Coronavirus

Haruyuki Takahashi, one of more than two dozen members of the Tokyo 2020 executive board, told Reuters the body had just started looking at scenarios for how the virus could affect the Games.

Takahashi has earlier told the Wall Street Journal that the board had not discussed the impact of the virus, having last met in December before the epidemic spread.

Now, novel coronavirus panic buyers are snatching up ... toilet paper?

Retailers in the US and Canada have started limiting the number of toilet paper packs customers can buy in one trip. Some supermarkets in the UK are sold out. Grocery stores in Australia have hired security guards to patrol customers.

An Australian newspaper went so far as printing eight extra pages in a recent edition -- emergency toilet paper, the newspaper said, should Aussies run out.

Coachella was set to take place next month in the California desert with Rage Against the Machine and Frank Ocean among the headliners.

The event's organiser Goldenvoice has now postponed it until October, at the request of local health authorities.

Latest figures show the US has more than 950 confirmed cases of the disease and 28 deaths.

The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is one of the world's most high-profile music events with many celebrity attendees.

OFC announced this week it had postponed all tournaments and meetings until 6 May, following advice from health authorities and member nations.

The affected events include the Under 16 Women's Championship, due to take place next month in Tahiti, which had already been postponed from December following the regional measles outbreak.

The knockout rounds of the OFC Champions League club competition are also being delayed.

OFC General Secretary Franck Castillo said the decision was made to ensure the safety and well-being of all their members.

Cyrus has called off a trip to Australia, where she was due to headline a bushfire benefit concert.

Two Madonna shows in Paris have been cancelled after French authorities banned large gatherings.

And Pearl Jam have postponed their US and Canada tour, saying the risk "is simply too high for our comfort level".

Meanwhile, reports say the Coachella music festival in California will be put back to October. The most high-profile festival in the US, it was due to take place in April and be headlined by Rage Against the Machine, Travis Scott and Frank Ocean.

It is operating the flights to try to retain take-off and landing slots at major airports such as Heathrow.

Under European law, if flights are not operated, slots have to be forfeited.

UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has written to the European Commission, asking for rules on slot allocation to be relaxed during the outbreak.

Other carriers are thought to be taking similar steps - even reportedly flying so-called "ghost planes" with no passengers on board at all in order to safeguard their presence at major hubs.

A man in his 30s, who attended the gig in Auckland's Spark Arena, has been confirmed as the nation's fourth case of the virus.

"He was in the general admission standing area in the front left-hand quadrant," said health officials.

They added the risk of catching the virus was "low" but advised audience members to be aware of the symptoms.

The man, who had recently arrived back in the country from northern Italy, has been isolated at home since Wednesday. His partner was announced as New Zealand's second case earlier this week.

Ministry of Health official Sunil Chandra said a 15-month old girl, 37-year-old woman, three-year-old boy and his 26-year-old mother were in isolation after developing respiratory symptoms shortly after arriving in Fiji from the United States, Italy, Bali and Singapore.

Mr Chandra said the tests returned today and showed they were all in the clear.

There are no confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Fiji.

CNMI has second suspected case of coronavirus

The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference has urged a number of measures to reduce transmission of the virus, including stopping communion being distributed from the chalice and the removal of holy water from stoups.

In a statement, the conference said dioceses and parishes should consider the changes "given the regular assembly of large groups for liturgical celebrations and a number of enquiries from dioceses, parishes and individuals".

Over 3000 tourists on the Queen Elizabeth Two, which had sailed from Australia, were restricted from disembarking at Rabaul by the local administration late last month due to coronavirus fears

Rabaul Hotel owner Susan McGrade organised a subsequent meeting of local tourism operators.

She said operators wanted to know why East New Britain governor Nakikus Konga decided to deny access to the ship despite it being cleared by PNG's health department.