upi--2020-03-09--More than 100 countries confirm COVID-19 infections

March 9 ( UPI ) -- As the number of COVID-19 cases continued to plummet in China on Monday , several nations confirmed first infections , raising the total number of countries infected with the virus to more than 100 .
Chinese health officials on Monday reported 40 new infections of the virus and 22 deaths over the previous 24 hours .
Among the new infections , 36 were reported in Wuhan , Hubei province , where the disease is believed to have emerged in December .
The four other infections came from abroad , it said .
Based on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported a new case outside of Hubei in the last two days and has only reported five cases there since Wednesday .
However , the new tallies pushed China 's death toll from the coronavirus to 3,119 and its number of infections to 80,735 , making it by far the worst-hit country of the outbreak .
But as the numbers slow in the Asian nation , others are just beginning their fight against COVID-19 .
Bulgaria , Costa Rica , Faroe Island , French Guiana , Maldives , Malta , Martinique and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first infections of the virus in the past 24 hours , according to the World Health Organization .
At least 108 countries and territories have reported a confirmed case of the virus , equalling 110,041 cases worldwide and 3,825 deaths , according to a live tally of government data by Johns Hopkins .
Early Monday , Albania confirmed its first two cases of the coronavirus -- a 54-year-old father and his 28-year-old son who had recently traveled to Florence , Italy , Europe 's worst-infected country with 7,375 cases .
The pair had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now in stable condition and receiving treatment at the University Hospital of Tirana , the Albania Ministry of Health and Social Protection announced in a statement .
Several European nations have confirmed infections coming from Italy , which on Sunday ordered a lockdown for the entire Lombardy region and 14 other provinces , affecting some 24 million people .
The lockdown is through April 3 .
`` We are aware that this will create unease and that these measures will be a sacrifice , big and small , '' Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the decree .
`` But this is the time to be responsible . ''
Among Italy 's thousands of confirmed cases were 366 deaths , the most outside mainland China .
However , as Italy 's outbreak continues to grow , so are those of its European neighbors .
In France , its number of cases nearly doubled since Friday from 577 infections and nine deaths to 1,126 cases and 19 deaths on Sunday .
Germany has recorded 902 cases on Sunday , up from 500 before the weekend .
And Spain recorded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 273 cases , also reported its third death to the virus on Sunday .
Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty identified the patient in a statement as a person older than 60 years of age with `` significant underlying health conditions . ''
Switzerland also recorded its second death Sunday and increased its number of confirmed cases to 281 .
In the Philippines , President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday declared a state of public health emergency after the country 's health department reported its first local transmission of the virus .
Singed Sunday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governments to coordinate a response and mobilize the necessary resources to stymie the COVID-19 outbreak .
`` The secretary of health may call upon the Philippine National Police and other law enforcement agencies to provide assistance in addressing the COVID-19 threat , '' it said .
The archipelago nation on Sunday confirmed four new cases of the virus , increasing its total to 10 and a day after its Department of Health identified its first local transmission of the virus -- a 62-year-old male who began suffering from symptoms of the virus in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ currently exhausting all its efforts to identify others who may have come in contact with the confirmed cases to ensure that this localized transmission does not progress to community spread , '' Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III said in a statement .
South Korea , which has the most number of cases second to China , reported 248 new infections on Monday from the previous day , raising its total to 7,382 .
It also reported one death , increasing the nation 's death toll from the virus to 51 .
Saudi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus on Monday , including a U.S. resident who was returning to the Middle Eastern country following a multi-country trip .
The new cases increased its total to 15 , the Ministry of Health said in a statement on Twitter .
The U.S. resident returned to Saudi Arabia after traveling through the Philippines and Italy , the statement said .
Of the three other patients , one was associated with a previously confirmed case and the two others where Bahraini nationals who had come to Saudia Arabia from their native country via Iraq @

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Italy extended its COVID-19 quarantine nationwide as it reported more than 460 deaths due to the virus. Photo by Filippo Venezia/EPA-EFE
March 9 (UPI) -- Italy extended its COVID-19 lockdown nationwide on Monday as the number of cases in the country continued to surge. Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced he was extending restrictions put in place for the entire Lombardy region and 14 other provinces as the country has reported 463 deaths and 9,172 cases of the coronavirus. Advertisement
At least 112 countries and territories have reported a confirmed case of the virus, totaling 113,603 worldwide and 3,996 deaths, according to a live tally of government data by Johns Hopkins University.
Conte also announced a ban on all public events, saying the move was taken in order to protect the country's population.
"All the measure of the red zones are now extended to all of the national territory," Conte said.
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Europe
Britain's caseload rose to 321 and three people died, health officials reported. A government spokesman said Prime Minister Boris Johnson chaired an emergency cabinet meeting at which it was accepted that the spread in Britain will be "significant," but the country is still in a "contain phase."
In Berlin, German Health Minister Jens Spahn told reporters more than 1,100 cases are confirmed and urged citizens to reduce travel, work from home if possible and avoid public transport.
The country also reported its first two deaths from the virus Monday, according to local officials.
Both deaths occurred in North Rhine-Westphalia, the state's ministry of health said.
"The deaths show that we have to take the situation very seriously said Health Minister Karl-Josef Laumann.
In France, cases nearly doubled since Friday and 19 people have died. Switzerland has recorded its second death and increased the cases to nearly 300. Albania saw its first two cases.
Ireland canceled several St. Patrick's Day parades due to fear regarding the spread of coronavirus, Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said.
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"Due to the unique nature and scale of the St. Patrick's Day festivities in terms of size, the mass gathering of local and international travelers and the continued progression of community transmission in some European countries, along with the emergence of a small number of cases of local transmission in Ireland, the government has decided that St. Patrick's Day parades, including the Dublin parade, will not proceed," the government said.
Cases in Belgium also rose by 39 on Monday to 239, and Prime Minister Sophie Wilmes decided to maintain the country's risk management plan in Phase 2 with plans to discuss applying additional social distancing measures Tuesday at the National Security Council.
NATO also confirmed a staffer at its Brussels' headquarters has tested positive for the virus.
Asia and Middle East
The number of COVID-19 cases continued to decline in China on Monday, as Chinese health officials on Monday reported 40 new infections of the virus and 22 deaths in the last 24-hour period.
Based on its daily updates, China has not reported a new case outside of Hubei in the last two days and has only reported five since last Wednesday.
Iranian state television said Monday almost 600 new cases have arisen, along with 43 deaths. About 2,400 patients have recovered there.
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Iranian officials furloughed around 70,000 prisoners Monday to prevent further spread. Iran said there are criminal cases that involve people hoarding hygiene products and other medical supplies.
South Korea reported dozens of new infections on Monday, but said the spread is "coming under control."
Saudi Arabia announced four new cases Monday, including a U.S. resident who was returning to the Middle Eastern nation following a multi-country trip. The new cases increased the Saudi number to 15, the Ministry of Health said in a statement.
Officials said the U.S. resident returned to Saudi Arabia after traveling through the Philippines and Italy. Two of the new cases involved Bahrain nationals who'd arrived in Saudia Arabia via Iraq.
Qatar said Monday it will close schools nationwide beginning Tuesday. The government in Doha said Sunday it is also barring all flights from 14 nations linked to the outbreak.


