Previous coronavirus daily briefing updates, March 21-22
Published Mar 24, 2020 2:49 PM EDT
Current daily briefings on the coronavirus can be found here. Scroll below to read previous reports, listed in eastern time.
As the coronavirus pandemic has worsened, the entertainment industry has been upended along with most every other facet of life. This week, the annual Cannes Film Festival in France was postponed from mid-May to late June, Variety reported. And movie release dates are being scrapped, too. Universal announced Minions: The Rise of Gru will no longer hit theaters on June 3 -- the studio's third major movie to be derailed by the pandemic. Post-production was being done in France, which has been hard hit by COVID-19 and is under lockdown, and the movie couldn't be completed in time for its release, producers said, according to Variety.
The federal government has declared a major disaster in Washington state at the request of Gov. Jay Inslee. Inslee said this will allow his state to access crisis counseling and emergency protective measures. He further stated that he is continuing to speak with federal officials to expand assistance, such as unemployment benefits for those impacted by COVID-19.
Three more Republican senators have gone into self-quarantine after coming into close or direct contact with Republican Sen. Rand Paul prior to him testing positive for COVID-19. Sen. Mike Lee of Utah, Cory Gardner of Colorado and Rick Scott of Florida have all gone into self-quarantine, CNN reported. A stimulus bill proposed to aid the economy was voted on Sunday evening, according to CNBC. It did not receive enough votes to pass. The senators in quarantine were not present to vote.
Delaware Gov. John Carney issued a stay-at-home order for the state on Sunday that will order non-essential businesses to close and residents to stay in their homes whenever possible. The order will go into effect at 8 a.m. on Tuesday and remain in place until May 15, or “until the public health threat is eliminated.” According to Johns Hopkins University, Delaware has confirmed 47 cases of COVID-19 as of Sunday.
Republican Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah announced he is self-quarantining and will be tested for COVID-19 after sitting next to Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, who has tested positive for the virus, for an extended period of time. He said he does not have any symptoms, but due to his quarantine will not be able to vote on the Senate floor. “He urges members to pass a relief package as quickly as possible that provides assistance for families, workers and small businesses,” a statement from his office said.
One in 10 of Italy’s COVID-19 cases are healthcare workers. Italy’s National Health Institute (ISS) reported on Sunday that 4,826 healthcare workers have been infected with the virus, meaning 9% of the nation's cases are healthcare workers. Since March 11, 18 Italian doctors have died from COVID-19.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez declared a 30-day restriction of non-essential flights on Sunday. The restrictions take effect at midnight on Monday and will not apply to European Union residents, CNN reported. Spain is currently the fourth-most infected country in the world, with 28,603 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 1,756 deaths related to the virus.
People wait their turn for a blood sample in a hallway of a hospital in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, March 18, 2020. Spain will mobilize 200 billion euros or the equivalent to one fifth of the country's annual output in loans, credit guarantees and subsidies for workers and vulnerable citizens, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced Tuesday. For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms. For some, it can cause more severe illness, especially in older adults and people with existing health problems. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
(AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards joined the growing number of state governors issuing “stay-at-home” orders on Sunday. The order will go into effect at 5 p.m. on Monday. Edwards said under the order, people are still able to go to the grocery store, go to medical appointments, get take-out, delivery or drive-thru food, care for family or friends and go outside.
Under the order, people will not be permitted to go to work that doesn’t involve an essential service, visit family or friends if it is not urgent, gather in groups larger than 10 and visit anyone in the hospital or other care facilities. People should remain six feet apart when in public.
At a press conference on Sunday, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine issued a “stay-at-home” order, which will require all residents to stay in their homes, unless for essential activities, until at least April 6, CNN reported. The order will go into effect at midnight on Monday. Ohio has confirmed 250 COVID-19 cases as of Sunday, according to Johns Hopkins University. The state has recorded three deaths related to the virus.
U.S. COVID-19 cases topped 30,000 on Sunday afternoon, reaching 31,057, according to Johns Hopkins University. Of those cases, 50% come from New York state. The U.S. death toll has now reached 390, with most deaths now coming from New York state, which has confirmed 114 deaths related to the virus. Previously, Washington state held the most COVID-19-related deaths.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is now in quarantine after receiving a vaccine from a doctor on Friday who tested positive for COVID-19. Steffen Seibert, a spokesman for the chancellor, said Merkel is now working from home and will undergo “regular tests” in the coming days, The Associated Press reported. The news came after Germany instituted more restrictive social distancing practices, which include banning groups of more than two people from gathering.
Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky has tested positive for COVID-19. According to his Twitter account, he is in quarantine, asymptomatic and “feeling fine.” Although he was unaware he came in contact with an infected person, he was tested due to recent travel. His office began operating remotely 10 days ago, so no members of his staff have come in contact with him recently.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee issued an executive order on Sunday that will limit gatherings of 10 or more people and businesses beginning at midnight on Monday and ending at midnight on April 6. Restaurants may continue to serve food and alcohol as takeout or drive-thru only. Lee encourages businesses to “utilize alternative business models” during this time, such as gyms offering digital programs rather than in-person. Tennessee currently has 371 confirmed COVID-19 cases and one death related to the virus so far in the state, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Hawaii Gov. David Ige issued a supplemental emergency proclamation on Saturday ordering "all individuals, both residents and visitors, arriving or returning to the State of Hawaiʻi to a mandatory 14-day self-quarantine." Hawaii has 48 confirmed cases of COVID-19.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo called on the federal government on Sunday to nationalize the medical supply by using the Defense Protection Act to order companies to make necessary medical supplies like gowns, masks and gloves. Cuomo said states are currently competing for supplies. Cuomo asked all hospitals in New York state to increase their capacity by 100% in order to help curb the spread of COVID-19. All hospitals are ordered to at least increase their capacity by 50%. Cuomo also asked the Army Corps of Engineers to create four temporary hospitals, “immediately,” and to build four FEMA field hospitals with 250 beds each. “This is not life as usual. There is a density level in NYC that is destructive. It has to stop and it has to stop now,”Cuomo said.
A cyclist rides his bicycle down the middle of a main road in downtown New York, on Sunday, March 22, 2020. New York City's mayor prepared Sunday to order his city behind closed doors in an attempt to slow a pandemic that has swept across the globe and threatened to make the city of 8.5 million one of the world's biggest coronavirus hot spots. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)
Firefighters and health officials around the Indonesian capital of Jakarta have blasted mass amounts of disinfectant to help mitigate the spread of the virus. The country joined a growing list of cities and nations worldwide when it issued a state of emergency declaration on Friday, Bloomberg reported. Indonesia has 450 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 38 fatalities blamed on the disease.
Firemen spray disinfectant in an effort to curb the spread of coronavirus outbreak at the main business district, in Jakarta, Indonesia, Sunday, March 22, 2020. The vast majority of people recover from the new coronavirus. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
From coast-to-coast, many major cities have been turned into ghost towns across the U.S. as millions of Americans remain confined to their homes. From the normally hopping nightlife of Bourbon Street to the slow crawl of cars on the 101 Freeway in Los Angeles, life in the U.S. has been dramatically altered due to the spread of COVID-19. Video captured by webcams in some of the world's busiest places paints an eerie portrait of life in the age of the coronavirus. The spring break hotspot of St. Pete Beach, Florida, typically jam-packed with tourists flocking to its white beaches, also now sits devoid of activity.
101 freeway is near-empty along the downtown district Friday, March 20, 2020, in Los Angeles. California Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered the state's 40 million residents to stay at home indefinitely. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Since we can't have March Madness this year -- the first time in 80 years the NCAA Tournament hasn't been played -- CBS Sports is giving everyone a little throwback Madness. The network is streaming a bunch of classic games online and airing several on television. The throwback games culminate on Monday, March 30, during the overnight hours. Click here to see the full schedule.
Officials in New York, the epicenter of the outbreak in the U.S., gave an aerial view of a drive-thru testing center in Staten Island. Cases in the Empire State have skyrocketed to more than 12,000 in recent days, particularly in New York City, as testing has been significantly ramped up. The weather in the New York area has been generally nice in recent days, but parts of the region could see a little snow Sunday night into Monday as a storm approaches. New York City will escape the snow, but will see a dose of raw, rainy weather before temperatures moderate a little this week, the AccuWeather forecast shows.
Residents in Staten Island, New York, line up on Saturday, March, 21, 2020 at a COVID-19 drive-thru testing site. (Twitter / New York State Dept. of Environment Conservation)
There have been no new cases of confirmed infections in China's Hubei province since March 17, according to the country's National Health Commission. The COVID-19 outbreak originated in the province, and particularly the city of Wuhan, in late 2019. Through the duration of the outbreak, the commission has received 81,054 reports of confirmed cases and 3,261 deaths in 31 provincial-level regions on the Chinese mainland. China is now second behind Italy in confirmed fatalities. Italy's death toll is nearing 5,000, according to Johns Hopkins University data.
Australia goes on lockdown as autumn begins, COVID-19 cases escalate. Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that bars, restaurants, churches and sports venues are all closing on Monday, and he told Australians to limit travel to only what is "essential," Australia's ABC News reported. He warned that the outbreak is "deadly serious" and said "far more draconian measures" to control the spread of the illness could be on the way.
