American life is shutting down due to coronavirus; dire China numbers hint at worse to come

The Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention is now urging a nationwide halt to gatherings of greater than 50 individuals for the following eight weeks, citing the danger of the coronavirus.

If adopted, the steerage — the strongest and most sweeping up to now from the company — will considerably improve the pandemic’s disruption to U.S. public life for the following two months. Governments worldwide are already making powerful choices geared toward preserve their residents secure.

Listed below are another vital developments:

• The Federal Reserve made an emergency interest rate cut to zero on Sunday evening.
• Outdoor retailer REI, on line casino and lodge big MGM Resorts, athletic clothes chain Lululemon and extra joined the cascade of companies asserting closures.
• Iraq and Lebanon stated Sunday that they had been grounding flights as the 2 crisis-hit nations introduced new measures to sluggish the unfold of covid-19.
• A slew of latest states and cities have introduced plans to shut colleges and severely restricted their nightlife by shuttering bars, eating places and golf equipment, permitting takeout meals solely or slicing hours.
• Chad Wolf, performing secretary of the Division of Homeland Safety, stated Sunday that it was “unacceptable” that travelers at U.S. airports were thrown into chaos within the aftermath of a journey ban on European international locations. However Wolf stated situations have now improved.

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12:54 AM: Australia dramatically expands well being officers’ powers to include virus

Elements of Australia have declared states of emergency that can grant well being authorities broad new powers to attempt to management the unfold of coronavirus, because the variety of instances within the nation elevated to round 300 and the loss of life toll rose to 5.

The Australian Capital Territory, Victoria state, and Western Australia have all carried out emergency measures, which can enable officers to implement quarantines as they see match, Reuters reported.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison additionally introduced obligatory quarantines for any worldwide vacationers arriving within the nation.

“These powers have by no means been used earlier than,” Daniel Andrews, the highest official in Victoria state, informed reporters. “This, I hope offers a transparent sense in regards to the unprecedented nature of this public well being emergency, this actually vital problem.”

Australia additionally banned all non-essential gatherings involving greater than 500 individuals, a a lot much less harsh restriction than different international locations banning even a lot smaller crowds.

Anxious Australians have flooded the nation’s supermarkets to top off on provides amid fears of shortages. Woolworths, the biggest grocery retailer chain within the nation, will open its doorways for particular hours to permit senior residents and disabled individuals to buy on their very own.

By Siobhán O’Grady

With 1000’s of deaths already recorded amid the raging coronavirus pandemic, it’s clear the illness is worse for the aged and people with preexisting well being issues.

However scientists are contemplating whether or not extra delicate components may additionally intensify the illness or improve the preliminary possibilities of an infection — together with smoking and air air pollution.

“Given what we all know now, it is rather doubtless that people who find themselves uncovered to extra air air pollution and who’re smoking tobacco merchandise are going to fare worse if contaminated with covid than those that are respiration cleaner air, and who don’t smoke,” stated Aaron Bernstein, the interim director of the Middle for Local weather, Well being, and the World Setting on the Harvard T.H. Chan Faculty of Public Well being, referring to the illness attributable to coronavirus.

By Chris Mooney

The Justice Division introduced late Sunday it could droop a swath of immigration courtroom hearings amid growing fears over the unfold of coronavirus.

The division stated that efficient Monday, it could postpone all grasp calendar hearings for these not already in custody which are scheduled by means of April 10. Grasp calendar hearings in immigration courtroom are related to arraignments in federal courtroom, and are largely centered on scheduling and different issues. Deserves hearings and hearings for these already in custody aren’t affected.

The Nationwide Affiliation of Immigration Judges, the union representing immigration judges throughout the nation, had final week known as for the postponement of grasp calendar hearings for these not already in custody, saying such proceedings “sometimes carry 50 or extra respondents into every courtroom,” a lot of whom traveled internationally or had ties to those that did.

“That is precisely the kind of scenario the White Home, CDC and different public well being authorities urge us to keep away from, and we belief that you’ll agree that it’s untenable and irresponsible in gentle of the present unfold of covid-19 infections throughout the nation,” the union’s president wrote.

The Justice Division stated on the time that hearings would proceed as scheduled. Earlier than the division reversed course Sunday, the union had known as the division to shut all of the immigration courts for 2 to 4 weeks.

By Matt Zapotosky

China’s industrial output dropped 13.5 % in January and February, its most dramatic contraction in 30 years, information launched Monday confirmed.

Retail gross sales collapsed by greater than 20 % as companies shut their doorways and residents quarantined themselves to keep away from contracting the virus. Factories shut down and large-scale journey bans had been carried out, grinding manufacturing to a near-halt throughout swaths of the world’s second-largest economic system. The unemployment price additionally elevated to six.5 % over the primary two months of the 12 months, marking a brand new report for China, Bloomberg reported.

Monday’s dire numbers indicated that the influence of the virus on China’s economic system was even worse than many analysts had predicted and will supply a scary preview of what’s but to return in america, Europe and elsewhere, as companies shutter and concrete facilities start to primarily shut down, with residents getting ready to hunker down for a number of weeks.

At the same time as elements of China, together with the epicenter of the outbreak in Hubei province, are slowly reopening for enterprise, the info counsel there might be long-term financial harm from the virus, notably as a lot of the remaining of the world is simply starting to grapple with the pandemic. In China, authorities are additionally introducing new restrictions on incoming vacationers to attempt to forestall the virus from persevering with to unfold again to the nation from elsewhere.

By Siobhán O’Grady

9:14 a.m.

Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) stated Sunday evening that a physician stated his coronavirus check got here again destructive.

“I’m very grateful and like everybody else will comply with one of the best practices to remain destructive,” Graham tweeted after 9 p.m., saying he was simply knowledgeable of the end result.

Graham introduced Thursday that he was self-quarantining whereas awaiting outcomes of a coronavirus check that he took after spending time at President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida after one other visitor later examined constructive for the virus.

The senator was staying with the president, who was pictured with the contaminated particular person. Trump additionally has been examined and doesn’t have the virus, his doctor stated.

A staffer for Sen. Thomas R. Carper (D-Del.), in the meantime, has examined constructive for the virus, a spokeswoman for the lawmaker stated Sunday.

The staffer, who is predicated in Delaware, is self-quarantining and isn’t severely ailing, the spokeswoman stated. The particular person has not traveled to the District just lately and has not been in touch with any members of Congress since creating signs, in accordance with Carper’s workplace.

Members of Carper’s employees who got here into contact with the particular person whereas that particular person confirmed signs might be self-isolating at dwelling for 14 days, Carper’s workplace stated. And all of Carper’s employees within the District and in Delaware might be working remotely from Monday on.

By: Hannah Knowles and Colby Itkowitz

10:25 PM: Intensifying coronavirus fears rattle voters and election officers forward of Tuesday primaries

Voters, campaigns and election officers in 4 states holding contests Tuesday are braced for a presidential major day in contrast to any in reminiscence, because the surging menace of the novel coronavirus has pressured main adjustments at voting places, rattled ballot employees and left voters apprehensive about easy methods to forged their ballots.

In Arizona, Florida, Illinois and Ohio, election officers have raced to interchange ballot employees who’ve stated they won’t present up on Tuesday, provide 1000’s of precincts with sanitizing provides and notify voters whose polling places, many in senior-care services, have been moved because of the pandemic.

Voters, in the meantime, have flooded info hotlines. Amongst their pressing questions: the place to vote, easy methods to ship a poll if they’re below quarantine and easy methods to vote in the event that they registered whereas attending a school that’s now closed.

Learn extra here.

By: Amy Gardner and Elise Viebeck

10:22 PM: New York Metropolis closes bars and film theaters, limits restaurant meals to takeout and supply

NEW YORK — Town of New York will solely enable pickup and supply from eating places beginning on Tuesday, Mayor Invoice de Blasio (D) stated Sunday. Town may even shut bars, golf equipment and film theaters.

The announcement got here as a slew of different states and cities all through the nation take aggressive measures to fight the novel coronavirus that can remodel public life, closing bars, eating places and golf equipment.

“The virus can unfold quickly by means of the shut interactions New Yorkers have in eating places, bars and locations the place we sit shut collectively,” de Blasio stated in an announcement. “We now have to interrupt that cycle.”

The choice comes hours after the town determined to close down its public college system, which is the nation’s largest, to sluggish the unfold of the coronavirus.