upi--2020-03-09--Pentagon pilots wide-ranging programs to reduce active-duty suicide

March 9 ( UPI ) -- High suicide rates among active duty and retired members of the U.S. military have officials seeking new solutions to help soldiers before it 's too late .
The Air Force last month announced a peer-to-peer support group to enable members to seek help .
It is part of a strategy toward encouraging airmen to take proactive steps .
The Army 's Fort Wainwright , in Alaska , has instituted a number of changes since seven deaths on base between May 2018 and April 2019 , five of which were classified as suicides .
Responses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have the common goal of improving overall mental health and reducing the stigma associated with mental illness .
`` The big thing is trying to get soldiers healthy , '' John Pennell , media relations chief for U.S. Army Alaska , told UPI .
The Defense Department provides support through Military OneSource , a 24/7 call center and website created in 2004 to provide information and assistance at no cost , including peer support services with other veterans with similar experiences .
The military also has implemented a suicide prevention training program using @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Refer , which each branch has modified and implemented , Pentagon spokeswoman Jessica Maxwell said .
`` All services emphasize the importance of teaching service members and gatekeepers to recognize the warning signs of suicide , react in a non-judgmental way , ask the service member in trouble if he or she is suicidal , and refer the service member to a helping professional trained in suicide crisis intervention , '' Maxwell said .
At Fort Wainwright , commanding officers who have undergone suicide prevention training do monthly check-ins with each service member @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refer those who it help to support services , Pennell said .
The rate of active-duty suicides has hovered between 20.2 and 29.7 deaths per 100,000 soldiers since 2008 , but has risen in the past five years , according to DoD data .
That has prompted more interest in the causes of death by suicide among active-duty military personnel .
In December , researchers who examined death records dating to the Revolutionary War found a link between longer wars and increased suicide , but not between suicide and deployment .
In fact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who died by suicide in 2017 , 41.7 percent had no history of deployment , Maxwell said .
But Maxwell also said some factors related to deployment might affect suicidal risk .
They include being repeatedly deployed with six months or fewer between deployments or being deployed too soon after joining the military .
Suicide researchers have identified access to lethal means -- including firearms , as well as prescription drugs -- as a major risk factor for suicide deaths and attempts , both in and out of the military .
Just over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention , and DoD data show the the percentage of suicide deaths by firearm is at least 60 percent among active-duty military -- and it is higher among reservists , at 61.7 percent , and the National Guard , at 69.6 percent .
The high rate of gun suicides prompted the Pentagon to create a program called Counseling on Access to Lethal Means , or CALM , to reduce access to lethal means -- including prescription drugs and firearms -- and encourage education for safer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as gun locks or keeping firearms out of the home .
`` It is important to note that suicide is complex , '' Maxwell said .
`` While there is no single cause for suicide among service members , we are committed to addressing suicide comprehensively .
We are continually leveraging existing research , from both within and outside of government , to tackle this tragedy . ''
Service members ' struggles can be unique to their situation , or at least their location .
An epidemiological consultation at Fort Wainwright found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a good night 's sleep .
In Fairbanks , the sun shines nearly 20 hours a day during the summer .
Blackout curtains are common in the region , but the barracks at Fort Wainwright have filtered blinds that still allow in a fair amount of light at night , media relations specialist Pennell said .
After conducting the epidemiological consultation , also called an Epicon , Army Alaska officials measured the windows and ordered new light-blocking blinds , which Pennell said are scheduled to be installed starting this month .
The Epicon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experienced chronic pain or injuries .
Pennell said he did not believe opioid abuse was a factor in the recent spate of deaths , but the study found that soldiers who need to adjust their duties -- or take time off for physical therapy appointments -- might feel like they are letting their colleagues down .
Army Alaska counters that feeling by encouraging morale building and directing officers to let soldiers , during monthly check-ins , know it 's OK to take breaks to care for themselves .
Money was also a factor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ According to the Epicon , 27 percent of soldiers responding to the survey said their financial conditions were worse than before moving to Fort Wainwright , due to Alaska 's high cost of living and the startup costs associated with relocating to a colder climate , like cold-winter clothes .
`` I think the biggest thing is , for me , the idea that suicide is not a military problem , it is not an Alaska problem -- it is a national issue , '' Pennell said .
`` When you realize there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and families , we 're going to do everything we can [ and ] address everything we can . ''