Australia entered fall this week, so days there are becoming shorter, with less sunlight. Most of Australia's 1,071 COVID-19 cases are concentrated in big cities. Sydney, on the east coast, has seen 436 cases, Melbourne, on the southern coast reported 229 cases, Brisbane, north of Sydney on the east coast, has seen 221 cases and Perth, on the west coast, has 90 cases. Sydney saw temperatures soar into the 90s, well above average in recent days, but, according to the AccuWeather forecast is about to enter a stretch in which temperatures will be below average. Some researchers say there's a correlation between warmer weather, higher humidity and a slower spread of the disease.
Pressure is mounting on Olympic officials to postpone the 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo. On Friday the U.S. Track and Field team, as well USA Swimming, issued letters to the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee CEO, Sarah Hirshland, advocating for the postponement of the games due to the worsening spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. "As the global pandemic has grown, we have watched our athletes' worlds be turned upside down and watched them struggle to find ways to prepare and train-- many for the biggest competitive opportunity of their lives," USA Swimming CEO Tim Hinchey III said.
Vice President Mike Pence and Second Lady Karen Pence tested negative for COVID-19, the VP's press secretary announced Saturday evening. Earlier in the day, Pence said the two would undergo testing for the illness after an employee in his office tested positive for COVID-19. He said neither he nor President Trump had come in contact with the worker, NPR reported, and that the symptoms being experienced were "mild, cold-like symptoms.”
The death toll and confirmed cases continued to soar overnight. In Italy the outbreak worsened as officials there reported a single-day high for fatalities, nearly 800, and a record daily surge in cases, which pushed the country over the 53,000 mark, according to The Associated Press. "We are facing the most serious crisis that the country has experienced since World War II," Premier Giuseppe Conte told Italians during a live TV address at midnight. He also tightened the lockdown in place there. Here are the lasted numbers on COVID-19, provided by Johns Hopkins University researchers:
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Global count of confirmed cases: 307,341
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Global death toll: 13,049
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Global recoveries: 92,383
The U.S surpassed Spain in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases, making it the third most infected country in the world, following Italy and China. In just one day, the U.S. has jumped from sixth most-infected to third. According to Johns Hopkins University, there are currently 25,493 confirmed cases in the U.S., with 307 deaths and 171 recovered.
Lawmakers are preparing to vote on Monday regarding a stimulus package for the economy that could end up costing over $1 trillion. The stimulus package is in response to the struggles the economy has faced amid the COVID-19 pandemic. On Saturday, President Donald Trump told reporters "we are getting close” to reaching an agreement on a proposal, CNN reported.
In response to COVID-19 halting classrooms around the world, many education companies are working on initiatives and free programs to keep children learning while they are home. Khan Academy has created recommended schedules for school-aged children based on their ages, with links to age appropriate lessons. Additionally, Scholastic has created two weeks of lessons for children from pre-k to ninth grade, along with a “daily reading quest.”
National Geographic offers instructions on science experiments kids can do at home. BBC has created “bite-sized” lessons for children between the ages of 3-16 that are designed specifically to meet the needs of students in various parts of the U.K. The lessons focus on anything from art, languages, math, geography, computers and more.
Global confirmed COVID-19 cases surpassed 300,000 on Saturday evening, reaching 303,001. According to Johns Hopkins University, the global death toll has now reached 12,762, with recovered cases reaching 91,564. Italy has the highest death toll of any nation with 4,825. China has the highest case count at 81,304, however, 71,857 of those cases have recovered.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a COVID-19 test that could detect a positive case in 45 minutes on Friday, CNN reported. It is the first rapid diagnostic test approved by the FDA and will begin shipping out next week.
“Reading about it in the news, I knew it was going to be bad,” an unnamed doctor in New Orleans told ProPublica on Thursday. “But we deal with the flu every year so I was thinking: Well, it’s probably not that much worse than the flu. But seeing my patients with COVID-19 completely changed my perspective, and it’s a lot more frightening.”
He stressed that people who were under 60 years of age and "perfectly fit, healthy people," were also being hit hard by the virus. Chest radiographs show the severity how the virus can affect someone's lungs. The images show what should normally be clear lungs to be clouded to the point of being “more typical of someone who has a near drowning experience.”
The U.S. surpassed Iran and Germany in total confirmed COVID-19 cases on Saturday afternoon, making it the nation with fourth-most infections: 22,177 confirmed cases. China still remains the most-infected nation with 81,304 confirmed cases, while Italy ranks second with 53,578, which are growing rapidly. Spain ranks third with 25,374 confirmed cases, followed by Germany with 21,828 and Iran with 20,610. The U.S. currently has 278 COVID-19 related deaths.
