Covid–19 Headlines Mar 19, 2020 – Jesse Santiano M.D.

TIP for the day: When going out to buy anything, keep the receipt. It has a date and time on it. That way if your local health department announces a positive case in that area at the time you are there, you will know if you are exposed and need to be tested.

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Covid-19 Headlines

Africa sees ‘extremely rapid evolution’ of pandemic, UN says

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — More African countries closed their borders Thursday as the coronavirus’ local spread threatened to turn the continent of 1.3 billion people into an alarming new front for the pandemic.

Africa is seeing an “extremely rapid evolution,” the World Health Organization’s regional chief, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, told reporters.

Thirty-six of Africa’s 54 countries now have cases, with the total over 720. Chad and Niger announced their first cases Thursday. The first case in sub-Saharan Africa was announced Feb. 28, less than three weeks ago.

Louisiana governor on virus: a trajectory like Italy

BATON ROUGE (AP) — Gov. John Bel Edwards said Thursday that a growing number of new coronavirus cases could push the state past its capacity to deliver health care in seven days, comparing Louisiana’s possible situation to that of Italy, where the virus has overwhelmed hospitals.

Governor Projects 56% of Californians May Be Infected With Coronavirus in 8 Weeks-NBC

In an extreme estimate, California Gov. Gavin Newsom said more than half of California’s population could be infected with the new virus that causes COVID-19 over the next eight weeks – totaling more than 25 million people.

In Madrid, 80% of people expected to get COVID-19, official says

London (CNN)Eight out of ten people in the Spanish capital will get COVID-19, according to the president of the Region of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso.

“They will have mild symptoms,” she said, but added that “it will be a problem” for the vulnerable population, which is around 15% of people.

Mainland China records zero cases for second successive day-Guardian

Figures released in China on Friday morning say that the country has gone a second successive day without recording any new locally transmitted cases.

US domestic air travel sees ‘virtual shutdown’ as more restrictions are being discussed

Washington (CNN)Travel restrictions, orders to stay home, TSA officers testing positive for coronavirus and public fear are killing demand for air travel, which could make a domestic travel ban under consideration by the Trump administration largely irrelevant.

Trump focuses attention on possible coronavirus treatments-AP

President Donald Trump focused attention on possible treatments for the new coronavirus on Thursday, citing potential use of a drug long used to treat malaria and some other approaches still in testing.

At a White House news conference, Trump and Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn cited the malaria drug chloroquine, along with remdesivir, an experimental antiviral from Gilead Sciences, and possibly using plasma from survivors of COVID-19, the disease the new virus causes.

Watch: Coronavirus survives on surfaces up to 72 hours. Here’s how to protect yourself

Viruses didn’t become ubiquitous by being wimps: From the rhinoviruses that cause the common cold to the new coronavirus that has spread across the world, they are able to survive on surfaces far away from the living cells that they need in order to reproduce.

How long they can lurk before a living organism comes along to infect depends on the kind of surface and the properties of the virus: The Covid-19 virus, according to a new study, sticks around on plastic surfaces for up to three days, but for a shorter period on metals.

5 Reasons why Covid-19 Spreads Fast

Coronavirus: how to make your own hand sanitiser using five simple ingredients-SCMP

The coronavirus outbreak has made hand sanitiser a hot commodity – even luxury group LVMH recently announced that its cosmetic factories would start producing hand sanitiser gels to distribute across France.

For those who are looking to get in on the act, you can easily make your own using staples from your bathroom and kitchen cabinets. Here are five ingredients to look out for. Go to link for the whole article

5 Hand Disinfectants for Coronavirus You May not Know

6 Little Known Effective Home Disinfectants for Covid-19

Drug makers are racing to develop immune therapies for Covid-19. Will they be ready in time?-STAT

In the 1995 movie “Outbreak,” doctors whip up a serum from monkey blood in just days to cure people of the fictional Motaba virus. In the more recent “Maze Runner” series, the teenaged protagonists find a cure for a zombifying virus in the blood of a companion who was immune.

