The novel coronavirus that originated in Wuhan, China, and the disease it causes, COVID-19, has spread to more than 100 countries and territories around the world, killing thousands.
First US Sailor Aboard a Warship Tests Positive
A U.S. sailor aboard a warship ship tested positive for the coronavirus for the first time, the U.S. Navy said on Sunday, as it disclosed the case of a sailor assigned to an amphibious assault ship.The Navy said the sailor was quarantined at home and that personnel that the sailor immediately identified having close contact with have been notified and are in self-isolation at their residences.
Oklahoma Declares State of Emergency
Gov. Kevin Stitt has declared a state of emergency for the next 30 days all 77 counties of Oklahoma state.
NYC to Close Schools
New York City will close public schools starting this week, according to Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio, in the city’s most disruptive measure yet to curb the spread of the new coronavirus. Schools in nearby Westchester County and Long Island will also be shuttered.“I believe the facts, unfortunately, have given us no other choice,” de Blasio stated. “But there are three things that we are trying to protect. Most importantly our public health system, our hospital system, our clinics, everywhere that people go for health care, and two things that feed that system are public transit system, and, of course, our schools.”
He added that officials will have to come up with alternatives as parents often rely on schools as a child-care function and for food.
Fed Slashes Rates to Near Zero
The Federal Reserve slashed rates back to near zero, restarted bond buying and launched other measures from its crisis-era toolkit, along with other central banks, to put the floor under a rapidly disintegrating global economy assailed by efforts to contain the escalating coronavirus pandemic.“The effects of the coronavirus will weigh on economic activity in the near term and pose risks to the economic outlook. In light of these developments, the Committee decided to lower the target range,” the Fed said.
The Fed cut rates to a target range of 0 percent to 0.25 percent and said it would expand its balance sheet by at least $700 billion in coming weeks.
“The Committee expects to maintain this target range until it is confident that the economy has weathered recent events and is on track to achieve its maximum employment and price stability goals,” the Fed said.
In other moves, the Fed encouraged banks to use the trillions of dollars in equity and liquid assets built up as capital buffers since the financial crisis to lend to business and households whose balance sheets and lives have been upended by the virus.
Over 3,000 Cases, 62 Deaths Reported in US
As of Sunday, there were at least 3,155 coronavirus cases in 49 states, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Washington. At least 62 people have died. West Virginia remained the only state without any confirmed cases.The United States can expect more cases and deaths, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said at a White House briefing Saturday. “We have not yet reached our peak.”
New York City Could Go on Lockdown, Says Mayor
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said his office is considering locking down the city to contain the coronavirus outbreak after more than 200 cases have been confirmed.The COVID-19 coronavirus tally may rise to more than 1,000 cases in the next several days, he remarked.
“It’s changing every hour so we’re going to constantly make new decisions,” de Blasio told the network.
The mayor didn’t elaborate on what a lockdown might entail but elaborated last week when the city declared an emergency.
Teaneck, New Jersey, Told to Self-Quarantine
The mayor of Teaneck, New Jersey, asked all residents to self-quarantine on Saturday after 18 residents tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus.Teaneck, located in Bergen County, is located about 5 miles west-northwest of Manhattan. It has a population of about 40,000.
Residents in the township have been asked to stay at home and only go outside to get food or medicine, according to authorities.
Italy Reports 3,590 More Cases, 368 Deaths
The numbercases of COVID-19 in Italy has surged higher again.Some 3,590 more cases of the coronavirus were reported in a 24-hour period, nearly 100 more than the increase as the day before. The additional infections reported Sunday represent the country’s biggest day-to-day increase.
Italy’s Civil Protection chief Angelo Borrelli announced the latest number of cases, bringing the total number of people with the new coronavirus to 24,747. The number of deaths increased by 368 to 1,809.
Schiff’s Former Staffer Tests Positive
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) announced on Sunday that a former staffer has contracted the new coronavirus.“Although doctors believe the staffer contracted the virus after leaving my office, I’m taking additional distancing precautions, including postponing meetings and teleworking,” he wrote in a Twitter statement.
Schiff said that the former staffer is feeling better, adding that none of his staff have reported any flu-like symptoms.
Netanyahu Takes Precautionary Test
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was tested for coronavirus as a precautionary measure, his office said on Sunday.Netanyahu was asymptomatic before undergoing the test, which was also administered to officials working close to him, his office said in a statement.