Airmen watch a presentation by Kevin Hines, a motivational speaker on suicide prevention and awareness, at the Presidio of Monterey, Calif., in September 2019. Photo by Marcus Fichtl/Presidio of Monterey
March 9 (UPI) -- High suicide rates among active duty and retired members of the U.S. military have officials seeking new solutions to help soldiers before it's too late. The Air Force last month announced a peer-to-peer support group to enable members to seek help. It is part of a strategy toward encouraging airmen to take proactive steps. Advertisement
The Army's Fort Wainwright, in Alaska, has instituted a number of changes since seven deaths on base between May 2018 and April 2019, five of which were classified as suicides.
Responses within the military have varied, but have the common goal of improving overall mental health and reducing the stigma associated with mental illness.
"The big thing is trying to get soldiers healthy," John Pennell, media relations chief for U.S. Army Alaska, told UPI.
The Defense Department provides support through Military OneSource, a 24/7 call center and website created in 2004 to provide information and assistance at no cost, including peer support services with other veterans with similar experiences.
Advertisement
The military also has implemented a suicide prevention training program using a framework called Question, Persuade and Refer, which each branch has modified and implemented, Pentagon spokeswoman Jessica Maxwell said.
"All services emphasize the importance of teaching service members and gatekeepers to recognize the warning signs of suicide, react in a non-judgmental way, ask the service member in trouble if he or she is suicidal, and refer the service member to a helping professional trained in suicide crisis intervention," Maxwell said.
At Fort Wainwright, commanding officers who have undergone suicide prevention training do monthly check-ins with each service member to assess mental health, and then refer those who it help to support services, Pennell said.
A growing problem
The rate of active-duty suicides has hovered between 20.2 and 29.7 deaths per 100,000 soldiers since 2008, but has risen in the past five years, according to DoD data. That has prompted more interest in the causes of death by suicide among active-duty military personnel.
In December, researchers who examined death records dating to the Revolutionary War found a link between longer wars and increased suicide, but not between suicide and deployment.
In fact, of the active duty service members who died by suicide in 2017, 41.7 percent had no history of deployment, Maxwell said.
Advertisement
But Maxwell also said some factors related to deployment might affect suicidal risk. They include being repeatedly deployed with six months or fewer between deployments or being deployed too soon after joining the military.
Lethal means
Suicide researchers have identified access to lethal means -- including firearms, as well as prescription drugs -- as a major risk factor for suicide deaths and attempts, both in and out of the military.
Just over half of completed suicides involved a firearm, according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and DoD data show the percentage of suicide deaths by firearm is at least 60 percent among active-duty military -- and it is higher among reservists, at 61.7 percent, and the National Guard, at 69.6 percent.
The high rate of gun suicides prompted the Pentagon to create a program called Counseling on Access to Lethal Means, or CALM, to reduce access to lethal means -- including prescription drugs and firearms -- and encourage education for safer storage methods among those at risk, such as gun locks or keeping firearms out of the home.
Holistic approach
"It is important to note that suicide is complex," Maxwell said. "While there is no single cause for suicide among service members, we are committed to addressing suicide comprehensively. We are continually leveraging existing research, from both within and outside of government, to tackle this tragedy."
Advertisement
Service members' struggles can be unique to their situation, or at least their location. An epidemiological consultation at Fort Wainwright found that soldiers struggled the most with getting a good night's sleep.
In Fairbanks, the sun shines nearly 20 hours a day during the summer. Blackout curtains are common in the region, but the barracks at Fort Wainwright have filtered blinds that still allow in a fair amount of light at night, media relations specialist Pennell said.
After conducting the epidemiological consultation, also called an Epicon, Army Alaska officials measured the windows and ordered new light-blocking blinds, which Pennell said are scheduled to be installed starting this month.
The Epicon also found soldiers struggled mentally if they experienced chronic pain or injuries.
Pennell said he did not believe opioid abuse was a factor in the recent spate of deaths, but the study found that soldiers who need to adjust their duties -- or take time off for physical therapy appointments -- might feel like they are letting their colleagues down.
Army Alaska counters that feeling by encouraging morale building and directing officers to let soldiers, during monthly check-ins, know it's OK to take breaks to care for themselves.
Money was also a factor in soldiers' quality of life. According to the Epicon, 27 percent of soldiers responding to the survey said their financial conditions were worse than before moving to Fort Wainwright, due to Alaska's high cost of living and the startup costs associated with relocating to a colder climate, like cold-winter clothes.
Advertisement
"I think the biggest thing is, for me, the idea that suicide is not a military problem, it is not an Alaska problem -- it is a national issue," Pennell said.
"When you realize there are problems that are affecting our soldiers and families, we're going to do everything we can [and] address everything we can."


upi--2020-03-09--Police: 1 dead, 17 injured in Ohio biker clubs shooting

March 9 ( UPI ) -- Police in Ohio said they are investigating a weekend shooting that left one person dead and 17 others injured at a party hosted by a Cleveland motorcycle club .
The Cleveland Division of Police said in a statement Sunday that officers responded to reports of a shooting the night prior at a party hosted by the Omens Motorcycle Club with others , including the Zulus and the Wheels of Soul , in attendance .
Officers arrived at the scene at about 11:30 p.m. Saturday and found a black 48-year-old man dead with multiple gunshot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ began after a group of people who were ejected from the party for fighting opened fire at attendees who then fired back , authorities said .
At least 17 people , both men and women , were injured in the exchange , and many of them arrived on their own to hospitals throughout the city .
The injuries ranged from minor to those that required surgery , the police added .
The Cleveland Division of Police said officers had to secure `` the chaotic and dangerous scene '' and that no officers were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , police began to question witnesses and victims , some of whom may also be suspects in the case , police said .
`` The Cleveland Division of Police is currently carrying on with this multilayered and systematic approach to the investigation , '' said Cleveland Police Chief Calvin D. Williams .
`` Investigators are making progress , though this process is extremely detailed and involved . ''
Mayor Frank G. Jackson offered his condolences to the victims .
`` Once again , the easy availability of guns and the disregard for life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a statement .
`` The Cleveland Division of Police is investigating this incident and these perpetrators will be brought to justice . ''