The measure is for certain to disrupt the lives of 8 million people, a lot of whom reside in small residences and frequent eating places commonly. Grocery tales in Manhattan have been emptying for a number of weeks, with canned items, rest room paper and pasta flying off cabinets and contours going out the doorways. The mayor said Sunday that there are 329 instances of the coronavirus within the metropolis and that 5 individuals have died of it.

“This disaster will final months and it’ll worsen earlier than it will get higher,” de Blasio said on Twitter.

By: Sarah Pulliam Bailey

9:19 PM: Starbucks, Lululemon, REI amongst main shops to shut or change their hours due to coronavirus

© Patrick T. Fallon/Bloomberg
A Nike retailer in West Hollywood, in 2018.

The coronavirus outbreak in america is resulting in retailer closures and altered enterprise hours, with retail heavy-hitters closing retailers to include the unfold of the virus as well being officers warn towards crowds.

Most are compensating their hourly workers amid the disruption and preserving their on-line operations open for enterprise.

Right here’s a operating listing of shops which are closing or altering their hours:

REI

The out of doors clothes, gear and footwear retailer has closed all of its shops by means of March 27.

MGM Resorts

The corporate is suspending operations at its Las Vegas casinos and inns till at the least Could 1.

Lululemon

The favored athletic clothes outfit is shutting down its shops till March 27.

Starbucks

The coffeehouse chain is briefly closing some places in america and Canada, and is shifting 1000’s of its North American shops to a “to go” mannequin for at the least two weeks.

Nike

Nike shops throughout america, Canada, Western Europe, Australia and New Zealand might be closed as of Monday till March 27, the corporate stated.

Warby Parker

The eyeglasses retailer told customers Saturday that its shops will shut from Sunday till March 27.

Allbirds

The sustainable-resource shoemaker tweeted Saturday that its shops might be closed from Sunday till March 27.

City Outfitters

The life-style and clothes vendor announced Saturday that each one its world shops would shut down till at the least March 28.

Walmart

The large retailer is slicing again its hours beginning Sunday, the corporate stated Saturday. The 24-hour places will function from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. till additional discover.

Apple

All the corporate’s shops outdoors higher China might be closed till March 27. Apple places will bear deep cleansing, and Apple workplaces will roll out well being screenings and temperature checks.

Patagonia

The out of doors clothes retailer closed its shops, workplaces and different operations Friday and can take into account reopening March 27. The corporate may even pause taking buyer orders on-line.

Glossier

The cosmetics and skin-care firm postponed opening a brand new location in Arizona and closed all stores for about two weeks.

By: Lateshia Beachum and Hannah Natanson

Slideshow by photograph providers

9:08 PM: French luxurious big’s fragrance factories to make free hand sanitizer for the general public

French luxurious firm LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton stated Sunday that will probably be utilizing its fragrance and cosmetics factories to make hand sanitizer, as France has skilled a scarcity in antibacterial gel amid the coronavirus outbreak.

In a statement, the corporate stated the factories normally dedicated to manufacturing fragrances and make-up for manufacturers akin to Christian Dior and Givenchy might be repurposed beginning Monday to provide “substantial portions of hydroalcoholic gel to be supplied to public authorities” throughout France, free.

“Via this initiative, LVMH intends to assist handle the danger of an absence of product in France and allow a higher variety of individuals to proceed to take the precise motion to guard themselves from the unfold of the virus,” the assertion stated.

On Sunday, France’s well being minister reported 29 extra coronavirus deaths, marking France’s biggest single-day jump in fatalities from covid-19. Over the weekend, the federal government joined different European international locations, together with Italy and Spain, in taking measures to cease the virus’s unfold, closing its eating places, cafes, leisure venues and all nonessential companies.

Native elections, nevertheless, were held Sunday, amid issues about low turnout and the potential of spreading the virus.

By: Ruby Mellen 

8:28 PM: CDC says People ought to cancel all gatherings of 50 individuals or extra for the following eight weeks

Federal well being officers on Sunday stated People ought to cancel or postpone occasions involving 50 or extra individuals for the following eight weeks all through america.

“Massive occasions and mass gatherings can contribute to the unfold of COVID-19,” the illness attributable to the coronavirus, the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention posted in an announcement on its web site. “Examples … embrace conferences, festivals, parades, concert events, sporting occasions, weddings.”

If adopted, the steerage — the strongest and most sweeping up to now from the CDC — is for certain to upend and reshape American life for the following two months.

The CDC stated its advice doesn’t apply to the each day operations of faculties, institutes of upper training or companies — though a slew of faculties, faculties and firms nationwide introduced plans to shutter or limit their hours over the weekend.

Former CDC director Tom Frieden stated the brand new steerage is sensible.

“The covid-19 pandemic is unprecedented — by no means earlier than has a respiratory virus apart from influenza emerged and been documented to unfold world wide,” he stated. “Defending medically weak individuals is essential, and people who are at excessive threat ought to keep away from potential exposures.”

By: Hannah Natanson and Lena H. Solar

8:22 PM: NYC colleges to shut later this week, becoming a member of rising variety of different cities, states

New York Metropolis colleges, the nation’s largest college district, will shut Monday, becoming a member of a cascading variety of states and main cities which have shuttered their colleges amid coronavirus issues.

On Sunday alone, Arizona, Minnesota, Montana, Connecticut and North Dakota introduced college closings. Greater than a dozen states and several other massive cities have shuttered their colleges as officers goal to stem the unfold of covid-19, the illness attributable to the novel coronavirus.

New York Mayor Invoice de Blasio (D) stated Sunday that colleges can be closed Monday by means of at the least April 20 and that it’s doable that they are going to be closed by means of the tip of the varsity 12 months.

“I do know the total value of shutting our colleges. It’s very painful. It’s going to be very tough for lots of households,” he stated Sunday. “So this can be a resolution I’ve taken with no pleasure in any respect, with quite a lot of ache. However we’re coping with a problem, a disaster we’ve by no means seen in our lifetimes.” He stated there have been 5 covid-19 deaths in New York Metropolis.

The choice was introduced earlier by New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo (D), who initially stated the town’s colleges would shut “early this week.” He known as for the colleges to place a plan in place within the subsequent 24 hours to supply youngster look after “important employees,” in addition to a plan to feed college students who rely on colleges for meals.

“This motion is critical to cut back density and mitigate the unfold of #COVID19,” Cuomo wrote on Twitter.

He stated colleges would additionally shut in Nassau and Suffolk counties on Lengthy Island and in Westchester County, simply north of New York Metropolis. De Blasio had resisted closing metropolis colleges, citing issues about dad and mom who work in essential jobs and who may need to overlook work. He additionally expressed worries about feeding college students who depend on colleges for meals.

“We now have an enormous variety of single-parent households the place they don’t have one other place for his or her youngsters. They will’t carry their youngsters to work. There’s quite a lot of very sensible issues,” he informed CNN final week.

However he got here below huge stress from lecturers unions, dad and mom, political figures and others to shutter the colleges, particularly as governors nationwide ordered their colleges closed.

De Blasio stated Sunday that this week colleges might be open for kids to select up “seize and go” meals.

By: Laura Meckler

7:51 PM: Iraq, Lebanon to floor flights in bid to sluggish unfold of covid-19

LONDON — Iraq and Lebanon stated Sunday that they had been grounding flights as the 2 crisis-hit nations introduced new measures to sluggish the unfold of covid-19.

In Baghdad, a state of emergency was declared, consigning residents to their houses for per week from Tuesday evening as flights out and in of the capital had been additionally stopped. In Beirut, the Lebanese cupboard determined to close the airport, land borders and sea ports for 11 days from Wednesday.

Iraq has recorded 124 instances of the coronavirus and 9 deaths. Lebanon says it has confirmed 99 instances and three deaths.

Each international locations had been beset with troubles even earlier than the coronavirus threatened to push their well being techniques into disaster. Anti-establishment protests have pressured every nation to vary their authorities, and the cycle of unrest has hit Lebanon’s economic system notably onerous. On Sunday, President Michel Aoun stated he was declaring a “medical emergency.” He known as on individuals to earn a living from home, urging them to think about it as neither “a jail nor a punishment.”

“Everyone seems to be invited to proceed their work, from dwelling, within the method that they deem acceptable, in order that studying is pursued for college kids, and work for employees, and in order that establishments stay as ‘alive’ and energetic as doable,” he stated.