Blood-plasma-based cures aren’t just the stuff of movies. There’s plenty of science to back the idea that blood products from survivors of viral diseases — containing antibodies primed against the virus — can jump-start an immune response in new patients. Most recently, the state-owned China National Biotec Group said it had successfully treated Covid-19 coronavirus patients with plasma from survivors.

The article by STAT was written today. I wrote about the same topic yesterday:

How to Beat a Pandemic Just like in the Movies

Coronavirus infects faster and lasts longer than Sars, raising new containment challenges, Chinese studies suggest

A series of studies of the coronavirus suggest it is infectious for longer periods than pathogens from the same family, such as Sars, presenting added challenges for containing it.
Researchers found that on average, people with SARS-CoV-2 – the virus that causes Covid-19, a pneumonia-like disease – can expel or “shed” virus particles from their bodies for a relatively long period of 20 days, spreading it even before symptoms appear.
The virus also remains persistent in the faeces of some children, suggesting it can be transmitted through a faecal-oral transmission route – meaning that contaminated faeces from the infected child is somehow ingested by another person.
This indicates longer quarantine periods may be needed for patients, according to a study by a team from the China-Japan Friendship Hospital, which included China National Health Commission expert Cao Bin.

5 Reasons why Covid-19 Spreads Fast

New Study Explains the Rapid Spread of Covid-19

Coronavirus hits NFL as Saints coach Payton reveals positive test

(Reuters) – The National Football League (NFL) community has its first confirmed case of coronavirus with the news that New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton has tested positive.

US urges citizens to avoid all international travel, return home

WASHINGTON: The United States on Thursday warned against any international travel due to the coronavirus pandemic and advised citizens to return home if possible.

“In countries where commercial departure options remain available, US citizens who live in the United States should arrange for immediate return to the United States, unless they are prepared to remain abroad for an indefinite period,” the State Department said as it upgraded its travel advisory to the highest level.

Eight more deaths in Washington state-Guardian

Washington state in the US has reported eight more deaths from the coronavirus, bringing the death toll there to 74, the most of any American state.

Bolsonaro’s son enrages Beijing by blaming China for coronavirus crisis-Guardian

Beijing’s ambassador to Brazil has launched a stinging attack on the son of its far-right president, Jair Bolsonaro, after he claimed the Chinese Communist party was to blame for the coronavirus crisis sweeping the world.

On Wednesday, Bolsonaro’s influential politician son Eduardo – who many regard as Brazil’s de facto foreign minister and has close ties to Steve Bannon – enraged Beijing with an incendiary tweet about its role in the pandemic.

“It’s China’s fault,” Bolsonaro claimed on Twitter, retweeting a message that said: “The blame for the global coronavirus pandemic has a name and surname: the Chinese Communist party.”

Trump presses FDA to fast-track potential coronavirus drugs

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday called on U.S. health regulators to expedite potential therapies aimed at treating COVID-19 amid the fast-spreading coronavirus outbreak, saying it could lead to a breakthrough while a vaccine is still under development.

Coronavirus kills 3 family members and sickens 4 others after a dinner in New Jersey

(CNN)A New Jersey mother died from coronavirus without knowing that her two children also got infected and died shortly before she did, The New York Times reported.

Grace Fusco, 73, died Wednesday and was unaware of the deaths of her oldest son and daughter from Covid-19, the disease caused by coronavirus.

A relative told the newspaper that four other children also have coronavirus and remain hospitalized — three in critical condition. CNN has reached out to a family representative but has not heard back.

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Georgia virus death toll rises to 10, total cases at 287

ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia’s death toll from the coronavirus jumped to 10 on Thursday as state health officials also reported a sizable increase in the number of confirmed infections statewide.

The update from Georgia Department of Public Health more than doubled the number of deaths in the state, which had stood at four Wednesday. The agency said confirmed coronavirus cases now total 287 — up from 197 the day before.

UK drive to develop coronavirus vaccine begins

A massive effort is under way to develop a UK vaccine for coronavirus within monthsand make it available to save lives before the end of the year, the Guardian has learned.