An image of 3804 East 93rd Street in Cleveland, Ohio, where police said one person was killed and 17 others were injured in a shooting on Saturday night. Photo courtesy of Google Maps
March 9 (UPI) -- Police in Ohio said they are investigating a weekend shooting that left one person dead and 17 others injured at a party hosted by a Cleveland motorcycle club. The Cleveland Division of Police said in a statement Sunday that officers responded to reports of a shooting the night prior at a party hosted by the Omens Motorcycle Club with others, including the Zulus and the Wheels of Soul, in attendance. Advertisement
Officers arrived at the scene at about 11:30 p.m. Saturday and found a black 48-year-old man dead with multiple gunshot wounds, authorities said.
The shooting began after a group of people who were ejected from the party for fighting opened fire at attendees who then fired back, authorities said. At least 17 people, both men and women, were injured in the exchange, and many of them arrived on their own to hospitals throughout the city. The injuries ranged from minor to those that required surgery, the police added.
The Cleveland Division of Police said officers had to secure "the chaotic and dangerous scene" and that no officers were injured while doing so. Once secured, police began to question witnesses and victims, some of whom may also be suspects in the case, police said.
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"The Cleveland Division of Police is currently carrying on with this multilayered and systematic approach to the investigation," said Cleveland Police Chief Calvin D. Williams. "Investigators are making progress, though this process is extremely detailed and involved."
Mayor Frank G. Jackson offered his condolences to the victims.
"Once again, the easy availability of guns and the disregard for life leads to tragedy," Jackson said in a statement. "The Cleveland Division of Police is investigating this incident and these perpetrators will be brought to justice."


upi--2020-03-09--Famous birthdays for March 9: Matthew Gray Gubler, Juliette Binoche

March 9 ( UPI ) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Pisces .
-- Leland @ @ @ @ @ founder of California 's Stanford University , in 1824 -- Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin , @ @ @ @ @ , in 1934

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Matthew Gray Gubler attends the meet and greet for "Criminal Minds" in Tokyo on June 26, 2018. The actor turns 40 on March 9. File Photo by Keizo Mori/UPI | License Photo
March 9 (UPI) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Pisces. They include: Advertisement
-- Explorer Amerigo Vespucci in 1454
-- Leland Stanford, railroad builder and founder of California's Stanford University, in 1824
-- English novelist/poet Victoria Sackville-West in 1892
-- Composer Samuel Barber in 1910
-- Detective novelist Mickey Spillane in 1918
-- Actor Joyce Van Patten in 1934 (age 86)
-- Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space, in 1934
-- Country singer Mickey Gilley in 1936 (age 84)
File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI
-- Actor Raul Julia in 1940
-- Actor Trish Van Devere in 1941 (age 79)
-- Rock 'n' roll singer Mark Lindsay in 1942 (age 78)
-- Former world chess champion Bobby Fischer in 1943
-- Rock musician Robin Trower in 1945 (age 75)
-- Actor Linda Fiorentino in 1960 (age 60)
-- Actor Juliette Binoche in 1964 (age 56)
File Photo by Rune Hellestad/UPI
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-- Actor Emmanuel Lewis in 1971 (age 49)
-- Actor Oscar Isaac in 1979 (age 41)
-- Actor Matthew Gray Gubler in 1980 (age 40)
-- Olympic gold medal skier Julia Mancuso in 1984 (age 36)
-- Actor Brittany Snow in 1986 (age 34)
-- Rapper/actor Bow Wow,born Shad Gregory Moss, in 1987 (age 33)
-- Actor Cierra Ramirez in 1995 (age 25)


upi--2020-03-09--On This Day, March 9: U.S. firebombing of Tokyo leaves more than 100,000 dead

March 9 ( UPI ) -- On this date in history : In 1841 , the U.S. Supreme Court ruled , with one dissent , that the African slaves who seized control of the Amistad slave ship had been illegally forced into slavery and thus were free under U.S. law .
In 1862 , a battle between ironclad ships -- the Union 's Monitor and the Confederate 's Merrimac ( renamed the Virginia ) -- ended indecisively off Hampton Roads , Va .
In 1864 , Gen. Ulysses S. Grant was appointed commander in chief of Union forces in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several hundred Mexican guerrillas under the command of Francisco `` Pancho '' Villa crossed the U.S.-Mexican border and attacked the small border town of Columbus , N.M. , killing 17 Americans .
In 1933 , President Franklin Roosevelt presented the first of his New Deal policies , the Emergency Banking Act , to Congress , which promptly passed the legislation .
In 1945 , more than 300 American B-29 bombers attacked Tokyo with incendiary bombs , killing about 100,000 people and destroying an estimated 250,000 buildings over 16 square miles .
In 1959 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ popular doll , made its debut in stores .
Celebrate Barbie at 25 , 30 , and 50 .
In 1945 , more than 300 American B-29 bombers attacked Tokyo with incendiary bombs , killing about 100,000 people and destroying an estimated 250,000 buildings over 16 square miles .
The public was n't notified until more than a month later .
In 1981 , dozens of workers at the Japan Atomic Power Company nuclear plant in Tsuruga were exposed to radiation after a sludge tank overflowed .
Sixteen tons of the radioactive waste @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't tell the public until more than a month later .
In 1992 , a federal judge in New York announced a final $ 1.3 billion agreement to settle civil suits growing out of the 1989 collapse of Drexel Burham Lambert , once the most powerful firm on Wall Street .
In 1997 , rapper Notorious B.I.G.
, born Christopher Wallace , died from multiple gunshot wounds after a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles .
He was 24 .
In 2004 , John Allen Muhammad was sentenced to death for his part in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2002 .
Muhammad was executed in 2009 .
In 2005 , Dan Rather stepped down as anchor and managing editor of CBS Evening News .
His departure followed acknowledgment of major flaws in a broadcast about U.S. President George W. Bush 's National Guard service .
In 2009 , U.S. President Barack Obama lifted the U.S. limit on federal funding for embryonic stem-cell research , calling it an important advancement in the cause of science in the United States .
In 2011 , after 39 flights over 27 years of service , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Kennedy Space Center .
In 2016 , Croatia , Macedonia and Slovenia closed their borders to migrants attempting to travel through Europe after leaving their homes in places like Syria and Afghanistan .