By: Louisa Loveluck

7:27 PM: California, Illinois, Massachusetts, Ohio amongst states which are shutting down nightlife in bid to battle coronavirus

© AP
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine offers an replace at MetroHealth Medical Middle on the state’s preparedness and training efforts to restrict the potential unfold of a brand new virus which induced a illness known as COVID-19, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020, in Cleveland. (AP Picture/Tony Dejak)

States and cities all through the nation severely restricted their nightlife on Sunday — closing bars, eating places and golf equipment or slicing hours — in drastic measures supposed to battle the coronavirus and sure to wreak financial havoc.

In Boston, the mayor shut down all beer gardens and requested nightlife venues to shut by 11 p.m., not lengthy earlier than the governor of Massachusetts introduced that eating places can be allowed to serve meals solely by takeout or supply. In Chicago, institutions with liquor licenses had been informed to restrict capability to 100 individuals and stop individuals from forming strains outdoors — an instruction rendered moot mere hours later, when Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) shuttered all bars and eating places in Illinois by means of March.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) ordered that each one bars and eating places in his state be shut down efficient at 9 p.m. Sunday. “We’re two days from St. Patrick’s Day, when individuals get collectively and crowd into bars,” he stated. “We’re at an important, essential stage.”

DeWine stated he had no concept how lengthy the shutdown would final, saying: “It is going to be in impact so long as it must.”

The closures come amid studies and photographs on social media of revelers packing bars and eating places throughout the nation over the weekend, regardless of more and more dire warnings from officers that folks ought to keep at dwelling. Federal well being authorities have really helpful that People follow “social distancing” — avoiding crowded locations, working from dwelling and usually preserving inside.

Well being officers even have pointed to Italy as a warning. Many Italians flouted the calls to remain dwelling as soon as work and faculty had been canceled — and, on Sunday, their nation introduced a 25 % one-day spike in its loss of life toll from the virus. The variety of energetic instances in Italy had been rising virtually 20 % each day.

In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) held a information convention Sunday to induce bars, nightclubs and brewpubs to shut — although he stated it was not a authorized order. He additionally requested that eating places follow “deep social distancing,” together with lowering occupancy by half.

The sweeping closures go away enterprise house owners and workers within the nation in a predicament with out precedent in latest reminiscence. In asserting Ohio’s closures, DeWine sought to throw his state’s employees a lifeline: He stated he hoped eating places and bars would keep open to supply supply and takeout choices.

Nonetheless, DeWine acknowledged that the closings would most likely devastate small-business house owners and their staffs. He apologized for the struggling he was about to inflict however insisted that he needed to act now to make sure that Ohio’s health-care system doesn’t break down below the stress of accepting an ever-rising tally of coronavirus sufferers.

As of Saturday afternoon, the state had 36 confirmed instances, with at the least 350 awaiting pending check outcomes, in accordance with Amy Acton, director of the Ohio Division of Well being.

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By: Hannah Natanson, Kim Bellware, Heather Kelly and Katie Zezima

7:11 PM: Congressman self quarantines after interplay with one that later examined constructive

The chairman of the Home Funds Committee stated Sunday that he has been examined for the coronavirus and is awaiting outcomes.

Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Ky.) stated he was knowledgeable that he had an interplay per week in the past with an individual who displayed no apparent signs on the time however has since examined constructive for the virus.

Yarmuth stated he consulted a doctor and determined to self-quarantine this week. The Home is in recess this week after passing a coronavirus financial aid package deal early Saturday morning.

Yarmuth stated he would telework from dwelling whereas remaining in contact with federal, state and native officers “as all of us work to fight this pandemic.” A number of members of Congress have self-quarantined after interactions with individuals who turned out to be confirmed carriers of the virus.

By: Donna Cassata

7:04 PM: Azar declines to state variety of ventilators in U.S. stockpile, citing nationwide safety

Well being and Human Providers Secretary Alex Azar on Sunday declined to disclose the full variety of ventilators within the U.S. federal stockpile, citing nationwide safety causes.

“We now have super provides, however we need to purchase extra. … We don’t disclose concrete numbers on specific objects for nationwide safety functions,” Azar stated on the coronavirus activity pressure briefing. “However we’ve many ventilators — 1000’s and 1000’s of ventilators — in our system.”

Azar stated that federal officers have acquired only one request from a hospital for “a number of” ventilators.

Azar’s feedback got here hours after Anthony S. Fauci, director of the Nationwide Institute of Allergy and Infectious Ailments, revealed the precise quantity in an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

“Proper now, we’ve 12,700 ventilators within the stockpile,” Fauci stated. “We are going to use the stockpile as wanted. We might be ready hopefully to backfill the stockpile as finest as we will.”

In two interviews on Fox Information Channel final week, Seema Verma, the administrator of the Facilities for Medicare and Medicaid Providers, additionally declined to disclose the precise variety of ventilators within the U.S. stockpile.

Aside from the federal stockpile, by some estimates, an estimated 62,000 ventilators are in hospitals nationwide, NPR reported final week.

By: Felicia Sonmez

6:28 PM: Pence says administration is updating social distancing tips

Vice President Pence on Sunday declined to reply a query about how People can finest follow social distancing and whether or not eating places and bars ought to shut down, saying solely that new steerage might be launched Monday.

“We could have up to date tips tomorrow,” Pence informed reporters on the coronavirus response staff’s each day briefing.

Anthony S. Fauci, director of the Nationwide Institute of Allergy and Infectious Ailments, additionally declined to elaborate on the subject.

“I meant every little thing I stated this morning on the exhibits — that basically, to guard the American individuals, we’ll take into account every little thing and something on the desk,” stated Fauci, who appeared on all 5 Sunday morning information exhibits.

He did say, nevertheless, that it’s doable bars and eating places might be ordered to shut in the course of the disaster.

“That might be,” he stated. “Completely, I imply, that might be. … What I don’t need to do is I don’t need to, you recognize, bounce forward of the steerage.”

By: Felicia Sonmez

5:55 PM: ‘Calm down, we’re doing nice,’ Trump says

The coronavirus response staff’s Sunday briefing opened with Trump taking the podium.

The president praised the Federal Reserve for reducing rates of interest. He additionally urged People to “chill out” and cease shopping for extra groceries than they want, once more enjoying down the dimensions of the disaster.

“Calm down, we’re doing nice,” Trump stated within the White Home briefing room. “All of it will move.”

Trump additionally stated he had spoken Sunday afternoon with grocery CEOs, who assured him that shops will proceed to function and be nicely stocked with provides.

He left the briefing room quickly after, ignoring shouted questions from the assembled reporters.

Vice President Pence then delivered the newest replace on the coronavirus’s unfold within the nation. There are 2,900 instances in 49 states, Pence stated, up from 2,200 on Saturday.

By: Felicia Sonmez and Josh Dawsey

5:37 PM: Louisiana, New York report extra virus deaths as instances climb nationwide

A second particular person has died of covid-19 in Louisiana, Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) announced Sunday.

The newest fatality was a 53-year-old particular person with underlying well being situations.

“Because the variety of constructive instances continues to rise, we’d like each particular person to take the required actions to assist scale back the unfold of this virus,” the governor stated in an announcement, requesting residents within the state to ship prayers to the particular person’s family members. “Our aged and people with continual well being situations are essentially the most weak, however all of us have to act responsibly and look out for ourselves and our neighbors.”

Louisiana has 91 confirmed coronavirus instances.

In New York, the newest covid-19 loss of life was an aged one that had “a number of medical situations,” stated Howard Zucker, commissioner of the New York State Division of Well being. The particular person died Sunday in a hospital, he stated. That is the third loss of life within the state.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) introduced the state’s sixth loss of life on Sunday.

America has greater than 2,900 confirmed instances, with greater than 50 deaths, in accordance with Johns Hopkins University and Medicine.

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By: Lateshia Beachum

5:06 PM: Federal Reserve slashes rates of interest to zero in emergency intervention for the U.S. economic system

The Federal Reserve made an emergency rate of interest lower to zero on Sunday evening, a dramatic step meant to make borrowing as low-cost as doable for American households and companies because the coronavirus outbreak brings the U.S. economic system to a near-standstill.

Learn extra here.

By: Heather Lengthy

4:09 PM: Rudy Gobert, first NBA participant to check constructive for coronavirus, says he’s ‘feeling a bit of higher’ daily

Rudy Gobert, the primary NBA participant to have examined constructive for the novel coronavirus, on Sunday supplied his thanks for the assist and “constructive vitality” he has acquired and stated he was “feeling a bit of higher” every day.

Gobert’s feedback got here in a video message that was posted on-line Sunday. Within the video, he reminded members of the general public to scrub their palms incessantly and to attempt to keep away from making pointless contact with others.