Researchers at Oxford University, led by Prof Sarah Gilbert, are planning a safety trial on humans of what is expected to be the UK’s first coronavirus vaccine next month. Provided that goes smoothly, they will move directly into a larger trial to assess how effective the vaccine is at protecting against the infection.

UK can turn tide of coronavirus spread ‘within 12 weeks’: PM Johnson

LONDON: Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday (Mar 19) said he was confident the country can slow the spread of coronavirus in the next three months through tough measures to cut social contact.

The government earlier this week called for more people to work from home, and avoid public transport, pubs, clubs and restaurants, to try to slow infection rates.

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Explainer: What is herd immunity and will it affect the pandemic?

LONDON (Reuters) – The outbreak of disease caused by the new coronavirus has raised questions about a phenomenon known as “herd immunity” and whether it might play a role in how the pandemic progresses.

AP-NORC poll: Fear of virus infection spikes among Americans

CHICAGO (AP) — Concern among Americans that they or a loved one will be infected by the coronavirus rose dramatically in the past month, with two-thirds of the country now saying they’re at least somewhat concerned about contracting the COVID-19 illness.

That’s up from less than half who said so in February. Still, a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds that about 3 in 10 Americans say they’re not worried at all about the coronavirus.

7 pm EST update. An increase of 14,448 cases and 525 deaths since 12 noon. Death rate 4%

ice_screenshot_20200319-190241

Slovakia gets face masks, coronavirus test kits from China to replenish supplies

BRATISLAVA: A Slovak government plane with a million surgical face masks and 100,000 rapid-result test kits for the new coronavirus arrived in Bratislava on Thursday (Mar 19) to alleviate the shortage faced by local authorities, social and health workers.

An updated guide to the coronavirus drugs and vaccines in development

Here’s a guide to some of the most talked-about efforts to treat or prevent coronavirus infection, with details on the science, history, and timeline for each endeavor. We’re looking at novel medicines, not repurposed drugs. More at the link.

$10 toilet paper? Coronavirus gouging complaints surge in US

One store advertised hand sanitizer at $60 a bottle. Another was accused of hawking it at $1 a squirt. Chain stores offered $26 thermometers and face masks at the “everyday low price” of $39.95 a pair, while a convenience store touted toilet paper at $10 a roll next to a sign reading: “This is not a joke.”

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Amazon halts grocery orders to restock amid surging demand

(Reuters) – Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O) said on Thursday it has halted its Prime Pantry delivery service in the United States to restock groceries, following a surge in online orders by shoppers worried about the coronavirus pandemic.

“Amazon Pantry is not accepting new orders at this time while we work to fulfill open orders and restock items following increased demand,” a company spokesperson said.

U.S. closes air traffic control tower in Las Vegas, nearly 500 flights canceled

(Reuters) – The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Thursday said it had closed the air traffic control tower at Las Vegas International Airport after a controller was presumed to have contracted COVID-19.

A flight tracking website, flightradar24.com, said nearly 500 flights had been canceled at Las Vegas airport Thursday, which is receiving flights at a reduced rate.

The world’s fastest supercomputer identified chemicals that could stop coronavirus from spreading, a crucial step toward a vaccine

(CNN)The novel coronavirus presents an unprecedented challenge for scientists: The speed at which the virus spreads means they must accelerate their research.

But this is what the world’s fastest supercomputer was built for.

Summit, IBM’s supercomputer equipped with the “brain of AI,” ran thousands of simulations to analyze which drug compounds might effectively stop the virus from infecting host cells.

The supercomputer identified 77 of them. It’s a promising step toward creating the most effective vaccine.

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Iran furloughs imprisoned US Navy vet amid virus concerns

WASHINGTON (AP) — Iran has granted a medical furlough to a U.S. Navy veteran who has been imprisoned in Iran for more than a year, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced Thursday.

Michael White of Imperial Beach, California, is now in the custody of the Swiss Embassy and must remain in Iran as a condition of his furlough, which was granted as Iran works to curb the spread of coronavirus.