New Jersey State Gov. Phil Murphy signed an executive order Saturday mandating state residents to stay at home. Murphy said all gatherings are canceled, and all non-essential retail stores must “indefinitely” close by 9:00 p.m. Saturday. On Twitter, Murphy listed the following businesses as being essential and allowed to remain open:
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Grocery stores
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Food banks
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Pharmacies
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Medical supply stores
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Gas stations
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Banks
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Pet supply stores
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Take-out and delivery from restaurants and bars
According to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, 55% of COVID-19 cases in the state are patients between the ages of 18 and 49. Pew Research considers people born from 1981 to 1996 (ages 23 to 38 in 2019) to be considered a millennial and anyone born in 1997 through 2010 as Generation Z. Cuomo warned young people on Twitter of the dangers of the virus, telling them “you are not invincible,” and reminding them that they can pass the virus on to older family members as well. “You shouldn’t endanger your own health and you certainly shouldn't endanger other people's health,” Cuomo said.
Patricio Francisco, a construction worker, wears protective gear and a face mask as he takes a break from work in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, on Friday, March 20, 2020. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is ordering all workers in non-essential businesses to stay home and banning gatherings statewide. Nonessential gatherings of individuals of any size or for any reason are canceled or postponed. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo claimed on Friday that the state of New York is doing more coronavirus tests per capita than China and South Korea, and more tests than any other state.
"So we know the numbers will go up. But that's a good thing – we are identifying positive cases," Cuomo said.
The New York State government will also be sending 1 million N95 masks to New York City and another half-million to Long Island, according to Cuomo. In addition, the state is purchasing another 6,000 ventilators and determining which sites for the Army Corps of Engineers to build new beds.
With the closing of schools also came the canceling of school musicals amid the coronavirus outbreak. In response, Broadway actress Laura Benanti made a post on Twitter calling for students to share the songs they were supposed to sing for their canceled high school musicals while using #SunshineSongs.
“I know for so many of us, I know for me my high school musical was like a lifesaver,” Benanti said. “So, if you would like to sing a song that you are not going to get to sing now and tag me, I want to see you. I want to hear it.”
The European Commission announced on Saturday that it had approved of three French state aid plans to support the French economy as the coronavirus threatens to take its toll on businesses and banks, according to Reuters. The plans would mobilize 300 billion euros ($3.2 billion) to support affected companies.
Researchers at Columbia University estimate even if the U.S. was able to cut the rate of COVID-19 transmission in half, some 650,000 people might become infected within the next two months, The New York Times reported.The estimate was built off of a New York Times database of known cases and Census Bureau transportation data. Researchers told The New York Times that the growth in cases is driven by Americans with mild symptoms who are unknowingly carrying the virus. They estimate that the number of undetected cases are about 11 times more than have been officially reported in the U.S., and reflects how far the U.S. is behind in testing.
A flier urging customers to remain home hangs at a turnstile as an MTA employee sanitizes surfaces at a subway station with bleach solutions due to COVID-19 concerns, Friday, March 20, 2020, in New York. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is ordering all workers in non-essential businesses to stay home and banning gatherings statewide. "Only essential businesses can have workers commuting to the job or on the job," Cuomo said of an executive order he will sign Friday. Nonessential gatherings of individuals of any size or for any reason are canceled or postponed. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
“We’re looking at something that’s catastrophic on a level that we have not seen for an infectious disease since 1918,” professor of environmental health sciences at Columbia University Jeffery Shaman told the New York Times. Shaman is the leader of the research team. “And it’s requiring sacrifices we haven’t seen since World War II. There are going to be enormous disruptions. There’s no easy way out.”
The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office warned local residents on Thursday that people have been dressing in lab coats, masks and gloves and showing up at people’s homes saying they are with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Department of Health and need to test for COVID-19. The County Sheriff’s Office said this is a “scam,” and no authorities will show up to any home unannounced to perform testing. They ask anyone who has experienced this to call 561-688-3400.
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News / Health
Previous coronavirus daily briefing updates, March 21-22
Published Mar 24, 2020 2:49 PM EDT
Current daily briefings on the coronavirus can be found here. Scroll below to read previous reports, listed in eastern time.
March 22, 7:46 p.m.
As the coronavirus pandemic has worsened, the entertainment industry has been upended along with most every other facet of life. This week, the annual Cannes Film Festival in France was postponed from mid-May to late June, Variety reported. And movie release dates are being scrapped, too. Universal announced Minions: The Rise of Gru will no longer hit theaters on June 3 -- the studio's third major movie to be derailed by the pandemic. Post-production was being done in France, which has been hard hit by COVID-19 and is under lockdown, and the movie couldn't be completed in time for its release, producers said, according to Variety.
