The World Health Organization has refused to declare a pandemic, and a cruise ship remained at arm’s length from San Francisco on Thursday as officials around the world battled the coronavirus epidemic, responsible for nearly 3,300 deaths. in the world.
Grand Princess denied port of California due to concerns of 3,500 passengers and crew may have been exposed to the coronavirus. California Governor Gavin Newsom said the ship was sailing with 62 passengers had made the ship’s previous trip with a 71-year-old man who ultimately died of the virus.
The current cruise was scheduled to arrive in San Francisco on Wednesday, but will not return to port until testing can take place, Newsom said. Test kits were being sent to the ship, he said. More than 20 passengers and crew members have developed symptoms consistent with COVID-19, Newsom said.
“We will be able to test very quickly … to determine if these symptomatic people simply have a traditional cold or the flu or may have contracted the COVID-19 virus,” said Newsom. An unknown number of other people on board the ship are also being tested.
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The man died in Placer County, near Sacramento, representing the first American death outside of Washington state that left 10 people dead. More than 30 of the 162 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the country are in California. California and Los Angeles declared a state of emergency on Wednesday; San Francisco released its statement a week ago.
Here is the latest news on the COVID-19 epidemic:
WHO: no pandemic; nations must “do all they can”
The director of the World Health Organization on Thursday urged all countries to “withdraw all stops” in the fight against the coronavirus and reiterated that the global epidemic is not a pandemic. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that the situation in China, the epicenter of the epidemic, continues to improve and that many countries still have few or no cases. Tedros stressed that if public health resources must be oriented towards treatment, controlling the epidemic remains important.
“If we can do it, we will say it,” Tedros said of a pandemic. “We must not abandon containment strategies. The WHO says:” Do not give up, do not surrender. “”
Tennessee tornado hit now has virus
Tennessee, still recovering from a series of tornadoes and storms that killed 25 people and destroyed hundreds of homes and businesses, is now facing its first case of coronavirus. Governor Bill Lee announced the first confirmed case in the state. The patient, a 44-year-old Williamson County man with a recent history of out-of-state travel, is currently being quarantined at home with mild symptoms, said the Tennessee Department of Health.
“We prepared early,” said Lee. “We remain confident in our capabilities and in the measures we are taking to prevent the spread of this infection.”
Airlines could lose $ 113 billion in revenue
The coronavirus epidemic could cost airlines up to $ 113 billion in global revenue in 2020, the International Air Transport Association estimated. IATA said losses would reach at least $ 63 billion, even if COVID-19 is contained in current markets.
“The turn of events following COVID-19 is almost unprecedented,” said CEO Alexandre de Juniac. “In little more than two months, the outlook for the industry in much of the world has taken a dramatic turn for the worse.”
Seattle District Closes Schools For 22,000 Students
A suburban school district of Seattle closed all of its schools for 14 days to slow the epidemic of coronavirus that has infiltrated into King and Snohomish counties. In a long letter posted to the Northshore School District website and emailed to all parents on Wednesday evening, Superintendent Michelle Reid said that she made her decision with the support of local leaders, describing the move as a “strategic approach” to the health and well-being of staff and the 22,000 students in the district.
American schools are on high alert amid an epidemic of coronavirus:Are they overreacting – or are they not doing enough?
Amtrak Takes Action To Address Coronavirus Threat
Amtrak is stepping up its cleaning protocol for trains and stations and waiving the fee for changing reservations until the end of April. Railway service has issued a statement detailing the increased clean-up measures as a safety measure, adding that there have been no confirmed cases of passenger and employee exposure to the coronavirus. no current travel restrictions.
Amtrak says it plans to speed up the frequency of cleaning on trains and stations, sometimes on an hourly basis. Additional antibacterial products, including disinfectants and wipes, will be provided at stations, on trains and in employee work areas.
– Bill Keveney
Can’t find Purell or other hand sanitizers? Here’s how to do it at home with vodka or rubbing alcohol
Dogs and cats cannot transmit coronavirus to humans
The Hong Kong Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Departments have concluded that cats and companion dogs cannot transmit the new coronavirus to humans, but they can be positive for low levels of the pathogen. if they catch it from their owners. This occurs after a quarantined dog tested weakly positive for the virus on February 27, February 28, and March 2.
Health experts in Hong Kong agreed that the dog has a low level of infection and that it is “likely to be human to animal transmission”. The dog will be tested again before being released. The ministry suggested that all pets, including dogs and cats, from households where someone has tested positive for the virus should be quarantined.
– Adrianna Rodriguez
Iran: deposit this paper money
Iranian authorities have ordered the closure of all educational and cultural institutions across the country during the Persian New Year on March 20 and urged citizens not to use paper money, as the death toll from coronavirus has increased to 107. More than 3,500 cases of virus have been confirmed there. Officials have also set up checkpoints to limit travel between major cities. Tehran announced that all public places in the city, including subways and buses, were disinfected every hour.
How many cases of coronavirus in the United States and where?
There were 162 confirmed cases in more than 15 states Thursday morning, according to a coronavirus dashboard managed by Johns Hopkins University. This number is expected to increase as the CDC has intensified its screening efforts and encouraged more tests in health centers across the country. Common signs of infection are fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. If the infection gets worse, it can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure, and death.
What is the global death toll from coronaviruses?
The global death toll was at least 3,305 on Thursday morning, including more than 2,900 in mainland China, where the epidemic began in the bustling capital of Hubei province, Wuhan. The number of confirmed cases worldwide was 96,888.
Map of American coronavirus cases
Here is an overview of the spread of coronavirus in the United States.