U.S. jobless claims could top record 1.5 million next week: economists

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A wave of layoffs at restaurants, bars and hotels, as efforts to contain the coronavirus pandemic bring much of everyday American life to a halt, could drive new applications for U.S. unemployment benefits to a record 1.5 million or more next week, economists warned on Thursday.

Exhausted Dutch minister leading coronavirus fight quits-CNA

AMSTERDAM: The minister leading the Dutch government’s fight against the coronavirus resigned on Thursday (Mar 19), a day after collapsing from exhaustion during a parliamentary debate on the epidemic.

Medical Care Minister Bruno Bruins, 56, fell to the floor in parliament on Wednesday while taking questions. He said he had fainted after weeks of intense work.

Modeling study suggests 18 months of COVID-19 social distancing, much disruption-CIDRAP

The study, which used pandemic data gathered in China, Italy, and South Korea, has been lauded by epidemiologists around the world as the most comprehensive prediction of what the US could be facing in the coming months. But it also paints some bleak pictures, including millions of deaths if little is done.

The article above talks about the shortage of Intensive Care Unit beds no matter what preventive measures are taken. I talked about that in the article immediately below

Not enough U.S. hospital beds once Covid-19 epidemic is full-blown

US government is preparing for the possibility of a coronavirus pandemic that could last up to 18 months and ‘include multiple waves of illness’

(CNN)The federal government is preparing for the possibility the coronavirus pandemic could last up to 18 months or longer and “include multiple waves of illness,” a report obtained by CNN shows, as the number of the cases in the US surpassed 11,000.

The number of US cases may be surprising. Keep in mind that this week, more testing was made available. Most of the new cases that were picked up have been there all along but they were not identified. Knowing who the cases are is very important to isolate them from the uninfected so that the spread will be contained. More here:

A Centres for Disease Control and Prevention analysis of US cases from February 12 to March 16 that was released this week shows that 38 per cent of those sick enough to be hospitalised were younger than 55 years.

Earlier this week, French health ministry official Jérôme Salomon said half the 300 to 400 coronavirus patients treated in ICUs in Paris were younger than 65 years and, according to numbers presented at a seminar of intensive care specialists, half the ICU patients in the Netherlands were under the age of 50.

Ferrari, Fiat look at helping Italy make ventilators in coronavirus crisis

MILAN: Italian car manufacturers Ferrari and Fiat Chrysler are in talks with the nation’s biggest ventilator manufacturer to help it boost production of the life-saving machines which are urgently needed in the coronavirus crisis, company officials said on Thursday (Mar 19).

Egypt to shut all cafes, malls, sports clubs in evenings till March 31

CAIRO (Reuters) – Egypt said on Thursday it would shut all cafes, shopping malls, sports clubs and nightclubs from 7 p.m. until 6 a.m. local time every night until March 31, strengthening measures introduced to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Millions could die if COVID-19 allowed to spread unchecked: UN chief-CNA

UNITED NATIONS: Millions of people could die from COVID-19, particularly in poor countries, if it is allowed to spread unchecked, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned on Thursday (Mar 19), appealing for a coordinated global response to the coronavirus.

“If we let the virus spread like wildfire – especially in the most vulnerable regions of the world – it would kill millions of people,” he said.

College dorms, ice hockey rinks, hotels and naval ships are just some of the places that are being looked at by various federal and state agencies across the country to become either temporary hospitals or quarantine facilities for the growing number of novel coronavirus cases.

Wuhan police apologise to family of whistle-blowing doctor Li Wenliang-SCMP

Wuhan police have apologised to the family of a doctor whose death sparked national outrage after it emerged he had been disciplined for trying to warn colleagues about the Covid-19 outbreak.

Nearly 40% of those hospitalized with coronavirus are younger than 54: CDC

Data released Wednesday night by the CDC shows that of the 508 patients known to have been hospitalized in the U.S. for COVID-19, about 20% of those were ages 20 to 44 and another 18% were between the ages of 45 and 54.

Italy’s death toll reaches 3,405 surpassing China’s number of fatalities-ABC

As Beijing, Hong Kong face second coronavirus onslaught, quarantine gets serious-SCMP

Beijing and Hong Kong are toughening up their 14-day quarantine restrictions as a second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic returns to China, brought by homecoming citizens and visitors from overseas and threatening to push up infection rates that had been coming under control.

