As the death toll in the United States reached 11 on Wednesday, California governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti declared a state of emergency and announced six other fatal coronavirus cases that have officials responsible for the from around the world looking for answers.
Over 150 cases have been confirmed across the country. Los Angeles had confirmed only one before the announcement on Wednesday.
A death reported Wednesday by Placer County in California, near Sacramento, represents the first death outside of Washington state.
County officials described the victim as “an elderly person with underlying health conditions”. They said the patient was isolated at a local hospital and was likely exposed to the virus while traveling on a Princess Cruises ship that sailed from San Francisco to Mexico in February.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are investigating a group of Northern California coronavirus patients who were passengers on this ship.
“The State of California is deploying all levels of government to help identify cases and slow the spread of this coronavirus,” said Newsom. “This emergency declaration will help the state better prepare our communities and our health care system in case it spreads more widely.”
Florida and Washington State have already declared emergencies.
Garcetti said the emergency declarations would help public and federal funds to “keep our communities safe.” Health officials said that one of the new patients had been hospitalized, the others were placed in quarantine at home.
Later that day, the Department of Homeland Security said a medical examination at Los Angeles International Airport had contracted the virus. The agency said no traveler screened for LAX had tested positive for the coronavirus.
County supervisor Hilda Solis said the virus epidemic, which started in China, has fueled prejudice against the local Asian community.
“There has been too much misinformation spreading and, as we expected, it cultivates fears and leads to racial profiling,” said Solis. “The last thing we want to do is create more fear.”
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Here are the latest COVID-19 developments:
Washington State Keeps Schools Open and Encourages Telework
Authorities in the Washington State area, which are experiencing an epidemic of the virus, recommend that people work from home, but do not close schools.
In Seattle, King County Director Dow Constantine encouraged workers to telecommute where possible for the next three weeks, saying the county would reassess the risk at the end of each week. County officials also recommended that companies stagger the arrival and departure of employees to minimize contact between them.
The county has decided not to close the schools “unless there is a confirmed case at this school,” said Patty Hayes, director of public health in Seattle and King County.
The Seattle metropolitan area was the epicenter of the US coronavirus epidemic, with 31 cases and nine of the 11 deaths in the country. Most of the victims were patients from a nursing home on the outskirts of Kirkland.
The county recommends, but does not require, people in high-risk groups to stay at home and away from large groups if possible. People at high risk include people 60 and older, people with underlying health conditions, people with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women.
Explaining the county’s actions, health official Jeffrey Duchin recognized the need to “make our society, our businesses and our schools work.” He stressed that they were not asking anyone to completely suspend their lives, but to remain cautious and aware.
– Lindsay Schnell
Another cruise ship can carry patients
A cruise ship from Hawaii to San Francisco is carrying 62 passengers who may have been exposed to a “small group” of patients from a previous trip who contracted the coronavirus.
Princess Cruises said in a statement that it had been in contact with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is investigating a handful of cases in northern California of passengers who traveled on the return trip from the Grand Princes from the company of San Francisco in Mexico from February 11th. -21.
One of the patients, who was described in the press release as a 71-year-old man, died on Wednesday in a Placer County hospital northeast of Sacramento. He is the first person to die from a coronavirus in California and the 11th in the United States.
The Grand Princess’s chief medical officer said the ship is at sea off the coast of Mexico and will avoid a scheduled stop at Ensenada and return directly to San Francisco, where the CDC and cruise officials will meet to determine the next course of action. The ship is expected to dock in San Francisco on Thursday.
Princess Cruises said the 62 passengers, who remained on board after the previous cruise and headed for Hawaii, as well as some crew members were asked to stay in their cabins until they were checked in. the medical personnel of the ship.
It is not known how many cruise passengers will need to be isolated, but last month another Princess Cruises vessel was quarantined for two weeks in Yokohama, Japan, and more than 700 passengers and crew members descended with the virus.
“The CDC continues to actively collect information and is working with us to determine what, if anything, to do during the current cruise to Hawaii and when the ship returns to San Francisco,” said the company statement. “We have shared essential travel and health data with the CDC to facilitate their standard reporting to state and county health authorities to track people who may have been exposed to people who have become ill.”
AIPAC advises attendees of possible coronavirus exposure
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee has advised conference participants, some of whom include legislators, that a group of conference participants may have had contact with a coronavirus patient before traveling to Washington , DC, for the event March 1-3.
The pro-Israel lobby group said in a statement to participants, speakers, administration and offices of Capitol Hill that the Washington Department of Health considered the potential exposure to be “low risk”.