Nike Shuts All US Stores
Nike announced on Sunday that due to coronavirus fears, the company is closing all of its stores in the United States and in some other parts of the world.Iran Reports 113 New Deaths
The official leading Iran’s response to the new coronavirus acknowledged Sunday the pandemic could overwhelm health facilities in his country, which is battling the worst outbreak in the Mideast. Iran also reported 113 new deaths from the virus, bringing its official death toll to 724.Iran is battling one of the worst outbreaks outside China. The 113 new deaths reported on Sunday by the Health Ministry were the first time a daily reported death toll exceeded 100. The fatalities brought the country’s death toll to 724 so far, amid nearly 14,000 confirmed cases. The real number of infections could be even higher, as questions have been raised about the government’s transparency.
“If the trend continues, there will not be enough capacity,” Ali Reza Zali, who is leading the campaign against the outbreak, was quoted as saying earlier by the state-run IRNA news agency.
Italy Reports 175 Deaths in 24 Hours
Italian health officials confirmed that 175 people died from the new coronavirus in 24 hours, raising the death toll to more than 1,400.The Italian Civil Protection Department said on Saturday the total number of cases currently confirmed in the country has risen to 21,157, according to Reuters. Italy is the worst-affected country in Europe, and globally second only to China, where the virus emerged last year before it spread to more than 100 countries and became a global pandemic after the Chinese regime failed to prevent its spread.
Italian authorities added that nearly 2,000 patients of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, have recovered. More than 1,500 people are in intensive care.
Taiwan Announces Traveler Quarantine, Detects 6 New Cases
Taiwan reported six new cases of the coronavirus on Sunday, all imported and marking the biggest daily rise in infections, in people who had returned to the island from mostly European countries, bringing its total tally to 59.The government is working on tracking down all the people who had contact with the new cases, it said in a statement.
The infected individuals had traveled from Greece, Turkey, Egypt, Japan, and Thailand. Two of the patients had transited in Dubai, the government added.
While Taiwan has won plaudits from international experts for its early prevention measures to stop the spread of the virus, it has now stepped up measures to stop cases from overseas entering the territory.
On Saturday the island said it would begin requiring a 14-day quarantine for all people arriving from Europe’s Schengen border-free travel zone, as well as Britain and Ireland.
Taiwan has only reported one death from the virus, while 20 have recovered and have been released from hospital. The others are all in stable condition.
New Jersey City of Hoboken Announces Night Curfew, Restricts Bars, Restaurants
The city of Hoboken, across the Hudson River from New York City, on Saturday announced a night curfew starting March 16 and ordered bars and restaurants to conduct only delivery services amid the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.In a statement, Mayor Ravi Bhalla said all residents of Hoboken, New Jersey, will be required to remain in their homes between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., “except for emergencies, or if you are required to work by your employer.”
The mayor said that bars and restaurants in the city will not be allowed to serve food from Sunday, 11 a.m. local time. However, they will be allowed to conduct delivery services.
“I received a call from our police chief Kenneth Ferrante notifying me of a bar fight in downtown Hoboken, with at least one person falling in and out of consciousness, and our police having to wait for over 30 minutes for an ambulance to arrive, because our EMS is inundated with service calls,” Bhalla said.
“This is unfortunately a contributing factor why we cannot continue bar operations which can trigger calls for service that are delayed in part because of this public health crisis.”
Uzbekistan Confirms 1st Case
An Uzbek citizen has tested positive for coronavirus after returning from France, Uzbekistan’s Healthcare Ministry said on Sunday, marking the first infection from the virus in the Central Asian country of 34 million.It said it was taking the necessary measures to prevent the spread of the virus.
Walmart Shortens Its Hours to Disinfect and Restock
Walmart, the largest retailer in America, said Saturday that it will will modify its store hours in response to the pandemic.Beginning Sunday, all of Walmart’s more than 4,700 U.S. stores will be open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. until further notice. The company said the shortened hours will help employees restock shelves overnight and clean stores. Thousands of Walmart stores are already operating under shortened hours.
Argentina Bans Entry to Travelers From Outbreak Countries
The government of Argentina has banned entry for all non-residents who have traveled to countries dealing local outbreaks of COVID-19 within the past 14 days.The announcement late Saturday night said the ban will be in place for at least 30 days.
While it did not list the affected countries, Argentina has already stopped issuing visas for travelers from China, Iran, Japan, South Korea, many European countries.
Italian Tenor Maurizio Marchini Sings for His Neighbors During Lockdown
During Italy’s lockdown, tenor Maurizio Marchini sang for his neighbors from his balcony in Florence.Oregon Reports First Death From New Coronavirus
A man in his 70s has become the first person in Oregon to die from the new coronavirus.The Oregon Health Authority said the Multnomah County man was hospitalized at the Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center and died Saturday.