Coronavirus live updates: Over 10,000 diagnosed cases in US

There are 10,755 diagnosed cases in the U.S., spanning all 50 states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico. At least 159 people have died in the U.S., according to ABC News’ count.

Shipments of medical supplies to epicentre of the pandemic are being held up as Schengen area shuts down

Italy’s only representative on EU advisory panel is worried about the effects of the disruption

Christian Dior, Guerlain and Givenchy facilities making sanitizers for hospitals, Zara making masks and hospital gowns-Guardian

Louis Vuitton owner LVMH has converted its perfume manufacturing at all its Christian Dior, Guerlain and Givenchy facilities to the production of sanitiser and giving to hospitals in France for free.

Spanish fashion chain Zara is turning over its logistics and manufacturing facilities to delivering 300,000 surgical masks by the end of the week to the health authorities.

Australia closes borders to coronavirus, pumps $56 billion into economy

SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia is closing its borders to foreigners and pumping about A$100 billion ($56 billion) into the economy as it seeks to minimize the blow from the coronavirus epidemic.

If You Know Anybody Male who is 55 and Older, Read This!

Coronavirus: Grim toll in Italy as number of deaths near China’s total

In Madrid, death rate is described by health authorities as ‘one case every 16 minutes’

New cases in Europe include new Prince Albert of Monaco and Michel Barnier, the European Union’s chief Brexit negotiator

Trump Deploys Navy Floating Hospital To NYC Harbor As Virus Cases Soar-ZH

New York is experiencing an exponential rise in confirmed Covid-19 cases requiring hospitalization. The problem is when hospital beds and ICU level care capacity is exhausted, treatment for the most vulnerable is not seen, and that is the point when mortality rates surge. To mitigate an Italy-style crisis, President Trump is set to deploy two hospital ships, which could provide several thousand additional hospital beds to New York City’s capacity, reported CNN.

The pandemic’s newest shortage? Coconut water-CNN

The company’s Ever & Ever line of aluminum canned water also spiked 210% after the US Centers for Disease Control issued guidance about Americans preparing for the outbreak. Kirban speculated that consumers may be gravitating toward pantry essentials that have nutritional value and a long shelf life.

12 noon EST. An increase of 8,916 cases and 507 deaths since 5:20 am

ice_screenshot_20200319-115536

Anti-Malaria Drug Shows Promising Results In Treating COVID-19

The drug, chloroquine, was first approved in the US in 1949, and has been widely used as a low-cost method to treat a variety of diseases, including malaria, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. In several studies and through anecdotal evidence, chloroquine appears to significantly limit the replication of COVID-19, particularly when combined with antibiotic azithromycin (Z-Pak).

32 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, 75% of which are imported

SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Health (MOH) on Thursday (Mar 19) confirmed 32 new COVID-19 cases, taking the national total to 345.

Of the new cases, 24 cases are imported and eight are local cases of COVID-19 infection.

New York’s governor, Andrew Cuomo: healthcare system in the state to be overwhelmed

As the state hardest hit with the most cases, now ahead of Washington state and California, New York has about 3,000 confirmed cases and 21 deaths so far, but Cuomo estimated there could be tens of thousands of as-yet unconfirmed cases.

Iran announced another big increase in cases.

Authorities say they have detected 1,046 new cases in the past day, bringing the total to 18,407. It registered 149 deaths in the past 24 hours, out of a total 1,284.

Australia bans indoor gatherings of 100 as virus measure-AP

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia on Wednesday banned non-essential indoor gatherings of more than 100 people including weddings and restaurants as part a range of measures that could be maintained implemented for more than six months to slow the spread of the new coronavirus.

Death toll in Spain increases to 767-The Guardian

Spain’s health ministry said the death toll from coronavirus soared by 169 to 767 fatalities in the last day.

