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 Stopping movement of people
Malaysia and Canada joined several countries from Colombia to
Kyrgyzstan in announcing measures to close borders.
These steps to prevent the spread of coronavirus add to curbs on
public gatherings, efforts to encourage people to work from home and
social distancing, but make it difficult to work away from the
office.
In Singapore, which depends on cross-border labor and staples from
Malaysia, people rushed to stock up on food on Tuesday amid fears of
supply disruption.
Traders 'flying blind'
Many traders working from out-of-town offices or in unfamiliar
dealing rooms fear that despite the best-laid contingency plans,
communication problems and technical glitches risk adding to already
spiraling volatility.
One investment strategist struggling to work with two screens
instead of the normal five or six described it as "flying blind".
Social distancing is hard
In Paris, some cafes have taken to selling only takeaway coffee
instead of seating patrons, leading to their clientele moving to the
pavement, much to the despair of at least one cafe owner.
"I'd thought they'd buy their coffee and leave. But no, they linger
and talk!" said Frederic Monnier of Le Cafe Tabac.
Tempers have started flaring in some U.S. cities as well over people
trying to go about their normal lives and those committed to
complying with public health officials urging people to stay home to
prevent the spread.
"Flatten the curve, go home! Flatten the curve, go home!" a man in
New York's Brooklyn borough yelled out the window of a four-story
apartment building, as people walked on the street below.
'You can run a G7 country from home'
Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has offered a
prime example of how to work from home, after being forced to
self-isolate after his wife Sophie tested positive for the
coronavirus.
He has since chaired cabinet meetings by teleconference and fielded
calls from the governor-general's residence in Ottawa.
"You can run a G7 country from home," a senior government official
who has participated in calls with Trudeau told Reuters.
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The spread
Cases outside China surpassed 100,000 for the first time overnight, with a
majority of infected countries in Europe reporting over 100 cases each. Five
countries globally reported over 1,000 new cases each: Italy, Spain, France,
Germany and Iran.
The earlier major outbreak in South Korea continues to ease, while China
reported just 12 new cases. Europe is firmly the center of most new cases,
though Africa, South America and Southeast Asia are reporting steady increases
in patterns similar to Europe weeks ago.
There are now over 101,000 cases and 7,165 deaths linked to the coronavirus
across 163 countries and territories. China now accounts for less than half of
all cases and deaths. Around 44% of cases have reportedly recovered.
Warmer weather not a barrier
Relatively low cases of infections in many Southeast Asian countries had been
cited as possible evidence that hotter weather was suppressing the virus, giving
hope to Europe and the United States as they head into spring.
But countries from Indonesia to Thailand to Malaysia and the Philippines have
recorded their highest rate of infections in recent days as testing has ramped
up, in a sign seasonal factors may only play a limited role in coronavirus'
spread.
End of box office opening day?
Universal Pictures, a division of Comcast Corp-owned NBCUniversal, will make its
movies available at home on the same day they are released in theaters
worldwide, beginning with the DreamWorks Animation film "Trolls World Tour" -
which opens in the United States on April 10.
Recently released movies would be made available from sister companies Sky and
Comcast and on a variety of on-demand services.
(Reporting by Cate Cadell; Compiled by Karishma Singh)
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