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Your support makes all the difference.There are currently more than 125,000 confirmed coronavirus cases around the world, with more than 5,000 deaths.
In a bid to contain the virus and stop its spread, an increasing number of countries are locking down their borders and imposing travel restrictions.
With bans being announced and implemented at the last minute, those abroad are left scrambling to get home as airlines and cruise companies announce unprecedented cancellations.
See what was our live blog below
Ryanair is waiving flight change fee for customers from today until the end of the month due to coronavirus.
You will still have to pay any differences in fees if your new flight costs more than what you previously paid.
The airline added that the new policy doesn't apply to those affected by flight cancellations as they will be able to get a full refund or be booked onto an alternative flight for free.
Cyprus has updated its travel restrictions in response to the coronavirus outbreak.
The UK has now been upgraded to a category two country, which means those entering Cyprus must self-isolate for 14 days. There are also additional restrictions in northern Cyprus.
All the details can be found here.
British Airways is set to announce a number of job cuts in response to coronavirus, reports the BBC, as it slashes more flights.
BA boss Alex Cruz is said to have sent a video message to all staff where he explained that the company "can no longer sustain our current level of employment and jobs would be lost – perhaps for a short term, perhaps long term" .
The airline has not confirmed the scale of the job cuts at this time but is said to be in talks with unions.
It comes as the International Air Transport Association made predictions that the global airline industry could lose as much as £87bn in 2020 due to coronavirus.
British Airways boss Alex Cruz told staff, “please do not underestimate the seriousness of this for our company,” as he announced job cuts due to coronavirus.
More details here:
After pulling two add-on products, Aviva has announced that it will temporarily stop selling new travel insurance policies due to coronavirus.
The company said in a statement:
Following a review of the evolving risks posed by coronavirus, we have decided that it is necessary to make some changes to the travel insurance we can offer our direct customers at this challenging time.
For new customers, we have therefore made the decision to pause the sale of Aviva’s travel insurance from 3pm on 13 March 2020. We envisage that this decision, affecting Aviva’s single and multi-trip travel insurance, will be a temporary action. We will continue to monitor the situation closely.
The change is due to the increasing likelihood that there will be travel disruptions as a result of the pandemic.
The company added that "Aviva travel insurance customers booking trips may not be covered on their multi-trip policies for cancellation and abandonment, depending on their destination" because coronavirus is now a known event.
All Smithsonian museums in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area and New York City will be temporarily closing to the public from 14 March due to coronavirus.
No re-opening date have been announced for these. The Smithsonian said it will "provide updates on a week-to-week basis on social media and our websites."
The list includes:
- National Museum of African American History and Culture
- National Museum of African Art
- National Air and Space Museum
- National Air and Space Museum, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
- Smithsonian American Art Museum
- National Museum of American History
- National Museum of the American Indian
- National Museum of the American Indian George Gustav Heye Center
- Anacostia Community Museum
- Archives of American Art Lawrence A. Fleischman Gallery
- Arts and Industries Building
- Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
- Freer Gallery of Art
- Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
- National Zoo
- National Museum of Natural History
- National Portrait Gallery
- National Postal Museum
- Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum
- S. Dillon Ripley Center
- Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
- Smithsonian Institution Building (The Castle)
- Smithsonian Gardens
The cruise industry has been one of the hardest hit due to coronavirus.
As a result of port bans and increased risks due to the outbreak, a number of cruise lines are now cancelling their upcoming sailings.
A list can be found here:
As well as the ski resorts closing in Austria, a number of villages in Tyrol are entering into quarantine for 14 days.
These are Ischgl, Galtuer, See, and Kappl in the Patznaun Valley, and St Anton am Arlberg. Tourists are allowed to leave, however.
According to the FCO: "From 16 March, restaurants, bars and cafes across the country will only be open until 3pm. All shops, except supermarkets, banks, pharmacies, and postal services, will be closed."
In addition, there will be no more direct flights between Austria and Spain, France and Switzerland.
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