Among the latest victims was a 52-year-old nurse from the Basque country. “Today the coronavirus dealt a blow to the soul of the Basque health system,” the regional government said in a statement announcing the death. “We were not prepared for this blow.”

Philippines to ban entry of foreigners over coronavirus, ‘no exceptions’: minister-Reuters

MANILA (Reuters) – The Philippines is stopping the issuance of visas to foreigners, banning all nationalities from entering the country to halt the spread of coronavirus, its foreign minister said on Thursday.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin said on Twitter that he had signed an order stopping the issuance of visas domestically and in all foreign posts. Locsin did not give a timeframe for the measures.

Death toll in Spain increases by 209 to 767

Spain’s health ministry said the death toll from coronavirus soared by 209 to 767 fatalities in the last day. The total number of coronavirus cases climbed by a quarter to 17,147. On Wednesday, there were 13,716 cases in Spain.

Switzerland has reported 860 new cases of Covid-19

Switzerland has reported 860 new cases of Covid-19, according to its federal office of public health, although 450 are said to still under evaluation after an initial positive result.

Earlier we reported that the country had 3,067 confirmed cases of Covid-19.

What you need to know about coronavirus on Thursday, March 19

(CNN)There’s a ray of hope emanating from the first epicenter of the outbreak. For the first time since the pandemic began, China announced no new locally transmitted infections today, marking a turning point in the global battle to contain Covid-19.

Indonesia should ‘prepare for the worst’ on coronavirus: Red Cross

JAKARTA: Indonesia is likely to have a far higher number of coronavirus cases than it has reported due to low levels of testing and needs to consider tougher measures like lockdowns, the head of the country’s Red Cross told Reuters.

The world’s fourth most populous country has gone from zero reported cases to 309 in less than three weeks and the death toll has hit 25, higher than any other Southeast Asian country.

Severe shortages of swabs and other supplies hamper coronavirus testing

(CNN)Even as commercial laboratories have ramped up coronavirus testing, frontline medical workers across the country are reporting a new, dire problem: A shortage of related materials needed to conduct the tests.

Indonesia halts Islamic assembly, quarantining 9,000 people

MAKASSAR, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesia halted a mass congregation of nearly 9,000 Muslim pilgrims and began quarantining them and checking their health Thursday to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus amid a spike in cases.

Zero new domestic coronavirus cases in China for first time since epidemic began

Mainland China has reported zero new domestic infections of coronavirus for the first time since the outbreak began.
The National Health Commission said it was also the first time Hubei province – where the disease first emerged – recorded no new cases either domestically or from abroad. Nationwide, there were 34 new infections, all of them from overseas.

Undetected infections may have driven “rapid dissemination” of coronavirus, modeling shows-CNN

Mild, asymptomatic or otherwise unrecognized infections may have driven the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus in the outbreak’s earliest days, according to modeling published Monday in the journal Science.

The research, based on reported cases in China and travel data, estimated that 86% of coronavirus infections in the country were “undocumented” in the weeks before officials instituted stringent quarantines.

“In many ways, this situation is unprecedented – we’re trying to take some actions to curb the spread and timing of this pandemic,” said Stephen Morse, a disease researcher at Columbia University in New York.

Nine coronavirus tests are now FDA-authorized for emergency use

The US Food and Drug Administration has now authorized nine coronavirus tests for emergency use.

The maker of one of those tests, Abbott, promised on Wednesday to ship 150,000 laboratory tests “immediately.”

Philippines to ban entry of foreigners over coronavirus: Minister

MANILA: The Philippines is stopping the issuance of visas to foreigners, banning all nationalities from entering the country to halt the spread of coronavirus, its foreign minister said on Thursday (Mar 19).

COVID-19 cases in Malaysia hit 900 with 110 new infections

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia on Thursday (Mar 19) reported 110 new COVID-19 cases, taking the total in the country to 900, said Health Minister Adham Baba.

Of the new cases, 63 are linked to the tabligh (religious) gathering at a mosque in Sri Petaling, Kuala Lumpur.

FDA approves test kits from China, South Korea for commercial use

MANILA, Philippines — As the Philippines scrambles to contain a growing health crisis, the country’s Food and Drug Administration approved four COVID-19 test kits from China and South Korea.

