Coronavirus

“The police force will be at the forefront to combat this disease together with the Department of Health and other line responsible agencies so we have to be prepared,” Commissioner Manning said, adding that he is sending out circular instructions to all commanders to initiate their own local business continuity plans in anticipation of the pandemic reaching PNG.

“First and foremost is the education of my members on the disease, its symptoms, ways in which the disease can be contained or prevented from spreading and how my members will be able to protect themselves.

Countries around the Pacific are continuing to further isolate themselves in a bid to stave off a rise in the number of Covid-19 cases in the region.

Six cases of the coronavirus have been confirmed in the Pacific - three in Guam and three in French Polynesia - since Thursday. No new cases were declared on Monday.

After three residents were confirmed to have Covid-19 on Sunday, Guam's government restricted public gatherings and closed all public schools on Monday. It also closed government offices for two weeks.

Premiership Rugby's decision followed new guidance from the United Kingdom government on Monday.

British prime minister Boris Johnson encouraged people to avoid mass gatherings and all "non-essential" travel and contact with others.

"The safety of our fans, players and staff is our first priority, and we would like to wish all of those who are affected our heartfelt best wishes and a very speedy recovery," a Premiership Rugby statement read.

The NRL season got underway last week and is scheduled to continue behind closed doors from round two.

But there are concerns over the financial impact of playing without fans or the season possibly being suspended due to the coronavirus.

Greenberg said there was a possibility star players may be asked to take pay cuts if the season was hugely impacted.

Media release - https://t.co/YMcR7LfvZz pic.twitter.com/MRjWtOLJYI

In a statement General Manager of Operations, Chris Jordaan, said there was no coronavirus detected at the mine as speculated on social media but confirmed  that two employees have been placed in quarantine after presenting flu-like symptoms.

Rumors of the coronavirus being detected at the Lihir Gold Mine circulated overnight on social media.

It was claimed that an expatriate staff had been confirmed to have contracted the virus.

In a statement issued this morning General Manager of Operations, Chris Jordaan, said the rumors were not true.

The NBA was this week suspended indefinitely amid the spread of COVID-19, with league commissioner Adam Silver saying that will remain the case for at least 30 days.

In response, Kevin Love, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Blake Griffin all donated $100,000 to the arena staff of their respective teams to help those who will be hardest hit by the halting of NBA action.

Zion Williamson vowed to cover the salaries of all staff at the New Orleans Pelicans' Smoothie King Center for the next month.

Jurgen Klopp's men are 25 points clear at the top and need just two wins to secure their first Premier League title, but no more fixtures will be played until at least early April due to the coronavirus pandemic.

As a result of the prolonged break, no collections for FSF – a charity set up to support the city's most vulnerable -– will take place at Anfield for the foreseeable future.

However, Liverpool announced on Saturday their players, along with the LFC Foundation, Red Neighbours and club staff, will step in by making a large donation to North Liverpool Foodbank.

Under the decree being finalised, people would be allowed out only for emergencies, to buy food, or for work.

With 191 deaths and 6,046 infections, Spain is the worst-hit country in Europe after Italy, which declared a nationwide lockdown on Monday.

The US is extending its European travel ban to the UK and the Republic of Ireland from Monday.

President Donald Trump confirmed the news in answer to a reporter's question at the White House.

On Friday, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Europe was now the "epicentre" of the pandemic.

Competitions including the Premier League, the NBA and Formula One were off as sport attempts to combat the spread of the virus.

There have been over 160,000 confirmed cases and more than 6,000 deaths worldwide.

Without work to keep them busy, athletes were finding other ways to entertain themselves - and often posting evidence online.

Tyson Fury would not have been in boxing action this weekend, as it is just weeks since his stunning world heavyweight title defeat of Deontay Wilder, but he was still impacted by coronavirus.

Cricket Australia (CA) confirmed that fans will not be allowed into grounds to watch the three-match series, which starts on Friday at the SCG.

Ticket-holders will be given a full refund with no decision yet made over Australia's upcoming three-match Twenty20 international tour of New Zealand.

"Cricket Australia will continue to monitor the coronavirus situation at home and overseas before making a decision on Australian men's international matches beyond the Australian leg of the ODI tournament," said a statement.