The person with coronavirus did not attend the conference, but could be near the group of New York people who attended, AIPAC said, noting that the Department of Health has stated that it does not there was no reason to “sound the alarm” at this point.
“To our knowledge, no one who attended the conference has tested positive for coronavirus at this time,” the statement said.
The group that may have had the initial exposure is in auto-quarantine, according to the press release.
Conference participants and speakers include Vice President Mike Pence, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., Senator Ted Cruz, R-Texas, Representative Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., Former 2020 Democratic candidate Mike Bloomberg, former candidate Senator Cory Booker, DN.J., and several other lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle.
—Jeanine Santucci and Savannah Behrmann
GOP and Democratic Republic of Congo lawmakers agree on $ 8.3 billion virus bill
The leaders of the Democrat-controlled House and the GOP-led Senate have reached a compromise deal that will provide $ 8.3 billion to fight the spread of coronavirus in the United States and help treat those affected. The number is more than triple the $ 2.5 billion that President Donald Trump originally requested last month. The package includes more than $ 3 billion for research and development of vaccines and $ 2.2 billion to help prevent, prepare for and respond to the threat of the virus.
– Christal Hayes
United reduces theft and freezes hiring
United Airlines, faced with a sharp drop in travel demand due to the coronavirus crisis, drastically reduced flights in April and May, froze hiring and offered employees voluntary unpaid leave.
The airline announced the unprecedented measures, the first by an American airline since the start of the epidemic, in a note to employees on Wednesday.
The airline did not provide specific targeted routes, but said it was cutting its international schedule by 20%, including the previously announced reductions in China and Hong Kong, and by 10% in the United States.
– Dawn Gilbertson
UNESCO: 290 million pupils out of school
In its first global count, UNESCO said that the education of 290.5 million students was disrupted by school closings caused by the coronavirus. The organization tries to help countries set up distance education options.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization said that 22 countries on three continents have announced or implemented school closings, including 13 nationwide. Two weeks ago, China was the only country to demand these measures.
“Although temporary school closings due to health and other crises are unfortunately not new, the scale and speed of the current education disruption in the world is unprecedented and, if it continues, could threaten the right education, “said Executive Director Audrey Azoulay.
A woman, children and a neighbor of an infected New York patient
The wife, two children and the neighbor of a New York suburban man hospitalized in critical condition with the coronavirus have all tested positive for the disease, said Governor Andrew Cuomo. The neighbor drove the 50-year-old New Rochelle man to the hospital, Cuomo said. One of the children, a 20-year-old son, attends Yeshiva University, which canceled classes on its Manhattan campus on Wednesday.
The state now has six confirmed cases, including a healthcare worker from New York who recently returned from Iran. Cuomo also said that hundreds of students from state universities studying abroad in China, Italy, Japan, Iran or South Korea will be taken home and quarantined for 14 days “by caution”.
WHO: Shortage of masks and gloves threatens lives
A serious and growing disruption in the global supply of masks, respirators, gloves and other personal protective equipment is putting the new coronavirus and other infectious diseases at risk, said the World Health Organization. The agency attributed the shortage to growing demand due to panic purchases, hoarding and abuse, and called for a 40% increase in production. Doctors, nurses and other front-line workers are “dangerously ill-equipped” to care for patients with COVID-19, the WHO said.
“Without secure supply chains, the risk to healthcare workers around the world is real,” said Tedros chief executive Adhanom Ghebreyesus in a statement. “Industry and governments must act quickly to increase supply, relax export restrictions, and put in place measures to stop speculation and hoarding. “
New Jersey has its first case
The first case of coronavirus in New Jersey was confirmed on social media by Governor Phil Murphy on Wednesday evening.
Murphy tweeted that he and Acting Governor Sheila Oliver were reporting the first suspected positive in Bergen County.
A man in his thirties has been hospitalized since Tuesday. Murphy also noted that authorities have been taking the situation “very seriously and have been preparing for it for weeks” while urging residents to remain calm.
Donald Trump jokes: “ I haven’t touched my face for weeks ”
President Donald Trump unexpectedly intervened at a White House meeting of airline and health officials, trying to reassure the traveling public that the flight remains safe. Trump, a self-recognized germophobe, also brought some lightness to the discussion.
When journalists pressed him on precautions before flying, Roosevelt ward health officials urged the flying public to wash their hands and not touch his face.
“I haven’t touched my face for weeks!” Trump said to laugh. “I miss it.”
– John Fritze
Italian sports without fans
The Italian government has declared that all sporting events will be closed to the public until April 3, as the country faces an epidemic of coronavirus that has claimed more than 3,000 lives, the third largest in the world.