“It’s all about defending your self, and the individuals round you,” Gobert, who performs for the Utah Jazz, stated within the video. “I want I’d have [taken] this factor extra severely, and I hope everybody else [will] accomplish that as a result of we will do it collectively. Take care, and keep secure.”

Learn extra here.

By: Cindy Boren

4:02 PM: White Home conducts temperature checks on journalists for a second day

The White Home on Sunday performed temperature checks of journalists within the briefing room forward of the anticipated 5 p.m. briefing by the coronavirus activity pressure.

This marks the second day straight that White Home medical employees have performed such checks.

“Out of an abundance of warning, temperature checks are actually being carried out on any people who’re in shut contact with the President and Vice President,” White Home spokesman Judd Deere stated in an announcement Saturday, when the checks had been first carried out.

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By: Felicia Sonmez

4:01 PM: Germany shuts 5 borders for all however important journey

BERLIN — Germany stated Sunday that it’s going to briefly reintroduce controls at borders with 5 of its 9 neighboring international locations, because the coronavirus pandemic threatens Europe’s borderless journey zone.

As of Eight a.m. Monday, cross-border journey to and from Austria, Switzerland, France, Luxembourg or Denmark won’t be permitted “with out good motive,” German Inside Minister Horst Seehofer stated at a information convention. Poland and the Czech Republic, which additionally border Germany, have already imposed their very own restrictions. Seehofer pressured that cross-border commuters wouldn’t be affected.

“I ask all residents to utterly chorus from journeys that aren’t completely crucial,” he stated.

Germany has 5,426 coronavirus instances, in accordance with Johns Hopkins College, making it the worst-hit nation in Europe after Italy and Spain, which have launched nationwide lockdowns. New border checks have been quickly reinstated inside Europe because the coronavirus outbreak took maintain, in a blow to the free journey beforehand doable throughout the continent’s 26-country Schengen zone.

The European Fee has urged member states to take solely “proportionate” motion to guard their populations from the unfold of the virus.

By: Loveday Morris

3:40 PM: Italy studies 25 % spike in coronavirus loss of life toll, in deadliest 24-hour span up to now

ROME — Italy on Sunday introduced a 25 % spike in its coronavirus loss of life toll, reporting 368 deaths within the deadliest 24-hour span up to now.

The nation’s loss of life roll has risen at an alarming price: In every of the previous three days, at the least 200 individuals have been reported useless due to the virus. It was solely three weeks in the past that Italy had its first reported loss of life from the virus. Now, greater than 1,800 individuals have died.

The entire variety of energetic instances has been rising roughly 20 % each day, and the federal government’s nationwide lockdown — proscribing motion and stopping most industrial exercise — has not but induced a slowdown.

Some two-thirds of Italy’s deaths have occurred within the area on the heart of the outbreak, Lombardy. There, due to overloaded hospitals, the official fatality price is greater than 9 %, in accordance with authorities information. In the remainder of the nation, it’s 5.1 %. By both measure, Italy’s loss of life price is greater than different international locations’ — partly as a result of it has a bigger proportion of seniors than any nation apart from Japan.

In authorities information launched Thursday, wanting on the first 803 coronavirus deaths in Italy, solely two individuals had been youthful than 50.

The grim information continued outdoors Italy as France’s minister of well being on Sunday reported 29 extra coronavirus deaths, marking France’s biggest single-day jump in fatalities from covid-19.

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By: Chico Harlan and Kim Bellware

3:26 PM: Pelosi tells lawmakers to follow social distancing on Capitol Hill

© Patrick Semansky/AP
Guests stroll previous the U.S. Capitol dome on Capitol Hill in Washington on Thursday. (AP Picture/Patrick Semansky)

Home members ought to step up social distancing practices and put together to have at the least half of their Washington staffers earn a living from home, Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) stated to lawmakers in a “Dear Colleague” letter Sunday. Pelosi mentioned how members of Congress may assist sluggish the unfold of the novel coronavirus in the course of the forthcoming “District Work Interval” when lawmakers sometimes return dwelling to work.

“In bipartisan session with the Attending Doctor and the Sergeant at Arms, and out of an abundance of warning, I’m writing to encourage you to take steps to advertise social distancing inside your Washington, D.C. workplace as we interact within the District Work Interval,” Pelosi wrote. “This may increasingly entail greater than half of your Washington employees teleworking from dwelling.”

On Thursday, excursions of the U.S. Capitol Customer Middle, the Pentagon and the White Home had been closed to vacationers till April 1. However within the Capitol, lawmakers, members of the press and people with official enterprise had been nonetheless streaming by means of hallways, using the underground tram, assembly, touching elevator buttons and doing a poor job of training social distancing, The Post’s Ben Terris observed Friday.

“It’s a bit of unusual,” a senior staffer for a Republican senator informed The Put up, “since you see all these suggestions about avoiding crowds and daily it’s like there are a whole bunch of violations happening proper in entrance of you.”

No lawmakers have but reported changing into contaminated with the coronavirus, although a staffer for Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) has tested positive. Up to now week, at least eight members of Congress have decided to self-quarantine for 14 days after coming into contact with somebody contaminated by the virus.

By: Kim Bellware

3:19 PM: Eire asks pubs to shut forward of St. Patrick’s Day

© Lorraine O’sullivan/Reuters
Pub doorways are locked within the Temple Bar space in Dublin on March 15, as bars throughout Eire shut voluntarily to curb the unfold of the coronavirus, (Reuters/Lorraine O’Sullivan)

Eire’s authorities is requesting pubs and public homes within the nation shutter their doorways as of Sunday night by means of “at the least March 29,” in accordance with tips launched at this time.

The federal government struck an settlement with the nation’s vintners associations geared toward bettering the success of social distancing practices to sluggish the unfold of the novel coronavirus.

“ … Pubs are particularly designed to advertise social interplay in a scenario the place alcohol reduces private inhibitions,” a authorities news release states.

With a watch to the St. Patrick’s Day vacation on March 17, historically a day that options crowded pubs, the federal government led by Prime Minister Leo Varadkar can be discouraging individuals from collaborating in home events at houses or different venues that might unfold the virus.

“The Authorities, having consulted with the Chief Medical Officer, believes that that is a vital public well being measure given the studies of reckless behaviour by some members of the general public in sure pubs final evening,” the discharge states. “Whereas the Authorities acknowledges that almost all of the general public and pub house owners are behaving responsibly, it believes it is crucial that each one pubs are closed upfront of St. Patricks’ Day.”

The brand new tips are voluntary, however the assertion signifies the federal government will monitor the compliance of pubs nonetheless.

Via Sunday, Eire has had 129 instances of covid-19, the sickness attributable to the coronavirus, together with two fatalities.

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By: Andrew Freedman

3:18 PM: Durbin requires Senate to move coronavirus aid package deal with out returning to Washington

A high Democrat on Sunday urged Senate Majority Chief Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to name off this week’s Senate session and permit the chamber to move the coronavirus financial aid package deal by unanimous consent — a transfer that might let lawmakers stay of their dwelling states and keep away from touring to Washington.

Sen. Richard J. Durbin (Sick.), the No. 2 Senate Democrat, stated in an announcement that it’s crucial for the Senate to move the financial aid invoice “instantly” provided that the nation is in a nationwide emergency. The Home overwhelmingly passed the measure early Saturday, and the Senate is anticipated to take it up this week after McConnell canceled the chamber’s deliberate recess.

“The Home handed this measure with a 90 % bipartisan vote,” Durbin stated. “We must always do the identical by UC instantly and supply those that would vote no an opportunity to take action with Congressional Report entries … Given this pandemic, time is of the essence and we must always not delay.”

In his assertion, Durbin stated McConnell’s resolution to name the Senate again into session “is pointless and places many harmless individuals in danger.”

McConnell’s workplace didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.

By: Felicia Sonmez

3:06 PM: South Africa, Kenya and Ghana to impose entry restrictions on most foreigners

© Christian Thompson/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock
A girl sells face masks at a market in Accra, Ghana, on March 14, 2020.

Three of Africa’s most-visited international locations introduced drastic measures on Sunday to curb the unfold of the novel coronavirus as case numbers steadily rise throughout the continent.

Ghana’s borders might be restricted to overseas vacationers who’ve been to international locations with greater than 200 coronavirus instances beginning on Tuesday, in accordance with a travel advisory released Sunday by Data Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah.

Kenya’s borders might be shut within the subsequent 48 hours and for the next 30 days to anybody from a rustic that has a coronavirus case, excepting Kenyan residents and residents, its president, Uhuru Kenyatta, announced. Kenya additionally shut its college system and had earlier banned massive gatherings. Kenya has three instances stemming from an index case in a Kenyan scholar who returned from america on March 5.