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On March 9, 1945, more than 300 American B-29 bombers attacked Tokyo with incendiary bombs, killing about 100,000 people and destroying an estimated 250,000 buildings over 16 square miles. File Photo by Ishikawa Kōyō/Wikimedia
March 9 (UPI) -- On this date in history: In 1841, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled, with one dissent, that the African slaves who seized control of the Amistad slave ship had been illegally forced into slavery and thus were free under U.S. law. Advertisement
In 1862, a battle between ironclad ships -- the Union's Monitor and the Confederate's Merrimac (renamed the Virginia) -- ended indecisively off Hampton Roads, Va.
In 1864, Gen. Ulysses S. Grant was appointed commander in chief of Union forces in the U.S. Civil War.
In 1916, several hundred Mexican guerrillas under the command of Francisco "Pancho" Villa crossed the U.S.-Mexican border and attacked the small border town of Columbus, N.M., killing 17 Americans.
File Photo by Library of Congress/UPI
In 1933, President Franklin Roosevelt presented the first of his New Deal policies, the Emergency Banking Act, to Congress, which promptly passed the legislation.
In 1945, more than 300 American B-29 bombers attacked Tokyo with incendiary bombs, killing about 100,000 people and destroying an estimated 250,000 buildings over 16 square miles.
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In 1959, Barbie, which became a perennially popular doll, made its debut in stores. Celebrate Barbie at 25, 30, and 50.
In 1945, more than 300 American B-29 bombers attacked Tokyo with incendiary bombs, killing about 100,000 people and destroying an estimated 250,000 buildings over 16 square miles. The public wasn't notified until more than a month later.
In 1981, dozens of workers at the Japan Atomic Power Company nuclear plant in Tsuruga were exposed to radiation after a sludge tank overflowed. Sixteen tons of the radioactive waste spilled into Wakasa Bay. Officials didn't tell the public until more than a month later.
In 1992, a federal judge in New York announced a final $1.3 billion agreement to settle civil suits growing out of the 1989 collapse of Drexel Burham Lambert, once the most powerful firm on Wall Street.
In 1997, rapper Notorious B.I.G., born Christopher Wallace, died from multiple gunshot wounds after a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles. He was 24.
In 2004, John Allen Muhammad was sentenced to death for his part in one of 10 Washington-area sniper killings in 2002. Muhammad was executed in 2009.
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In 2005, Dan Rather stepped down as anchor and managing editor of CBS Evening News. His departure followed acknowledgment of major flaws in a broadcast about U.S. President George W. Bush's National Guard service.
File Photo by Patrick D. McDermott/UPI
In 2009, U.S. President Barack Obama lifted the U.S. limit on federal funding for embryonic stem-cell research, calling it an important advancement in the cause of science in the United States.
In 2011, after 39 flights over 27 years of service, the space shuttle Discovery made its final landing at Kennedy Space Center.
In 2016, Croatia, Macedonia and Slovenia closed their borders to migrants attempting to travel through Europe after leaving their homes in places like Syria and Afghanistan.
File Photo by David Caprara/UPI


