As the death toll in the United States reached 11 on Wednesday, Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti and county officials declared a state of emergency and announced six other cases of deadly new coronavirus that have officials responsible for health from around the world looking for answers.
Over 130 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 cruise ship that traveled from San Francisco to Mexico.
Garcetti said the statements would help states 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.
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:
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 amount originally requested by President Donald Trump last month. The package includes more than $ 3 billion for research and development of vaccines and $ 2.2 billion that will help prevent, prepare for and respond to the threat of the virus.
– Christal Hayes
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 lives at risk from the new coronavirus and other infectious diseases, said WHO. 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,” Tedros said 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.”
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
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, which would have been the first day of production for the action franchise.
– Bryan Alexander
After 4 weeks in quarantine of coronavirus: 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 death rate among coronavirus patients is now around 3.4%, a percentage much higher than previous estimates, said the director general of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. He 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 where the outbreaks are relatively large or were part of “recognized clusters” who were 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.
“Today we are announcing that people who isolate themselves will receive statutory sickness benefits on the first day of leave,” said Premier Boris Johnson in a speech to Parliament.
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 country has confirmed more than 2,500 cases of coronavirus and at least 79 people have died.
• 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.
Fauci: vaccine could be in a year
Public health officials told senators on Tuesday that while scientists are working on a vaccine, it will not be available soon. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases, said that potential treatments could occur before a vaccine. “The deadlines are fundamentally different,” he said.
Fauci said a vaccine would take at least a year to a year and a half. Nine people in the United States died after being infected with a coronavirus. There are at least 127 confirmed cases in the country. Pharmaceutical company Gilead is testing a potential treatment: “We will know in a few months if it works,” said Fauci.
– Adrianna Rodriguez
How many cases of coronavirus in the United States and where?
As of Wednesday afternoon, 138 cases have been confirmed in at least 15 states, according to a coronavirus dashboard managed by Johns Hopkins University.
The number is expected to increase, however, as the CDC has stepped up its screening efforts and encouraged more testing 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 3,214 on Wednesday, including more than 2,900 in mainland China, where the epidemic began in the bustling capital of Hubei province, Wuhan. While Chinese authorities said on Tuesday that they thought the “victory” against the virus would come when new cases fell to a six-week low, Italy and Iran were among the countries under siege, making 92 and 79 dead respectively.
The number of confirmed cases worldwide was 93,158 Wednesday morning.
Amazon confirms its first American coronavirus case in Seattle
One of the American technology giants, Amazon, confirmed on Tuesday its first American case of coronavirus, an employee of its large Seattle facilities. 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 its efforts to fight virus-related misinformation by offering free advertising to the World Health Organization. Zuckerberg said in a post on his Facebook account that the company is working with national health departments and global organizations such as the World Health Orgnization, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and UNICEF to obtain precise and up-to-date information on the virus. Zuckerberg said Facebook would also provide “support and millions more in ad credits” to other unspecified organizations.