about its “Patient Zero.”
Read the full story on RT News
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Spain becomes 4th most coronavirus-infected nation, seizes all private healthcare
Fox News says Spain has become the fourth most coronavirus-infected nation in the world Monday, surpassing South Korea.
Spain recorded at least 7,753 cases Monday, marking a 34.7 per cent jump from the 5,754 cases recorded Saturday and a 161 per cent jump from the 2,965 cases Friday, according to the World Health Organisation.
China still remains the country will the most cases. Italy comes in second, recording 24,747 cases Monday.
Iran came in third with 13,983 cases. And Spain came fourth, the country is also in fourth place for the number of recorded deaths – at least 288. At least 3,218 people in China, 1,089 people in Italy and 724 people in Iran have died from the virus.
Read the full story on Fox News
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Idris Elba confirms he has tested positive for Covid-19
Sky News says Idris Elba has confirmed he has tested positive for coronavirus.
The actor says he feels fine and currently has no symptoms, but has been isolated since he found out that he may have been exposed to the virus.
He tweeted: “This morning I tested positive for COVID-19. I feel ok, I have no symptoms so far but have been isolated since I found out about my possible exposure to the virus.
“Stay home people and be pragmatic. I will keep you updated on how I’m doing. No panic.”
Read the full story on Sky News
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