upi--2020-03-09--Independence Day fireworks might return to Mount Rushmore

March 9 ( UPI ) -- Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota will light up with fireworks for the first time in a decade years if the National Park Service approves a fast-tracked plan .
The state 's Republican Gov .
Kristi Noem and President Donald Trump asked U.S .
Interior Secretary David Bernhardt in May to help bring back fireworks to the park , which lies in the middle of the Black Hills National Forest .
A tradition of fireworks displays at the monument ended in 2009 after foresters said there was too much of a fire risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pine trees that had been killed by pine beetles .
The parks agency began work on a draft environmental analysis after the state and Department of Interior issued a memorandum of agreement to `` exercise their full authorities '' to return fireworks to Mount Rushmore National Memorial `` in a safe and responsible manner . ''
The federal agency is seeking public comment through March 30 on an environmental analysis released in late February .
It also will also hold three local meetings in towns near the monument .
`` Public engagement will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ process for the National Park Service , '' said David Vela deputy director for the memorial site in a statement .
The current plan proposed by the park service is to stage a 15- to 30-minute professional fireworks display July 3 .
The park always has celebrated on July 3 , said Maureen McGee-Ballinger , the park 's chief of interpretation and education .
`` We want visitors to be able to visit other celebrations in the Black Hills on July 4 if they wish to , '' she said .
The park @ @ @ @ @ @ @ music and historic reenactments during the day , and those will continue .
The new environmental analysis released by the park shows some of the challenges that fireworks have presented in the past .
The report does not make a recommendation about whether fireworks should return .
More than 20 accidental fires were started by fireworks displays between 1998 and 2009 , excluding 2002 , when the event was cancelled because of extremely dry conditions , the report said .
Also , shooting fireworks off the top of the monument left black ash @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidents George Washington , Thomas Jefferson , Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt .
`` The burn marks are still there from previous fireworks events , '' spokeswomen McGee-Ballinger said .
Also , according to the report , concentrations of perchlorate , a chemical used in fireworks , lingered in drinking water reservoirs near the monument as late as 2015 , years after the fireworks had been cancelled in the park .
The Park Service does not have adequate power for a laser light show because the memorial is at the end of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Power fluctuations dimmed a 2002 laser show .
Several local tribal leaders have opposed the revival of fireworks at Mount Rushmore .
The monument and surrounding Black Hills are located in tribally disputed territory based on treaties in the 1860s .
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1980 that the region was unfairly taken from the Sioux tribe without compensation .
`` We would like to assert for the record , and in the strongest terms , that we object to the reintroduction of the fireworks at Mount Rushmore , '' a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Flying Hawk , chairman of the Yankton Sioux Tribe said .
`` [ T ] o discharge fireworks within or around our sacred sites would be tantamount to sacrilege and would egregiously violate our cultural and spiritual protocols . ''
The park does not allow open flames at tribal religious ceremonies , such as sweat lodge purifications , during the summer , another tribal leader said .
`` When tribes partake in ceremonies in the Black Hills , they 're told they ca n't light a fire because of the fire threat level @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Julian Bear Runner , president of the Oglala Sioux on the Pine Ridge Reservation , told UPI .
Far greater danger could result from a fireworks show than a Native American ritual , Bear Runner said .
`` I 'm not a fire expert , but I do have common sense .
At that time of year , it 's very dry and hot .
They have no control over these fireworks .
They could be duds , they could malfunction , they 're not guaranteed to be safe , '' Bear Runner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a `` go/no-go '' checklist that will allow the fireworks to be canceled if weather does not cooperate or fire danger is too high , the report said .
Details of that list are not available , the park 's spokeswoman said .
South Dakota Gov .
Noem has made the fireworks a priority and hopes to return the spectacle to its former glory , she said .
The state would be in charge of hiring the fireworks vendor .
`` When the fireworks were previously held at Mount Rushmore , the show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Noem said in a statement .
`` The entire world was able to view a celebration of our nation 's freedoms from the majestic memorial and the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota .
`` There is no more fitting place in all the nation to celebrate our democracy than from Mount Rushmore . ''
Trump even hinted he would show up .
`` I called up our people , and in 15 minutes got it approved .
And we will have our first big fireworks display at Mount Rushmore , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there if I can , '' Trump said in January during an event marking an initial trade pact with China .
`` If President Trump shows up at the park on July 3 , I 'm sure we 'll know about it , '' spokeswoman McGee-Ballinger said

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem and President Donald Trump have supported the return of Independence Day fireworks to Mount Rushmore National Memorial after they were stopped in 2009 due to forest fire concerns. Photo courtesy of Travel South Dakota
March 9 (UPI) -- Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota will light up with fireworks for the first time in a decade if the National Park Service approves a fast-tracked plan. The state's Republican Gov. Kristi Noem and President Donald Trump asked U.S. Interior Secretary David Bernhardt in May to help bring back fireworks to the park, which lies in the middle of the Black Hills National Forest. Advertisement
A tradition of fireworks displays at the monument ended in 2009 after foresters said there was too much of a fire risk in the area because of dead ponderosa pine trees that had been killed by pine beetles.
The parks agency began work on a draft environmental analysis after the state and Department of Interior issued a memorandum of agreement to "exercise their full authorities" to return fireworks to Mount Rushmore National Memorial "in a safe and responsible manner."
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The federal agency is seeking public comment through March 30 on an environmental analysis released in late February. It also will also hold three local meetings in towns near the monument.
"Public engagement will play a key role in the planning process for the National Park Service," David Vela, deputy director for the memorial site, said in a statement.
The plan proposed by the park service is to stage a 15- to 30-minute professional fireworks display on July 3.
The park always has celebrated on July 3, said Maureen McGee-Ballinger, the park's chief of interpretation and education. "We want visitors to be able to visit other celebrations in the Black Hills on July 4 if they wish to," she said.
The park has formerly hosted Independence Day picnics, music and historic reenactments during the day, and those will continue.
The new environmental analysis released by the park shows some of the challenges that fireworks have presented in the past. The report does not make a recommendation about whether fireworks should return.
More than 20 accidental fires were started by fireworks displays between 1998 and 2009, excluding 2002, when the event was cancelled because of extremely dry conditions, the report said.
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Also, shooting fireworks off the top of the monument left black ash scars on the sculptured heads of U.S. Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt.
"The burn marks are still there from previous fireworks events," spokeswomen McGee-Ballinger said.
Also, according to the report, concentrations of perchlorate, a chemical used in fireworks, lingered in drinking water reservoirs near the monument as late as 2015, years after the fireworks had been cancelled in the park.
The Park Service does not have adequate power for a laser light show because the memorial is at the end of a power grid line, the report said. Power fluctuations dimmed a 2002 laser show.
Several local tribal leaders have opposed the revival of fireworks at Mount Rushmore. The monument and surrounding Black Hills are located in tribally disputed territory based on treaties in the 1860s. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1980 that the region was unfairly taken from the Sioux tribe without compensation.
"We would like to assert for the record, and in the strongest terms, that we object to the reintroduction of the fireworks at Mount Rushmore," a letter to the park service from Robert Flying Hawk, chairman of the Yankton Sioux Tribe said.
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"[T]o discharge fireworks within or around our sacred sites would be tantamount to sacrilege and would egregiously violate our cultural and spiritual protocols."
The park does not allow open flames at tribal religious ceremonies, such as sweat lodge purifications, during the summer, another tribal leader said.
"When tribes partake in ceremonies in the Black Hills, they're told they can't light a fire because of the fire threat level during that time of year," Julian Bear Runner, president of the Oglala Sioux on the Pine Ridge Reservation, told UPI.
Far greater danger could result from a fireworks show than a Native American ritual, Bear Runner said.
"I'm not a fire expert, but I do have common sense. At that time of year, it's very dry and hot. They have no control over these fireworks. They could be duds, they could malfunction, they're not guaranteed to be safe," Bear Runner said.
The park service will develop a "go/no-go" checklist that will allow the fireworks to be canceled if weather does not cooperate or fire danger is too high, the report said. Details of that list are not available, the park's spokeswoman said.
South Dakota Gov. Noem has made the fireworks a priority and hopes to return the spectacle to its former glory, she said. The state would be in charge of hiring the fireworks vendor.
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"When the fireworks were previously held at Mount Rushmore, the show was beamed around the globe via satellite," Noem said in a statement. "The entire world was able to view a celebration of our nation's freedoms from the majestic memorial and the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota.
"There is no more fitting place in all the nation to celebrate our democracy than from Mount Rushmore."
Trump even hinted he would show up.
"I called up our people, and in 15 minutes got it approved. And we will have our first big fireworks display at Mount Rushmore, and I will try and get out there if I can," Trump said in January during an event marking an initial trade pact with China.
"If President Trump shows up at the park on July 3, I'm sure we'll know about it," spokeswoman McGee-Ballinger said.