The virus that causes coronavirus disease is spreading locally, infecting 217 people. The country logged 17 deaths.

Asian shares tumble: SKorea’s Kospi drops 7%, Tokyo 1%

BANGKOK (AP) — Shares in Asia tumbled further on Thursday after the Dow industrials plunged 6.3% despite more government help for economies reeling from virus outbreaks.

Stocks fell in Tokyo and almost all other Asian markets as investors rushed to convert holdings to cash, bracing for a prolonged coronavirus-induced recession.

Coronavirus: Muslim event that drew thousands to Indonesia stopped amid outbreak fears

The Tablighi Jama’at halted the event in Gowa, near Makassar, after a similar gathering in Malaysia led to hundreds of infections

More than 8,500 people from across Indonesia, Asia and the Middle East had converged on the town

Celebrities get virus tests, raising concerns of inequality

WASHINGTON (AP) — Celebrities, politicians and professional athletes faced a backlash this week as many revealed that they had been tested for the coronavirus, even when they didn’t have a fever or other tell-tale symptoms.

That’s fueling a perception that the wealthy and famous have been able to jump to the head of the line to get tested while others have been turned away or met with long delays.

2 cruise ships not allowed to disembark in Honolulu-AP

HONOLULU (AP) — Two cruise ships won’t be allowed to disembark in Honolulu after being turned away by other ports, even with no positive cases of coronavirus on either vessel, officials said Wednesday.

Coronavirus: hotels offer 1,000 rooms for quarantine, as Hong Kong starts isolating new arrivals-SCMP

At least eight hotels have offered to house people under mandatory orders, industry representative says

Meanwhile, a doctors’ group warns that isolating people in their own homes is ‘absolutely not ideal’ and risks infecting the community

Wuhan reports no new virus cases, offering hope to world

BEIJING (AP) — Last month, Wuhan was overwhelmed with thousands of new cases of coronavirus each day. But in a dramatic development that underscores just how much the outbreak has pivoted toward Europe and the United States, Chinese authorities said Thursday that the city and its surrounding province had no new cases to report.

To Know What’s in Wuhan is to Know Why Coronavirus is a Concern

Second member of Congress tests positive for coronavirus

Rep. Ben McAdams, a Democrat from Utah, tweeted Wednesday that he tested positive for coronavirus.

He said he first felt symptoms on Saturday after returning from Washington, and was tested on Tuesday. He received the positive result on Wednesday.

Maryland reports first coronavirus death

According to a statement from the governor, the patient was a Prince George’s County resident in his 60s, who suffered from an underlying medical condition.

London braces for lockdown after Italy death toll shock

The urgency was punctuated by the alarming situation in Italy, which on Wednesday reported 475 new deaths, the highest one-day official toll of any nation. That day, Donald Trump ordered sweeping new action against the pandemic and declared himself a war president.

5 am EST. An increase of 3,933 cases and 79 deaths from 7 pm last night. Death rate 4%

ice_screenshot_20200319-050436

Confirmed cases of COVID-19 rises to 27 in Erie County,NY-WKBW

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — The Erie County Department of Health announced Wednesday night there have been six additional confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Erie County, bringing the total to 27.

University at Buffalo announces first confirmed case of COVID-19

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — The University at Buffalo announced Wednesday a member of the UB community tested positive for the novel coronavirus COVID-19, according to the Erie County Department of Health.

Italian health authorities are looking into medical records to understand why the country’s death rate is so high
The average age of those who died is 79.5 and over three-quarters of them had high blood pressure while about a third had diabetes

As Beijing, Hong Kong face second coronavirus onslaught, quarantine gets serious-SCMP

Beijing and Hong Kong are toughening up their 14-day quarantine restrictions as a second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic returns to China, brought by homecoming citizens and visitors from overseas and threatening to push up infection rates that had been coming under control.
“If we do not impose tougher measures at this stage, our previous efforts to prevent the disease from spreading throughout these two months could be completely wasted,” Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said on Tuesday.

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