Australia Announces Mandatory Self-Isolation for All International Arrivals
Australia’s Prime Minister has announced that all travelers arriving in Australia from overseas, including those arriving through airports and cruise terminals, will be required to undergo a mandatory self-isolation period of 14 days.“I just want to be clear about the travel restrictions I have just announced. All people coming to Australia will be required, will be required, I stress, to self isolate for 14 days. This is very important,” PM Scott Morrison said on Sunday.
“It’s legal enforcement.”
Morrison has said that the extra measures were to ease the burden on the nation’s healthcare system.
“The truth is that while many people will contract this virus, that is clear, just as people get the flu each year it is a more severe condition than the flu but for the vast majority, as I said last week, majority, around eight or 10 as is our advice, it will be a mild illness and it will pass.
“However, as older Australians and those that are more vulnerable and those that are more vulnerable and those in remote communities and with pre-existing health conditions, it is a far more serious virus and that is our concern.
“Our aim in all of this is to protect the most vulnerable. The most at risk.
“We know that the virus cannot be absolutely stopped, no one can do that but we can slow the spread. And we anticipate that will be our task over the next six months.
“No one can know for certain how long this will run. It could be shorter than that, it could be longer than that.
“The measures that we are putting in place as a government is making those types of assumptions, but that is being updated on a daily basis,” he said.
Spaniards Fill Empty Streets With Applause for Their Medical Staff
Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs shared the moment when the whole of Spain came together to thank the country’s heathcare workers in their efforts to help coronavirus patients, and contain further spread of the virus.“Today we pay tribute to the thousands of professionals who are fighting the #COVID19 front line,” the ministry said in a tweet.
Wife of Spanish PM Tests Positive
The wife of Spanish Prime minister Pedro Sanchez, Begona Gomez, has tested positive for COVID-19, according to a government statement.
No Cast or Crew Infected By Tom Hanks and Wife
Hospitalized Hollywood star Tom Hanks has not passed on the coronavirus to any cast or crew on the production set of an untitled Baz Luhrmann-biopic on Elvis Presley being filmed at Village Roadshow Studios on Australia’s Gold Coast.
Hanks and his wife, singer Rita Wilson, are quarantined in a Gold Coast hospital after testing positive to COVID-19 on Thursday.
A representative for the production said no cast or crew had come down with the virus although production had ceased for two weeks.
Australia Says Lockdown an Option in Face of COVID-19
Australia’s Federal, state, and territory leaders will discuss developments in the spread of COVID-19 and the needed response during a phone link-up on Sunday.
The Morrison government has warned all options are on the table to help tackle the spread of the coronavirus, which my include school closures in the future and even a complete lockdown of the country similar to Italy, France, and Spain.
“Everything is up for consideration,” Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy told national broadcaster ABC television’s Insiders Program on Sunday.
4 More African Nations Confirm Coronavirus, New Controls Put in Place
Mauritania, Rwanda, Seychelles, and Central African Republic confirmed their first coronavirus cases on Saturday, bringing to 23 the number of African countries that have reported positive tests for the virus.
Moving swiftly to contain its spread, Rwanda, Senegal, Madagascar, Mauritius, Morocco, and Kenya announced tougher control measures, including bans on public gatherings, halting flights, and closing schools and universities.
Three days after the World Health Organization (WHO) described the outbreak as a pandemic, there is concern among health specialists about the ability of some African nations to meet the logistical and financial challenges posed by the fast-spreading virus.
Borders are porous and many nations have extremely poor health infrastructure. Some countries, like Somalia, are fighting insurgencies while others, such as South Sudan, have high levels of malnutrition.
But governments are implementing preventative steps to try to keep the virus at bay.
“To prevent the outbreak entering in Madagascar, all flights connecting Madagascar to Europe are suspended for 30 days,” Madagascar President Hery Rajaonarimampianina said in a statement.
Madagascar, one of the world’s poorest nations where malnutrition is rife and outbreaks of deadly diseases are common, will also suspend air links to the nearby islands of La Reunion and Mayotte, he said.
The East African nation of Rwanda, which registered its first coronavirus case on Saturday, announced hours later that schools and universities would be closed for two weeks starting from Monday.
The Health Ministry also called for all places of worship to close their doors and for large gatherings such as weddings and sport events to be postponed.
In West Africa, Senegal announced schools and universities would stop classes and canceled all religious festivals. So far, Senegal has reported 21 cases.
Most cases reported on the continent so far are foreigners or locals who traveled abroad. Rapid testing and quarantines have been put in place to limit transmission.