upi--2020-03-09--Coronavirus: State Department, CDC urge against cruise ship travel

March 8 ( UPI ) -- U.S. citizens , particularly those with `` underlying health issues , '' are urged not to travel by cruise ship during the coronavirus outbreak , the U.S. State Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended Sunday night .
The guidelines come after two cruise ships were prevented from docking on both U.S. coasts after another cruise ship was quarantined in Japan for weeks .
The Grand Princess , where at least 21 people have tested positive for COVID-19 , will dock in Oakland , Calif. , on Monday after remaining close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Another Princess cruise ship , the Regal Princess , was held up for 14 hours off the southeast coast of Florida on Sunday as it awaited tests for coronavirus from two crew members transferred from the Grand Princess .
The crew members did n't exhibit symptoms of the virus and the tests returned negative Sunday night .
With more than 3,800 deaths and nearly 110,000 cases worldwide , including 21 fatalities in the United States and more than 500 cases , the two agencies are urging Americans to avoid cruise travel .
Their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ citizens , particularly travelers with underlying health conditions , should not travel by cruise ship , '' the State Department said .
`` While the U.S. government has evacuated some cruise ship passengers in recent weeks , repatriation flights should not be relied upon as an option for U.S. citizens under the potential risk of quarantine by local authorities . ''
The State Department said it is relying on guidance from the CDC .
`` Recent reports of COVID-19 on cruise ships highlight the risk of infection to cruise ship passengers and crew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Like many other viruses , COVID-19 appears to spread more easily between people in close quarters aboard ships .
`` It has become clear that people with underlying conditions such as heart disease , chronic lung disease , diabetes , and other conditions that cause suppression of immune system particularly among the older adults , are at a high risk of serious disease if infected with the novel coronavirus .
`` To best protect these vulnerable individuals , we recommend that such individuals avoid situations that increase their risk of acquiring infections .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ non-essential travel such as long plane trips , and especially avoiding embarking on cruise ships . ''
The State Department notes `` this is a fluid situation '' and `` passengers with plans to travel by cruise ship should contact their cruise line companies directly for further information and continue to monitor the Travel.state.gov website and see the latest information from the CDC . ''
Carnival Cruise Line , which owns the Princess brand , said it will continue to offer cruises .
`` Our brands have enhanced their health screening protocols , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as well as other actions , both prior to boarding and onboard our ships , '' the company said in a statement .
`` We are currently in discussions with the CDC , World Health Organization and other health officials , and we met as a cruise industry Saturday , March 7 , with U.S. Vice President Mike Pence on an aggressive industry-wide response plan .
The health and safety of our guests and crew is our highest priority , and cruising remains one of the most attractive vacation options available.
`` Pence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Task Force , said new screening and quarantine protocols will be put into effect in a few days , and did n't mention avoid going on cruises .
`` The American people value our cruise line industry , '' Pence , who leads the White House Coronavirus Task Force , said at a roundtable discussion with Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis in Fort Lauderdale .
`` American people value our cruise line industry , it brings great joy and great entertainment value for Americans .
We want to ensure Americans can continue to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ industry . ''
The Grand Princess cruise ship has been waiting off the coast of San Francisco for clearance to return to land .
Passengers who require medical treatment and hospitalization will disembark first , followed by California residents , who will undergo a health screening before being sent to a federal facility in the state for further testing and isolation .
Guests from outside California will be transported to facilities in other states , and the crew will be quarantined and treated aboard the ship , according to initial plans .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Princess Cruises said in an emailed statement to UPI .
Once all passengers have left the ship , it will continue on to San Francisco , it said , adding that plans for crew to be quarantine at its final distination are still being discussed .
U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro , D-Texas , wrote on Twitter that the Trump administration has decided to quarantine some of the passengers from the Grand Princess at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio , where 230 people have already been quarantined while calling for more tests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us have expressed to the Trump administration serious concerns with how the administration has handled the quarantine and treatment of infected patients , '' Castro wrote .
`` For example , we still do not have the testing kits we need to truly determine community spread . ''
Meanwhile , Canada said Sunday it will be repatriating its citizens from the vessel .
Global Affairs Canada said it has chartered a flight for the evacuation but did not state when it will occur .
`` This decision was made following a request for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States to repatriate Canadians , '' it said in a statement .
Due to the possibility of COVID-19 transmission among the vessel 's passengers , Canadians evacuated from the cruise will be quarantined upon their return to a Canadian Forces base in Trenton , Ontario .
Another Princess cruise ship , the Regal Princess , was held up off the southeast coast of Florida on Sunday as it awaited tests for coronavirus from two crew members who were transferred from the Grand Princess .
The ship was scheduled to pull into the port @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Guard delivered testing kits to the ship from a small boat Sunday morning .
The cruise line canceled the next cruise from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale .
Six deaths have been associated with the Diamond Princess cruise ship that traveled to Wuhan , China , and was docked in Yokahama , Japan , for several weeks .
Around 700 of the 3,711 guests have been stricken , including 46 Americans .
Surgeon General Jerome Adams urged elderly Americans to avoid traveling , including on cruise ships , on Sunday .
`` We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk .
Average age of death for people from coronavirus is 80 , '' Adams said on CNN 's State of the Nation .
`` Average age of people who need medical attention is age 60 .
We want people who are older , people who have medical conditions , to take steps to protect themselves , including avoiding crowded spaces , including thinking very carefully about whether or not now is the time to get on that cruise ship , whether now is the time to take that long haul flight .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and three people infected with the virus repatriated from Wuhan , there are 547 cases in the United States , according to data from Johns Hopkins .
The death toll grew by two Sunday with two fatalities in the state of Washington for a total of 18 .
The other deaths are two in Florida and one in California .
The first death was eight days ago -- in Kings County , Wash. Washington State has 132 cases , New York has the second most with 106 and California at 98 .
Oregon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of emergency on Sunday as the state , which borders Washington , identified seven new coronavirus cases , bringing its total to 14 .
`` This news is concerning for all Oregonians , but my resolve and that of my administration to address this public health crisis is unchanged , '' Brown said .
`` This emergency declaration gives the Oregon Health Authority and the Office of Emergency Management all the resources at the state 's disposal to stem the spread of this disease .
We will do everything it takes , within @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and local officials to keep Oregonians safe . ''
State emergencies were previously declared in California , Florida , Kentucky , Maryland , New York , Washington and Utah .
Puerto Rico officials announced Sunday its first presumptive case of the virus after a passenger of a cruise ship from Ft. Lauderdale , Fla. , began experiencing symptoms on arrival in San Juan .
The tests will be sent off to the CDC for confirmation .
The Puerto Rico Department of Health confirmed the patient to be a 68-year-old woman from Italy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and growing cluster of COVID-19 .
The department said the woman had received medical treatment for pneumonia symptoms while on the vessel .
`` Her husband , who we also ordered the test , does not show any symptoms , '' the department said in a statement .
In response , Gov .
Wanda Vasquez Garced ordered all cruise ships to certify that no passengers are experiencing symptoms or have a travel history to hotspots when docking on the Caribbean island , the Executive Branch of Puerto Rico said via Twitter .
Iowa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases among former passengers of an Egypt cruise ship , two of whom suffer from underlying health conditions .
`` While these are the first cases , it may not be the last and it 's why Iowans must continue to practice safe habits like hand washing and staying home from work when said , '' Gov .
Kim Reynolds said in a statement .
Virginia health officials also announced a second presumptive case of coronavirus in the state , an 80-year-old Fairfax resident who traveled on a similar Nile River cruise linked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Presumptive positive cases refer to patients who have tested positive for the virus but have not yet been confirmed by the CDC .
Anthony Fauci , head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , said that the U.S. government could shut down some sections of the country due to outbreaks of COVID-19 .
Fauci , a member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force , told Fox News that `` anything is possible '' in regards to measures widespread lockdowns in areas affected by the coronavirus could take place in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't think it would be as draconian as nobody in or nobody out but if we continue to get cases like this particularly at the community level there will be what we call 'mitigation , ' where we have to essentially do social distancing , keep people out of crowded places , take a look at seriousness , do you really need to travel and I think it 's particularly important among the most vulnerable , '' he said .
The first case was on U.S. soil was Jan. 21 .
President Donald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his administration 's handling of the outbreak , writing on Twitter that the White House has a `` perfectly coordinated and fine-tuned '' plan for the virus .
`` We moved VERY early to close borders to certain areas which was a Godsend .
V.P .
is doing a great job .
The Fake News Media is doing everything possible to make us look bad .
Sad ! ''
Trump wrote .