And South Africa, with 61 instances, will limit entry from a slew of nations, together with america, Britain, China and others, notably in Europe. Cyril Ramaphosa, the nation’s president, additionally declared a nationwide emergency, ordered college closures beginning March 18, and banned gatherings of greater than 100 individuals. Ramaphosa additionally stated that 35 of South Africa’s 53 land ports can be shut down.

In every of the three international locations, airline passengers from the restricted nations won’t be allowed to disembark planes, and already-issued visas might be revoked.

In Ghana, no finish date for the principles was supplied. The West African nation has six confirmed instances, with a non-Ghanaian included within the whole, in accordance with the Disease Surveillance Department of the Ghana Health Service.

The potential for main financial losses for Kenya and South Africa’s nationwide airways was huge, however further route cancellations on high of a raft of earlier ones hadn’t been introduced by Sunday’s finish. Ramaphosa warned of “probably extreme” harm to South Africa’s economic system.

Inside lower than an hour of Kenya confirming its first case on Friday, main supermarkets in Nairobi had been stuffed with consumers shopping for rest room paper and hand sanitizer, which quickly left most supermarkets out of inventory. Merchants hawked all kinds of masks, together with easy mud masks, to passersby and drivers.

Ghana introduced notably stringent measures to make sure that Ghanaian residents and residents coming into the nation self-quarantine for 14 days, with state safety and well being officers imposing quarantine protocols. The federal government stated it is going to quarantine those that don’t meet the requirements of self-quarantine.

By: Max Bearak and Lateshia Beachum

3:06 PM: Ohio colleges could stay closed for the remainder of the educational 12 months, governor warns

Faculties could stay closed for the remainder of the educational 12 months, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine warned Sunday, as dad and mom and youngsters throughout the nation ready for closings which are set to start this week.

DeWine (R) informed CNN that well being consultants have suggested him the unfold of the novel coronavirus could not peak till late April or Could.

“So we’ve knowledgeable superintendents that whereas we’ve closed colleges for 3 weeks, the chances are that is going to be rather a lot longer. And it could not shock me in any respect if colleges didn’t open once more this 12 months,” he stated.

DeWine was the primary governor to order colleges closed statewide — in Ohio’s case, for 3 weeks — and lots of others rapidly adopted. On Sunday, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz joined a couple of dozen states in ordering closures. In his case, Walz ordered public colleges closed for eight days beginning Wednesday. Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson adopted go well with that afternoon and introduced a statewide college closure from March 17 till after spring break. Vermont Gov. Phil Scott additionally ordered a closure of all Ok-12 colleges that ought to begin by Wednesday.

The Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention revealed steerage on Friday for colleges on responding to the coronavirus pandemic. The CDC suggested widespread closings solely within the case of “substantial group transmission.”

The statewide college closures which have been ordered are sometimes for 2 or three weeks. The CDC suggested that closures for 2 to 4 weeks are acceptable within the case of serious absenteeism amongst employees or college students. Nevertheless it stated longer shutdowns — 4 to eight weeks — are wanted to have an effect on the course of the illness’s unfold.

That’s one of many causes New York Mayor Invoice de Blasio is resisting closing colleges within the metropolis, he informed CNN.

“My blunt concern is, if the varsity shut down, they are going to be accomplished for the 12 months, accomplished for the varsity 12 months, possibly even for the calendar 12 months,” he stated. De Blasio stated he’s additionally involved in regards to the ramifications of such a closure, together with the impact on dad and mom who should be at work and on these youngsters who depend on colleges for meals.

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By: Laura Meckler

2:47 PM: ACM Awards, considered one of nation music’s greatest occasions, postponed till September

4 days after stating that the Academy of Nation Music Awards would go on as deliberate in Las Vegas on April 5, producers reversed course and stated the annual telecast might be postponed till the autumn.

“The 55th Academy of Nation Music Awards scheduled to air reside on the CBS Tv Community on Sunday, April fifth from Las Vegas is postponed and might be rescheduled to air on CBS in September, at a date, time and venue to be decided,” the present’s producers stated in an announcement Sunday afternoon. “The well being and security of our artists, followers, trade, employees and companions is our primary precedence.”

The ACMs are some of the high-profile occasions within the nation music trade; the style’s different main televised trophy present, the Nation Music Affiliation Awards, airs in November. Keith City was just lately introduced because the host, and he and Miranda Lambert had been among the many first stars introduced as performers.

The postponement comes on the heels of a slew of nation singers delaying or canceling tour dates due to coronavirus issues, together with Lambert, Kenny Chesney, Chris Stapleton and Zac Brown Band. Spring festivals akin to Stagecoach and the C2C: Nation to Nation in Europe even have been postponed.

By: Emily Yahr

2:41 PM: Lengthy wait instances for coronavirus screenings at U.S. airports are ‘unacceptable,’ U.S. Customs and Border Safety says

Lengthy wait instances for screenings at U.S. worldwide arrivals terminals are “unacceptable,” U.S. Customs and Border Safety stated in an announcement Sunday as photos continued to flow into on social media of passengers queuing up for hours in shut quarters that might facilitate the unfold of the novel coronavirus.

The company attributed the delays to its “companions,” however it didn’t handle questions on staffing will increase on the 13 main U.S. airports which are the one locations the place flights from Europe can land.

“As we work collaboratively with federal, state, and native businesses to handle the unfold of COVID-19, a few of the assets of our companions are stretched skinny,” the assertion learn, referring to the illness attributable to the virus. “CBP frequently adjusts its assets, in actual time, as wanted and we’ll proceed to take action. We perceive the inconvenience to vacationers and be assured that our high precedence is to make sure the security, and safety of the American individuals whereas bolstering our financial safety with the facilitation of reliable commerce and journey.”

The assertion stated the company additionally needed to stability the elevated staffing wants with different priorities, together with nationwide safety, counternarcotics and outbound enforcement.

“With this nationwide emergency, there’ll sadly be instances of disruption and elevated processing instances for vacationers,” the company stated. “CBP is working across the clock to reduce these inconveniences.”

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot (D) later held a information convention at O’Hare to criticize federal officers’ dealing with of the scenario.

“Final evening, we noticed that security and safety was severely compromised and folks had been pressured into situations which are towards CDC tips and completely unacceptable,” she stated.

Lightfoot added that she fears the nation will quickly see extra “disasters like final evening which are solely the accountability of the federal authorities not listening.”

Learn extra here.

By: Nick Miroff and Hannah Natanson

2:37 PM: E.U. will impose export restrictions on protecting tools for medical employees

BRUSSELS – The European Union introduced Sunday that it was imposing export restrictions on protecting tools for medical employees, saying that E.U. corporations that produce masks, gloves and protecting clothes will want authorities permission to promote outdoors the 27-nation bloc.

The choice seemed to be a part of a compromise geared toward discouraging international locations from proscribing masks and different tools for themselves as different E.U. international locations face shortfalls. Italy, which is combatting the worst coronavirus disaster in Europe, has complained about Germany and France’s preliminary resolution to stockpile tools inside their borders. Berlin and Paris lifted the restrictions on Friday.

“We have to preserve within the E.U. the protecting tools that we’d like,” European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen stated Sunday. “That is the precise factor to do as a result of we’d like that tools for our health-care techniques.”

The restrictions, which can final for six weeks, could frustrate international locations outdoors Europe which are looking for high-quality European-made protecting tools in the course of the disaster. However with Europe’s industrial powerhouses already taking steps to limit the motion of the products, the sensible impact was unclear. Any potential exporter would want the signoff from the governments of all 27 E.U. international locations to go ahead with a sale.

The restrictions cowl protecting eye tools, face shields, masks, robes, fits and gloves.

The choice comes amid studies within the German media that the U.S. authorities sought unique entry to coronavirus analysis at the moment being carried out by a German medical analysis firm.

By Quentin Ariès

2:23 PM: Daniel Goldman, lead Home Democrats counsel throughout impeachment, assessments constructive for coronavirus

© Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Put up
Daniel Goldman solutions questions earlier than the Home Judiciary Committee throughout President Trump’s impeachment listening to on Dec. 9, 2019.

Daniel Goldman, the previous lead investigative counsel for the Home Intelligence Committee Democrats who turned a well-recognized face on TV in the course of the reside impeachment hearings, has examined constructive for the novel coronavirus.

Goldman left the committee earlier this month and returned to New York Metropolis. He tweeted Sunday that he’s “virtually again to 100 %.”

