What you need to know about coronavirus right now

Financial markets were thrown into turmoil on Monday after Saudi Arabia slashed oil prices and set plans for a dramatic rise in crude production. The jolt added to concerns over the spread of the coronavirus and the fears of a global recession, Reuters reports.

Oil slumped around 30%, while MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan lost 3.9% for its worst day since late 2015. Panicked investors bought bonds and the yen, which are deemed as safer assets to own right now.

“Wild is an understatement,” said Chris Brankin, chief executive at stockbroker TD Ameritrade Singapore.

“Across the globe, you would have every broker/dealer raising their margin requirements … trying to basically protect our clients from trying to leverage too much risk or guess where the bottom is.”

SAUDI ARABIA LOCKS DOWN PROVINCE, CLOSES SCHOOLS

Saudi Arabia imposed a temporary lockdown on its eastern oil-producing province of Qatif, home to most of its 15 coronavirus infections, and suspended schools and universities nationwide.

Four new cases, including an American arrival who visited Italy and the Philippines, took the tally to 15 on Monday, as the kingdom suspended travel with nine nations, from neighbouring United Arab Emirates to Bahrain, Kuwait, and Egypt.

CHINA SPREAD SLOWS, SAYS TO STAY VIGILANT

The number of people infected with the coronavirus topped 107,000 globally, according to a Reuters tally of government announcements. But mainland China, outside the epicentre of Hubei province, reported no new locally transmitted cases for the second straight day.

Still, a senior Communist Party official warned against reducing vigilance.

READ: In Egypt, only Asian tourists get tested for coronavirus 

“We must stay cautious, not be blindly optimistic and must not have war-weariness,” said Chen Yixin, secretary general of the Communist Party’s Politics and Law Commission.

Walt Disney Co’s Shanghai Disneyland said on Monday it will resume a limited number of operations at its resort as part of the first step of a phased reopening, though the main theme park will remain shut.

SPORTS WITHOUT SPECTATORS, EVENTS CANCELLED OVER CROWDS

The Indian Wells tennis tournament, the most prestigious event outside the Grand Slams and tour finals, has been cancelled over public health concerns. It was scheduled to start on Tuesday.

The Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix will go ahead on March 22, but without fans, due to the coronavirus crisis. Bahrain has reported 83 cases of the virus, mostly linked to people who had travelled to Iran.

“Convening a major sporting event, which is open to the public and allows thousands of international travellers and local fans to interact in close proximity would not be the right thing to do at the present time,” the organiser said.

The South by Southwest music, technology and film festival in Austin, Texas, known as SXSW, was similarly cancelled on Friday, as organisers concluded it was unwise to draw crowds together in close proximity.