The Italian professional football league will likely resume in full this weekend after taking a week off, but fans will not be allowed to attend the games.
SXSW secures support from health official
“Today the threat of community spread remains low, but we are ready to make it happen here,” said Escott.
– Kelsey Bradshaw, American statesman Austin
Bond film “No Time to Die” delayed by virus
The release date for Daniel Craig’s latest James Bond film “No Time to Die” has been moved to November amid the global coronavirus epidemic. The film’s producers announced on Wednesday that “after careful consideration and a thorough evaluation of the world theater market”, the release will be delayed from its original April release date. In February, Paramount Studios scrapped a three-week “Mission: Impossible VII” shoot in Venice, Italy, in what would have been the first day of production for the action franchise.
– Bryan Alexander
After 4 weeks in quarantine: A trip to Margaritaville
Peter and Cindy Molesky left Japan on a Diamond Princess cruise ship on January 20. At the end of their 15-day cruise, they quarantined, first on the ship, then at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. They were released on Tuesday and immediately hit the Margaritaville at San Antonio Airport.
“We thought we deserved it,” said Cindy Molesky as the couple waited for their 5 pm shift. flight back to their home in New York. “We have been released from prison,” she told the Utica Observer-Dispatch. “It’s a little scary. I still want to wear my mask. I feel naked without it now. “
– Amy Neff Roth, observer-dispatch
Death rate rises to 3.4%
The mortality rate among reported coronavirus patients is now around 3.4%, a percentage much higher than previous estimates, according to the WHO. Tedros said the virus is more deadly than the flu, which kills tens of thousands of Americans each year but does not spread as easily.
In the United States, the death rate from seasonal flu is well below 1%. Previous estimates of the global mortality rate for coronavirus were around 2%, and the estimate of 3.43% is not firm since it is not known how many people have actually been infected.
“COVID-19 is a new virus that no one has immunity against,” said Tedros. “This means that more people are susceptible to the infection, and some will suffer from serious illnesses.”
England’s total almost doubles to 80
The total number of confirmed cases in England jumped 32 on Wednesday to a total of 80. All but four new patients have recently traveled to countries with relatively large epidemics or are part of “recognized clusters” “who are under investigation, the government said. Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland recorded a total of five cases.
Upside: More than 16,500 tests across the UK have returned negative, according to the Department of Health and Welfare.
Italy closes schools, Iran cancels prayers, Saudis arrest pilgrims
• Italian schools will close on Thursday and will remain closed until March 15. “It is an impact decision, I hope the students will return to school as soon as possible,” said Minister of Education Lucia Azzolina.
The Italian authorities have put in place several strengthened measures to reduce the spread of the virus. As of Tuesday, passengers on flights to the United States with temperatures above 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit were not allowed to board.
• Iran, where at least 92 people have died and nearly 3,000 cases have been confirmed, has canceled Friday prayers that devout Muslims normally perform in a community setting.
• Israeli health officials have ordered everyone from a high school in central Israel and dozens of football fans to quarantine themselves at home after their possible exposure to a teenager who tested positive for the virus. coronavirus.
• Saudi Arabia has banned its citizens from making pilgrimages to Mecca, one of the holiest cities in Islam. The country had banned foreigners from making such pilgrimages last week.
How many cases of coronavirus in the United States and where?
As of Wednesday afternoon, 148 cases were confirmed in at least 15 states, 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 3,254 on Wednesday, 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 95,120 Wednesday afternoon.
Amazon confirms its first American case
One of the U.S. tech giants, Amazon, has confirmed its first U.S. case of coronavirus, an employee of its large Seattle facility. The employee returned home sick on February 25 and “has not entered Amazon offices since that time,” according to an email sent to Amazon employees. The company told USA TODAY that it learned of the positive diagnosis on Tuesday.
“We support the affected employee who is in quarantine,” the company said in a statement. The employee works in the Brazilian company building, a 12-story, 317,000 square foot downtown complex built in 2015, reported the Seattle Times. Amazon encouraged employees with symptoms to “stay home and see a doctor.” The company “is also continuing to improve deep cleaning and disinfection in the office”.
– Kelly Tyko
Facebook offers free advertising to fight viral misinformation
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the social network is stepping up efforts to tackle virus-related misinformation by giving WHO free publicity. Zuckerberg said in a post on his Facebook account that the company is working with national health ministries and global organizations such as the WHO, the CDC and UNICEF to obtain accurate and up-to-date information about the virus. Zuckerberg said Facebook would also provide “support and millions more in ad credits” to other unspecified organizations.
Contributor: Morgan Hines, USA TODAY; The Associated Press