“I’m fortunate sufficient to not fall within the weak class and, for me, it was similar to the flu,” he tweeted.

Goldman, a former federal prosecutor, had been vocal on Twitter in latest days about an incapacity to get examined for the virus.

“Let’s be very clear,” he tweeted March 11, “until you might have pneumonia and traveled to considered one of 5 high-risk international locations just lately, you possibly can NOT get a #COVID19 check in New York Metropolis. For those who, like me, have a fever and a headache (however examined destructive for the flu), you’re unable to rule out #COVID19. Shameful.”

His Twitter feed was a real-time chronicle of his travails as he sought — in useless — to get examined for the virus.

On March 11, he tweeted that his major care physician stated he may have a check despatched to QuestDX, however it could not come again for at the least 4 days. On March 12, Goldman tweeted he was in a hospital emergency room awaiting one other flu check. Later that day, he tweeted that he examined destructive for all non-covid19 viruses and was informed to go dwelling.

On March 13, he tweeted that he awoke at 4:45 a.m. to drive to Stamford, Conn., for a curbside Covid19 check. He stated he was informed the outcomes won’t come again for 4 days. In the present day, he confirmed he had the virus.

“My issue in getting a check regardless of the precise signs and a neg flu check underscores how shockingly unprepared this administration is to take care of this pandemic,’’ he tweeted. “Actually, I used to be informed that NYC hospitals STILL wouldn’t check my spouse — with related signs — until admitted.”

He slammed President Trump’s response to the pandemic, accusing him of making an attempt “to gaslight the American public by repeatedly saying that everybody who wants a check can get one, however that was not true one month in the past …. and it’s not true at this time …”

Goldman’s former boss on the Hill, Home Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam B. Schiff (D-Calif.), stated in an announcement that “medical professionals consider that my former employees member doubtless contracted the virus after leaving the workplace” however that the workplace was nonetheless taking precautions.

Schiff additionally stated that even earlier than receiving the information, “out of an abundance of warning,” he had postponed district occasions and conferences and requested his employees to telecommute.

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By: Ellen Nakashima

2:23 PM: Rep. Devin Nunes urges People to ‘go to your native pub,’ defying well being consultants’ warnings

Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) on Sunday urged People to “go to a neighborhood restaurant” in the course of the coronavirus disaster, ignoring the recommendation of well being consultants and Trump administration officers who’ve warned the general public to remain dwelling as a lot as doable in an effort to sluggish the unfold of the virus.

“There’s quite a lot of issues with the economic system right here as a result of persons are scared to exit,” Nunes, a vocal Trump ally, stated on Fox News’s “Sunday Morning Futures.” “However I’ll simply say, one of many issues you are able to do for those who’re wholesome — you and your loved ones — it’s a good time to simply exit, go to a neighborhood restaurant. Seemingly you will get in simply.”

He added: “Let’s not damage the working individuals on this nation which are counting on wages and tricks to preserve their small enterprise going. So, don’t run to the grocery retailer and purchase, you recognize, $4,000 of meals. Go, you recognize, go to your native pub.”

Anthony S. Fauci, director of the Nationwide Institute of Allergy and Infectious Ailments, is amongst those that have stated that they personally are steering away from eating places and different crowded locations.

“Proper now, myself personally, I wouldn’t go to a restaurant,” Fauci stated on CBS Information’s “Face the Nation.” “I simply wouldn’t as a result of I don’t need to be in a crowded place. I’ve an necessary job to do. I don’t need to be in a scenario the place I’m going to be, abruptly, self-isolating for 14 days.”

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) prompted an online backlash Saturday when he tweeted a photograph of himself along with his youngsters at a crowded meals corridor in Oklahoma Metropolis. Stitt later deleted the tweet.

By: Felicia Sonmez

2:01 PM: Greater than 300 U.S. troopers quarantined at Fort Bragg after coming back from Afghanistan

© Andrew Craft/(The Fayetteville Observer/AP
Troopers stroll to the emergency division at Womack Military Medical Middle on Fort Bragg, N.C., on March 11, 2020.

Greater than 300 paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division went from their return flight from Afghanistan into 14-day quarantine at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, Stars and Stripes, the unbiased U.S. navy information service, reported, citing an announcement from the division.

“My No. 1 precedence is the safety of our Paratroopers, their households, our group, and the prevention of the unfold of the COVID-19,” Maj. Gen. James Mingus, the division’s commander, stated within the assertion. “We’re taking proactive steps to guard and stop unfold.”

The returning paratroopers had been recent off a nine-month rotation in Afghanistan as a part of a NATO mission, according to Army Times. Afghanistan has 11 confirmed instances of coronavirus, and it’s unclear what the nation’s testing capability is.

According to Radio Free Europe, officers in Afghanistan’s western border province of Herat had been bracing for brand new instances as 1000’s of individuals returned from neighboring Iran, which has the very best variety of reported instances outdoors of China and Italy.

No navy personnel at Fort Bragg have examined constructive for coronavirus, which causes the illness covid-19, officers have stated.

The paratroopers will serve out their quarantine at dwelling or might be quarantined at Fort Bragg in the event that they sometimes reside within the barracks, division spokesman Lt. Col. Mike Burns informed Military Occasions.

“We’re methods to seek out them leisure, web, phone providers, and stuff like that,” Burns stated. “We’re working with MWR, we’re going to get them a fitness center that they will go into and ensure they’ve DFAC entry.”

On Sunday, Deputy Protection Secretary David L. Norquist signed a memo that halts home journey for all service members. The ban, which takes impact Monday, will final till at the least Could 11, the division stated in an announcement. Exemptions embrace journey for medical functions, hardship, in addition to humanitarian and “mission important” journeys.

By: Kim Bellware

12:52 PM: Trump administration recommends solely ‘mission-critical’ journey for federal workers

The Trump administration is urging federal businesses to restrict workers’ journey, saying “solely mission-critical journey is really helpful right now” due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The directive issued Saturday by the White Home’s Workplace of Administration and Funds primarily applies to home journey as a result of federal employees fell below previous general restrictions on worldwide journey. Below the memo, particular person businesses are to find out whether or not journey is required for “mission-critical” causes.

They’re to contemplate components akin to whether or not the aim is to “carry out important duties associated to the safety of life and property,” to examine techniques or tools that “are integral to safety, security, or correct functioning of the mission,” for “actions important to nationwide safety” and whether or not the work could be “postponed, canceled or dealt with remotely.”

Businesses are also to contemplate “any well being and security steerage being given” by native well being authorities and the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention, together with whether or not the person workers fall inside CDC definitions of those at higher risk for critical problems if contaminated, together with older individuals and people with diabetes or coronary heart or lung illness.

Journey by any federal worker to or inside areas the place there may be group unfold of the coronavirus ought to be undertaken solely when there may be an pressing want, akin to to guard life and property, it provides.

The memo is the newest steerage on the coronavirus disaster from the federal authorities to its 2.1 million workers.

On March 3, the administration told businesses to “evaluation their journey insurance policies and start to cut back non-essential journey as acceptable.” Guidance released Friday inspired businesses in stronger phrases than earlier than to permit employees eligible to telework to begin doing so.

By: Eric Yoder

12:45 PM: New York governor urges Trump to make use of navy for coronavirus response as NYC comptroller requires metropolis shutdown

© John Minchillo/AP
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo speaks throughout a information convention at a coronavirus an infection testing facility in New Rochelle, N.Y., on March 13.

New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo is urging President Trump to activate the Military Corps of Engineers to organize emergency medical services in response to the coronavirus outbreak on the similar time leaders in New York Metropolis are calling for a citywide shutdown.

Cuomo (D) addressed the president in an op-ed in Sunday’s New York Times by which he additional urged Trump to let states take over testing sufferers slightly than route assessments by means of federal forms. He additionally known as on the president to coordinate nationwide college, work and enterprise closures earlier than the state and native health-care techniques are overwhelmed and — like Italy — forced to ration care.

“We consider the usage of energetic responsibility Military Corps personnel wouldn’t violate federal legislation as a result of this can be a nationwide catastrophe,” Cuomo wrote. “Doing so nonetheless received’t present sufficient intensive care beds, however it’s our greatest hope.”

Pointing to the patchwork of present insurance policies as state and native officers consider the outbreak otherwise, Cuomo known as for “a uniform federal customary for when cities and states ought to shut down commerce and colleges, or cancel occasions.”

Cuomo has repeatedly complained that federal entities just like the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention have hamstrung his state’s capacity to get forward of the fast-growing outbreak — notably due to the requirement that presumptive constructive samples be confirmed by the CDC in Atlanta slightly than by state labs.