March 22, 7:17 p.m.
The federal government has declared a major disaster in Washington state at the request of Gov. Jay Inslee. Inslee said this will allow his state to access crisis counseling and emergency protective measures. He further stated that he is continuing to speak with federal officials to expand assistance, such as unemployment benefits for those impacted by COVID-19.
March 22, 6:50 p.m.
Three more Republican senators have gone into self-quarantine after coming into close or direct contact with Republican Sen. Rand Paul prior to him testing positive for COVID-19. Sen. Mike Lee of Utah, Cory Gardner of Colorado and Rick Scott of Florida have all gone into self-quarantine, CNN reported. A stimulus bill proposed to aid the economy was voted on Sunday evening, according to CNBC. It did not receive enough votes to pass. The senators in quarantine were not present to vote.
March 22, 6:12 p.m.
Delaware Gov. John Carney issued a stay-at-home order for the state on Sunday that will order non-essential businesses to close and residents to stay in their homes whenever possible. The order will go into effect at 8 a.m. on Tuesday and remain in place until May 15, or “until the public health threat is eliminated.” According to Johns Hopkins University, Delaware has confirmed 47 cases of COVID-19 as of Sunday.
March 22, 5:56 p.m.
Republican Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah announced he is self-quarantining and will be tested for COVID-19 after sitting next to Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, who has tested positive for the virus, for an extended period of time. He said he does not have any symptoms, but due to his quarantine will not be able to vote on the Senate floor. “He urges members to pass a relief package as quickly as possible that provides assistance for families, workers and small businesses,” a statement from his office said.
March 22, 5:40 p.m.
One in 10 of Italy’s COVID-19 cases are healthcare workers. Italy’s National Health Institute (ISS) reported on Sunday that 4,826 healthcare workers have been infected with the virus, meaning 9% of the nation's cases are healthcare workers. Since March 11, 18 Italian doctors have died from COVID-19.
March 22, 4:45 p.m.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez declared a 30-day restriction of non-essential flights on Sunday. The restrictions take effect at midnight on Monday and will not apply to European Union residents, CNN reported. Spain is currently the fourth-most infected country in the world, with 28,603 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 1,756 deaths related to the virus.
People wait their turn for a blood sample in a hallway of a hospital in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, March 18, 2020. Spain will mobilize 200 billion euros or the equivalent to one fifth of the country's annual output in loans, credit guarantees and subsidies for workers and vulnerable citizens, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced Tuesday. For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms. For some, it can cause more severe illness, especially in older adults and people with existing health problems. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
March 22, 4:07 p.m.
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards joined the growing number of state governors issuing “stay-at-home” orders on Sunday. The order will go into effect at 5 p.m. on Monday. Edwards said under the order, people are still able to go to the grocery store, go to medical appointments, get take-out, delivery or drive-thru food, care for family or friends and go outside.
Under the order, people will not be permitted to go to work that doesn’t involve an essential service, visit family or friends if it is not urgent, gather in groups larger than 10 and visit anyone in the hospital or other care facilities. People should remain six feet apart when in public.
March 22, 3:45 p.m.
At a press conference on Sunday, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine issued a “stay-at-home” order, which will require all residents to stay in their homes, unless for essential activities, until at least April 6, CNN reported. The order will go into effect at midnight on Monday. Ohio has confirmed 250 COVID-19 cases as of Sunday, according to Johns Hopkins University. The state has recorded three deaths related to the virus.
March 22, 3:04 p.m.
U.S. COVID-19 cases topped 30,000 on Sunday afternoon, reaching 31,057, according to Johns Hopkins University. Of those cases, 50% come from New York state. The U.S. death toll has now reached 390, with most deaths now coming from New York state, which has confirmed 114 deaths related to the virus. Previously, Washington state held the most COVID-19-related deaths.
March 22, 2:14 p.m.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is now in quarantine after receiving a vaccine from a doctor on Friday who tested positive for COVID-19. Steffen Seibert, a spokesman for the chancellor, said Merkel is now working from home and will undergo “regular tests” in the coming days, The Associated Press reported. The news came after Germany instituted more restrictive social distancing practices, which include banning groups of more than two people from gathering.
March 22, 1:53 p.m.
Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky has tested positive for COVID-19. According to his Twitter account, he is in quarantine, asymptomatic and “feeling fine.” Although he was unaware he came in contact with an infected person, he was tested due to recent travel. His office began operating remotely 10 days ago, so no members of his staff have come in contact with him recently.