With at the least 613 confirmed instances, New York has nearly eclipsed Washington state within the variety of sufferers who’ve examined constructive (although its loss of life toll stays at two in contrast with Washington’s 40).

New York Metropolis has accounted for practically half of the state’s whole confirmed instances, and calls from native leaders to shut down colleges and enact a citywide shutdown are mounting.

On Sunday, Comptroller Scott M. Stringer and Metropolis Council Speaker Corey Johnson known as for extra restrictions within the metropolis.

Singer (D) pressured officials to enact an entire metropolis shutdown, together with colleges, exempting solely important providers.

“We can’t go on with enterprise as traditional,” he wrote.

Johnson (D) known as for all nonessential providers to shut, together with desk service at bars and eating places.

He outlined all his proposals on this Twitter thread:

By: Kim Bellware and Katie Mettler

12:18 PM: Governor of Puerto Rico orders islandwide curfew to curb virus unfold

© Thais Lorca/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock
Gov. Wanda Vázquez Garced speaks throughout a information convention in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on March 13, 2020.

Gov. Wanda Vázquez Garced ordered a nationwide curfew that can begin Sunday evening in an effort to forestall the unfold of the coronavirus on the island, native shops reported.

The curfew will final from 9 p.m. till 5 a.m., beginning Sunday and ending March 30, El Vocero de Puerto Rico reported.

“All residents should stay of their houses and, on this approach, contribute to stopping the unfold of this virus. That’s everybody’s accountability,” Vázquez Garced stated, in accordance with El Nuevo Día.

The governor additionally introduced the island refused to dock 4 cruise ships and ordered all nonessential companies shut down as of 6 p.m. Sunday, in accordance with the outlet.

“This closing order applies to purchasing malls, cinemas, live performance halls, theaters, gyms, recreation rooms, casinos, stipend companies for alcoholic drinks,” Vázquez Garced stated in a information convention.

Puerto Ricans won’t be allowed on public roads below the curfew, El Nuevo Día reported. Folks with approved work causes and people with emergencies might be exempt, in accordance with El Vocero de PR.

The curfew comes only days after the governor declared a nationwide emergency that entails assigning Nationwide Guard medical models to all Puerto Rican airports to guage new arrivals on the island.

The U.S. territory confirmed its fourth constructive coronavirus case on Saturday, in accordance with Noticentro WAPA-TV. The newest case is an 87-year-old California man who was on a cruise ship that moved by means of the Mona Passage, the station reported.

There are about 17 extra suspected instances in Puerto Rico, El Nuevo Día reported.

By: Lateshia Beachum

11:29 AM: Spain studies 2,000 new coronavirus instances; loss of life toll doubles

© Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/AFP/Getty Photos
A girl in a protecting masks and gloves walks previous graffiti that reads, from left, “To be, to remain and to final,” “Covid19: Authorities Weapon” and “Paranoia” in Madrid on March 15, 2020.

Spanish well being authorities reported 2,000 new coronavirus instances in 24 hours on Sunday, because the quantity of people that have died of the virus greater than doubled.

The loss of life toll climbed to 288 on Sunday, up from 136 a day earlier. A complete of seven,753 individuals have examined constructive.

Spain has emerged as a brand new coronavirus sizzling spot in latest days, with the nation the second hardest hit in Europe after Italy. On Saturday, the federal government adopted Italy in introducing a national lockdown, with individuals permitted to go away their houses just for important causes, akin to work, to purchase meals or to go to medical appointments.

Streets and city squares nationwide had been abandoned Sunday morning because the measures took impact. Police patrols urged these out to go dwelling. Digital billboards alongside the highways learn: Coronavirus: Keep House. Some church buildings supplied live-streaming of Sunday Lots.

By: Loveday Morris

10:32 AM: Mnuchin says U.S. shouldn’t be in a recession, though slowdown is inevitable

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin stated Sunday that he doesn’t consider america is in a recession, though “we’re clearly going to have a slowdown.”

“I believe the true difficulty shouldn’t be the financial scenario at this time,” Mnuchin stated on ABC Information’s “This Week.” “The actual difficulty is what financial instruments are we going to make use of to verify we get by means of this. As a result of this can be a distinctive scenario; we’ve a scenario the place journey has been grinding to a halt. We’re clearly going to have a slowdown. … And later within the 12 months, clearly, the financial exercise will decide up as we confront this virus.”

He made related feedback throughout an look on “Fox Information Sunday.”

“If the medical professionals are right and we’re doing all of the issues, I anticipate we’ll have a giant rebound later within the 12 months,” Mnuchin stated. He added that “some companies” are “booming” whereas others are struggling.

“I imply, you take a look at the shops and people who find themselves shopping for sure client merchandise,” he stated. “What we’ve seen from the bank card information is journey is down extraordinary. Virtually corresponding is a rise in purchases of meals, pharmacy items and provides.”

Mnuchin additionally denied that Trump misspoke a number of instances throughout his Oval Workplace handle final week and as a substitute stated that folks had “misinterpreted” the president’s feedback.

“I don’t assume he obtained issues incorrect in any respect. … We had been very clear that folks misinterpreted the feedback on cargo, and we instantly put out an announcement to make clear that,” Mnuchin stated on ABC Information. “So, the president stated that is much like China, and China cargo shouldn’t be banned.”

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By: Felicia Sonmez and Tory Newmyer

9:58 AM: Fauci says home journey restrictions ‘haven’t been severely mentioned’

© Jabin Botsford/The Washington Put up
Anthony S. Fauci, director of the Nationwide Institute of Allergy and Infectious Ailments, and different members of the coronavirus activity pressure give an replace on the White Home on March 10, 2020.

Anthony S. Fauci, director of the Nationwide Institute of Allergy and Infectious Ailments, stated Sunday that the Trump administration shouldn’t be contemplating imposing home journey restrictions in the mean time because the coronavirus disaster intensifies.

“Journey restrictions throughout the nation haven’t been severely mentioned,” Fauci stated on ABC Information’s “This Week.”

“I imply, they’ve been mentioned, however not severely mentioned,” he stated. “I don’t see that proper now or within the rapid future. However keep in mind, we’re very open-minded about no matter it takes to protect the well being of the American public.”

Amid the closings of faculties, companies and establishments throughout the nation, Fauci stated, “it’s going to be a matter of, you recognize, a number of weeks to some months” till the disaster abates. He added that it’s “doable” that China — which has taken vital steps to restrict the home unfold of the virus — may even see a “second blip” as soon as individuals resume regular life.

Fauci spoke on “Fox Information Sunday” about Europe’s efforts to include the virus, explaining that international locations there are battling an “escalation part” that’s forcing them into “enjoying catch-up.”

“We really feel that with slightly stringent mitigation and containment, with out essentially full lockdown, we’ll have the ability to forestall ourselves from attending to the place, sadly, Italy is now,” he stated.

Fauci defended the Trump administration’s dealing with of the disaster, noting that he’s “completely” assured that it’s doing all it may possibly. When individuals say that the federal government is “overreacting,” he added, that may be a good signal.

“For those who assume you’re in keeping with the outbreak, you’re already three weeks behind. So that you’ve obtained to be virtually overreacting a bit to maintain up with it,” he stated.

Throughout his ABC Information look, Fauci weighed in on studies that the nation has solely 13,000 respirators, acknowledging it “might not be sufficient if we’ve a scenario the place we actually have quite a lot of instances.”

“Folks want to grasp that issues will worsen earlier than they get higher,” he stated. “What we’re making an attempt to do is to verify they don’t get to the worst-case state of affairs. That’s what we have to do.”

On “Fox Information Sunday,” Fauci stated {that a} “worst-case state of affairs” may result in the well being system changing into “overwhelmed.”

“Are we going to have a worst-case state of affairs?” he stated. “I don’t assume so, I hope not.”

On CNN’s “State of the Union,” Fauci additionally urged vacationers returning to america from Europe to not rush again .

“Sadly, that’s not what we wish to see, however human nature is human nature,” he stated, responding to photographs of vacationers coming back from Europe massed at an airport, with thick strains of individuals snaking up stairways. “You don’t have to get again proper now. You possibly can tempo getting again.”

If the federal government can scale back crowding by rationing how People can return dwelling, it ought to, Fauci stated.

By: Felicia Sonmez, Tory Newmyer and Darryl Fears

9:42 AM: Iraqi president requests nationwide state of emergency

Iraq’s president stated Sunday that he was requesting a nationwide state of emergency to take care of the unfold of the novel coronavirus.

A press release from Barham Salih’s workplace stated that he and the prime minister had communicated his needs to the nation’s parliamentary speaker and requested that any state of emergency be carried out for 30 days. It should now be put to a parliamentary vote and would require a two-thirds majority.

Based on official figures, Iraq has 110 recognized instances and 9 fatalities. Docs say they consider the true toll could also be considerably greater.

Whereas the precise situations of Salih’s request had been unclear, they might doubtless contain the closure of provincial borders and require residents to keep away from public areas by staying dwelling, as has been carried out in some localized areas because the disaster started. They might additionally mark the loss of life knell for what stays of Iraq’s standard protest motion, camped out throughout public squares in Baghdad and southern cities.

At the very least 600 protesters have been killed by riot police and militias because the anti-establishment demonstrations started in October. For many who stay, abandoning the camps is seen as giving up on pressuring Iraq’s authorities into early elections and into making much-needed reforms. The nation’s well being system has been hard-hit by endemic corruption and cycles of conflict and violence, leaving it ill-equipped to deal with any vital outbreak of the virus.

However different demonstrators see their battle to maintain the protest camps alive as extra existential. A gentle stream of activists have been kidnapped or assassinated on journeys out to their wider cities. “They’re simply ready for us to go away, after which they’ll pounce,” stated one man, talking on the situation of anonymity out of fears for his security. “Now coronavirus gave them the right excuse.”

Individually on Sunday, the inside ministry of Iraq’s Kurdish area stated it could even be extending its personal curfew for one more 72 hours in an try to halt the virus’s unfold.

By: Loveday Morris

9:38 AM: Public viewers canceled for Pope Francis’s Holy Week providers

© Vatican Media/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock
Pope Francis celebrated the Angelus prayer on the Vatican on March 15, 2020, with out an viewers due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Pope Francis will lead providers for Holy Week subsequent month earlier than a largely digital viewers slightly than the tens of 1000’s who sometimes pack Vatican Metropolis as public participation within the Easter occasions has been canceled due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The pope, who’s 83, has not had a public viewers at his providers for per week. They received’t resume till at the least after Easter Sunday, on April 12. Within the meantime, he’ll proceed to live-stream sure providers or worshipers can take heed to his audio addresses.

“On this scenario of pandemic, by which we discover ourselves residing roughly remoted, we’re invited to rediscover and deepen the worth of the Communion that unites all of the members of the church,” the pope stated after Sunday’s Angelus prayer.

Exterior Vatican Metropolis, Italy has been in lockdown for per week because it suffers the worst of the coronavirus outbreak in Europe with more than 21,157 reported cases and at least 1,441 deaths. Public life has floor to a halt and Lots have been canceled, although church buildings stay open for particular person prayer.

The coronavirus outbreak has had a putting impact on worshipers from all religions as social-distancing efforts and government-mandated suspensions of enormous gatherings pressure temples, church buildings and mosques to cancel providers or briefly shutter.

The Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa Mosque, the third-holiest web site in Islam, have been closed to worshipers over coronavirus issues, representatives of the Waqf, the Islamic non secular belief that manages the Jerusalem web site, stated Sunday.

Prayer providers at mosques in Israel and the Palestinian territories had been restricted to 10 minutes however nonetheless drew about 5,000 worshipers Friday, The Washington Put up reported.

Sarah Bartel, a Catholic worshiper in Seattle, beforehand informed The Put up that not with the ability to attend Mass created a “a way of deprivation.”

Ruth Eglash contributed to this report.

By: Kim Bellware

9:28 AM: Nationwide Institutes of Well being studies first coronavirus case in worker

An worker on the Nationwide Institutes of Well being has examined constructive for the novel coronavirus, NIH Director Francis Collins wrote Sunday morning in an electronic mail to employees members.

The person works for the Nationwide Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Pores and skin Ailments “away from sufferers” on an higher flooring of the division’s constructing in Montgomery County, Md., Collins wrote within the electronic mail, which was obtained by The Washington Put up.

As soon as the worker started feeling sick, that particular person stayed dwelling, known as the NIH Occupational Medical Service and was examined.

Officers are working to establish different NIH staffers who had contact with the contaminated worker. These staffers might be screened and requested to self-quarantine at dwelling.

“Whereas that is an unlucky growth, it’s not stunning, and we anticipate that there doubtless might be extra instances of an infection,” Collins wrote within the electronic mail. “I felt it was necessary to let all NIH employees know of the primary case.”

The NIH is without doubt one of the federal businesses that has been main the response to the outbreak. The virus has unfold quickly throughout the nation in latest weeks.

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By: Rebecca Tan

8:11 AM: Manila’s ‘group quarantine’ confounds residents

© Str/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock
Filipino troopers wait to be deployed at checkpoints amid a coronavirus emergency lockdown, in Valenzuela, south of Manila, March 15, 2020.

MANILA — Sooner or later into Manila’s “group quarantine,” which some have known as a lockdown, some checkpoints weren’t arrange, individuals had been nonetheless crammed collectively on public transport, and the general public was nonetheless confused over the federal government’s new guidelines.

Journey out and in of the Philippine capital is restricted from Sunday by means of April 14 in an effort to forestall the unfold of the coronavirus. On Saturday, authorities officers introduced a curfew can be carried out in the identical timeframe — solely to retreat on it within the absence of native ordinances enabling the measure.

Critics of President Rodrigo Duterte say his order to intensify navy and police presence is at finest poorly deliberate and at worst probably abusive.

As of Sunday, solely a handful of the 16 cities within the area approved curfew, which is supposed to run from Eight p.m. to five a.m. On the bottom, implementation of the principles was inconsistent throughout Metro Manila.

At one checkpoint in Marikina Metropolis, police labored with native authorities employees who supplied tools like thermal scanners, masks, gloves, and hairnets. Not all police wore them, and never all employees had been well being professionals.

In distinction, Valenzuela Metropolis Mayor Rex Gatchalian stated police despatched away metropolis authorities employees.

“They pulled out our employees who had been imagined to do thermal checks,” he tweeted. “They wished a distinct setup. Final minute they modified it.”

At one checkpoint there, troopers didn’t carry thermal scanners after they “had been damaged because of the quantity of individuals.”

A drive across the metropolis confirmed jeepneys (brightly coloured buses) had been packed and passengers weren’t spaced a seat aside, opposite to directions from transport authorities. Metro Manila is a densely inhabited area of 12 million, with a few of the worst site visitors on this planet.

The Philippines has recorded 140 instances of covid-19 and 11 deaths.

By: Regine Cabato

7:27 AM: Britain asks its producers to provide ventilators, plans to isolate aged

© Chris Helgren/Reuters
Gauges to manage oxygen on a ventilator at a lab run by the College Well being Community in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in 2019. (REUTERS/Chris Helgren)

Britain is requesting factories to modify their manufacturing strains to make ventilators to plug the hole as coronavirus instances rise.

The nation solely has 5,000 ventilators, Well being Secretary Matt Hancock informed Sky Information, including Britain wants “many extra instances that.”

He stated the federal government is working to coach extra individuals within the Nationwide Well being Service to function them.

“Proper the world over, the demand for them is extremely excessive so it’s not doable to provide too many,” he stated. “Anybody who can ought to flip their manufacturing and engineering minds over to the manufacturing of ventilators.”

Requested about studies that Britons over the age of 70 might be requested to self-isolate for as much as 4 months, Hancock stated that’s a part of the Britain’s “motion plan,” and the coverage might be put in place “within the coming weeks.”

“We completely recognize this can be a very huge ask of the aged and weak,” he stated.

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By: Loveday Morris

7:07 AM: Iran provides greater than 1,200 instances as well being system approaches breaking level

© Vahid Salemi/AP
Firefighters disinfect a road towards the brand new coronavirus, in western Tehran, Friday, March 13, 2020.

Iran stated Sunday that the nation’s coronavirus loss of life toll had reached 724 as a number one official steered that the nation’s well being system was reaching its breaking level.

“Up to now 24 hours, 1,209 new instances have been confirmed … with 113 deaths prior to now 24 hours, the loss of life toll has reached 724,” Alireza Vahabzadeh, an adviser to Iran’s well being minister, tweeted.

Iran is battling one of many world’s worst outbreaks outdoors China, with practically 13,000 confirmed instances. “If the pattern continues, there won’t be sufficient capability,” warned Ali Reza Zali, the Iranian official main the nation’s covid-19 response, in accordance with the state-run IRNA information company.