March 22, 1:40 p.m.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee issued an executive order on Sunday that will limit gatherings of 10 or more people and businesses beginning at midnight on Monday and ending at midnight on April 6. Restaurants may continue to serve food and alcohol as takeout or drive-thru only. Lee encourages businesses to “utilize alternative business models” during this time, such as gyms offering digital programs rather than in-person. Tennessee currently has 371 confirmed COVID-19 cases and one death related to the virus so far in the state, according to Johns Hopkins University.
March 22, 12:50 p.m.
Hawaii Gov. David Ige issued a supplemental emergency proclamation on Saturday ordering "all individuals, both residents and visitors, arriving or returning to the State of Hawaiʻi to a mandatory 14-day self-quarantine." Hawaii has 48 confirmed cases of COVID-19.
March 22, 12:27 p.m.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo called on the federal government on Sunday to nationalize the medical supply by using the Defense Protection Act to order companies to make necessary medical supplies like gowns, masks and gloves. Cuomo said states are currently competing for supplies. Cuomo asked all hospitals in New York state to increase their capacity by 100% in order to help curb the spread of COVID-19. All hospitals are ordered to at least increase their capacity by 50%. Cuomo also asked the Army Corps of Engineers to create four temporary hospitals, “immediately,” and to build four FEMA field hospitals with 250 beds each. “This is not life as usual. There is a density level in NYC that is destructive. It has to stop and it has to stop now,”Cuomo said.
A cyclist rides his bicycle down the middle of a main road in downtown New York, on Sunday, March 22, 2020. New York City's mayor prepared Sunday to order his city behind closed doors in an attempt to slow a pandemic that has swept across the globe and threatened to make the city of 8.5 million one of the world's biggest coronavirus hot spots. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)
March 22, 12:01 p.m.
Firefighters and health officials around the Indonesian capital of Jakarta have blasted mass amounts of disinfectant to help mitigate the spread of the virus. The country joined a growing list of cities and nations worldwide when it issued a state of emergency declaration on Friday, Bloomberg reported. Indonesia has 450 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 38 fatalities blamed on the disease.
Firemen spray disinfectant in an effort to curb the spread of coronavirus outbreak at the main business district, in Jakarta, Indonesia, Sunday, March 22, 2020. The vast majority of people recover from the new coronavirus. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
March 22, 11:27 a.m.
From coast-to-coast, many major cities have been turned into ghost towns across the U.S. as millions of Americans remain confined to their homes. From the normally hopping nightlife of Bourbon Street to the slow crawl of cars on the 101 Freeway in Los Angeles, life in the U.S. has been dramatically altered due to the spread of COVID-19. Video captured by webcams in some of the world's busiest places paints an eerie portrait of life in the age of the coronavirus. The spring break hotspot of St. Pete Beach, Florida, typically jam-packed with tourists flocking to its white beaches, also now sits devoid of activity.
101 freeway is near-empty along the downtown district Friday, March 20, 2020, in Los Angeles. California Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered the state's 40 million residents to stay at home indefinitely. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
March 22, 10:48 a.m.
Since we can't have March Madness this year -- the first time in 80 years the NCAA Tournament hasn't been played -- CBS Sports is giving everyone a little throwback Madness. The network is streaming a bunch of classic games online and airing several on television. The throwback games culminate on Monday, March 30, during the overnight hours. Click here to see the full schedule.
March 22, 10:11 a.m.
Officials in New York, the epicenter of the outbreak in the U.S., gave an aerial view of a drive-thru testing center in Staten Island. Cases in the Empire State have skyrocketed to more than 12,000 in recent days, particularly in New York City, as testing has been significantly ramped up. The weather in the New York area has been generally nice in recent days, but parts of the region could see a little snow Sunday night into Monday as a storm approaches. New York City will escape the snow, but will see a dose of raw, rainy weather before temperatures moderate a little this week, the AccuWeather forecast shows.
Residents in Staten Island, New York, line up on Saturday, March, 21, 2020 at a COVID-19 drive-thru testing site. (Twitter / New York State Dept. of Environment Conservation)
March 22, 9:41 a.m.
There have been no new cases of confirmed infections in China's Hubei province since March 17, according to the country's National Health Commission. The COVID-19 outbreak originated in the province, and particularly the city of Wuhan, in late 2019. Through the duration of the outbreak, the commission has received 81,054 reports of confirmed cases and 3,261 deaths in 31 provincial-level regions on the Chinese mainland. China is now second behind Italy in confirmed fatalities. Italy's death toll is nearing 5,000, according to Johns Hopkins University data.
March 22, 9:21 a.m.
Australia goes on lockdown as autumn begins, COVID-19 cases escalate. Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that bars, restaurants, churches and sports venues are all closing on Monday, and he told Australians to limit travel to only what is "essential," Australia's ABC News reported. He warned that the outbreak is "deadly serious" and said "far more draconian measures" to control the spread of the illness could be on the way.
Australia entered fall this week, so days there are becoming shorter, with less sunlight. Most of Australia's 1,071 COVID-19 cases are concentrated in big cities. Sydney, on the east coast, has seen 436 cases, Melbourne, on the southern coast reported 229 cases, Brisbane, north of Sydney on the east coast, has seen 221 cases and Perth, on the west coast, has 90 cases. Sydney saw temperatures soar into the 90s, well above average in recent days, but, according to the AccuWeather forecast is about to enter a stretch in which temperatures will be below average. Some researchers say there's a correlation between warmer weather, higher humidity and a slower spread of the disease.
March 22, 8:49 a.m.
Pressure is mounting on Olympic officials to postpone the 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo. On Friday the U.S. Track and Field team, as well USA Swimming, issued letters to the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee CEO, Sarah Hirshland, advocating for the postponement of the games due to the worsening spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. "As the global pandemic has grown, we have watched our athletes' worlds be turned upside down and watched them struggle to find ways to prepare and train-- many for the biggest competitive opportunity of their lives," USA Swimming CEO Tim Hinchey III said.
March 22, 8:13 a.m.
Vice President Mike Pence and Second Lady Karen Pence tested negative for COVID-19, the VP's press secretary announced Saturday evening. Earlier in the day, Pence said the two would undergo testing for the illness after an employee in his office tested positive for COVID-19. He said neither he nor President Trump had come in contact with the worker, NPR reported, and that the symptoms being experienced were "mild, cold-like symptoms.”
March 22, 7:30 a.m.
The death toll and confirmed cases continued to soar overnight. In Italy the outbreak worsened as officials there reported a single-day high for fatalities, nearly 800, and a record daily surge in cases, which pushed the country over the 53,000 mark, according to The Associated Press. "We are facing the most serious crisis that the country has experienced since World War II," Premier Giuseppe Conte told Italians during a live TV address at midnight. He also tightened the lockdown in place there. Here are the lasted numbers on COVID-19, provided by Johns Hopkins University researchers:
Global count of confirmed cases: 307,341
Global death toll: 13,049
Global recoveries: 92,383
March 21, 7:33 p.m.
The U.S surpassed Spain in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases, making it the third most infected country in the world, following Italy and China. In just one day, the U.S. has jumped from sixth most-infected to third. According to Johns Hopkins University, there are currently 25,493 confirmed cases in the U.S., with 307 deaths and 171 recovered.
March 21, 6:51 p.m.
Lawmakers are preparing to vote on Monday regarding a stimulus package for the economy that could end up costing over $1 trillion. The stimulus package is in response to the struggles the economy has faced amid the COVID-19 pandemic. On Saturday, President Donald Trump told reporters "we are getting close” to reaching an agreement on a proposal, CNN reported.
March 21, 5:43 p.m.
In response to COVID-19 halting classrooms around the world, many education companies are working on initiatives and free programs to keep children learning while they are home. Khan Academy has created recommended schedules for school-aged children based on their ages, with links to age appropriate lessons. Additionally, Scholastic has created two weeks of lessons for children from pre-k to ninth grade, along with a “daily reading quest.”
National Geographic offers instructions on science experiments kids can do at home. BBC has created “bite-sized” lessons for children between the ages of 3-16 that are designed specifically to meet the needs of students in various parts of the U.K. The lessons focus on anything from art, languages, math, geography, computers and more.
March 21, 4:57 p.m.
Global confirmed COVID-19 cases surpassed 300,000 on Saturday evening, reaching 303,001. According to Johns Hopkins University, the global death toll has now reached 12,762, with recovered cases reaching 91,564. Italy has the highest death toll of any nation with 4,825. China has the highest case count at 81,304, however, 71,857 of those cases have recovered.
March 21, 4:32 p.m.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a COVID-19 test that could detect a positive case in 45 minutes on Friday, CNN reported. It is the first rapid diagnostic test approved by the FDA and will begin shipping out next week.
March 21, 3:30 p.m.
“Reading about it in the news, I knew it was going to be bad,” an unnamed doctor in New Orleans told ProPublica on Thursday. “But we deal with the flu every year so I was thinking: Well, it’s probably not that much worse than the flu. But seeing my patients with COVID-19 completely changed my perspective, and it’s a lot more frightening.”
He stressed that people who were under 60 years of age and "perfectly fit, healthy people," were also being hit hard by the virus. Chest radiographs show the severity how the virus can affect someone's lungs. The images show what should normally be clear lungs to be clouded to the point of being “more typical of someone who has a near drowning experience.”
March 21, 2:20 p.m.
The U.S. surpassed Iran and Germany in total confirmed COVID-19 cases on Saturday afternoon, making it the nation with fourth-most infections: 22,177 confirmed cases. China still remains the most-infected nation with 81,304 confirmed cases, while Italy ranks second with 53,578, which are growing rapidly. Spain ranks third with 25,374 confirmed cases, followed by Germany with 21,828 and Iran with 20,610. The U.S. currently has 278 COVID-19 related deaths.
March 21, 2:01 p.m.
New Jersey State Gov. Phil Murphy signed an executive order Saturday mandating state residents to stay at home. Murphy said all gatherings are canceled, and all non-essential retail stores must “indefinitely” close by 9:00 p.m. Saturday. On Twitter, Murphy listed the following businesses as being essential and allowed to remain open:
Grocery stores
Food banks
Pharmacies
Medical supply stores
Gas stations
Banks
Pet supply stores
Take-out and delivery from restaurants and bars
March 21, 12:53 p.m.
According to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, 55% of COVID-19 cases in the state are patients between the ages of 18 and 49. Pew Research considers people born from 1981 to 1996 (ages 23 to 38 in 2019) to be considered a millennial and anyone born in 1997 through 2010 as Generation Z. Cuomo warned young people on Twitter of the dangers of the virus, telling them “you are not invincible,” and reminding them that they can pass the virus on to older family members as well. “You shouldn’t endanger your own health and you certainly shouldn't endanger other people's health,” Cuomo said.
Patricio Francisco, a construction worker, wears protective gear and a face mask as he takes a break from work in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, on Friday, March 20, 2020. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is ordering all workers in non-essential businesses to stay home and banning gatherings statewide. Nonessential gatherings of individuals of any size or for any reason are canceled or postponed. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)
March 21, 11:37 a.m.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo claimed on Friday that the state of New York is doing more coronavirus tests per capita than China and South Korea, and more tests than any other state.
"So we know the numbers will go up. But that's a good thing – we are identifying positive cases," Cuomo said.
The New York State government will also be sending 1 million N95 masks to New York City and another half-million to Long Island, according to Cuomo. In addition, the state is purchasing another 6,000 ventilators and determining which sites for the Army Corps of Engineers to build new beds.
March 21, 10:35 a.m.
With the closing of schools also came the canceling of school musicals amid the coronavirus outbreak. In response, Broadway actress Laura Benanti made a post on Twitter calling for students to share the songs they were supposed to sing for their canceled high school musicals while using #SunshineSongs.
“I know for so many of us, I know for me my high school musical was like a lifesaver,” Benanti said. “So, if you would like to sing a song that you are not going to get to sing now and tag me, I want to see you. I want to hear it.”
March 21, 9:40 a.m.
The European Commission announced on Saturday that it had approved of three French state aid plans to support the French economy as the coronavirus threatens to take its toll on businesses and banks, according to Reuters. The plans would mobilize 300 billion euros ($3.2 billion) to support affected companies.
March 21, 8:30 a.m.
Researchers at Columbia University estimate even if the U.S. was able to cut the rate of COVID-19 transmission in half, some 650,000 people might become infected within the next two months, The New York Times reported.The estimate was built off of a New York Times database of known cases and Census Bureau transportation data. Researchers told The New York Times that the growth in cases is driven by Americans with mild symptoms who are unknowingly carrying the virus. They estimate that the number of undetected cases are about 11 times more than have been officially reported in the U.S., and reflects how far the U.S. is behind in testing.
A flier urging customers to remain home hangs at a turnstile as an MTA employee sanitizes surfaces at a subway station with bleach solutions due to COVID-19 concerns, Friday, March 20, 2020, in New York. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is ordering all workers in non-essential businesses to stay home and banning gatherings statewide. "Only essential businesses can have workers commuting to the job or on the job," Cuomo said of an executive order he will sign Friday. Nonessential gatherings of individuals of any size or for any reason are canceled or postponed. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
“We’re looking at something that’s catastrophic on a level that we have not seen for an infectious disease since 1918,” professor of environmental health sciences at Columbia University Jeffery Shaman told the New York Times. Shaman is the leader of the research team. “And it’s requiring sacrifices we haven’t seen since World War II. There are going to be enormous disruptions. There’s no easy way out.”
March 21, 7:10 a.m.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office warned local residents on Thursday that people have been dressing in lab coats, masks and gloves and showing up at people’s homes saying they are with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Department of Health and need to test for COVID-19. The County Sheriff’s Office said this is a “scam,” and no authorities will show up to any home unannounced to perform testing. They ask anyone who has experienced this to call 561-688-3400.
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