1/2
The Grand Princess cruise ship, where 21 people have tested positive will return to the United States on Monday, as a member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force suggested the United States could close off some sections of the country if the outbreak worsens. Photo by California National Guard/UPI | License Photo
March 8 (UPI) -- U.S. citizens, particularly those with "underlying health issues," are urged not to travel by cruise ship during the coronavirus outbreak, the U.S. State Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended Sunday night. The guidelines come after two cruise ships were prevented from docking on both U.S. coasts after another cruise ship was quarantined in Japan for weeks. Advertisement
The Grand Princess, where at least 21 people have tested positive for COVID-19, will dock in Oakland, Calif., on Monday after remaining close to the shore in Northern California.
Another Princess cruise ship, the Regal Princess, was held up for 14 hours off the southeast coast of Florida on Sunday as it awaited tests for coronavirus from two crew members transferred from the Grand Princess. The crew members didn't exhibit symptoms of the virus and the tests returned negative Sunday night.
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With more than 3,800 deaths and nearly 110,000 cases worldwide, including 21 fatalities in the United States and more than 500 cases, the two agencies are urging Americans to avoid cruise travel. Their messages included similar wording.
"U.S. citizens, particularly travelers with underlying health conditions, should not travel by cruise ship," the State Department said. "While the U.S. government has evacuated some cruise ship passengers in recent weeks, repatriation flights should not be relied upon as an option for U.S. citizens under the potential risk of quarantine by local authorities."
The State Department said it is relying on guidance from the CDC.
"Recent reports of COVID-19 on cruise ships highlight the risk of infection to cruise ship passengers and crew," the CDC said. "Like many other viruses, COVID-19 appears to spread more easily between people in close quarters aboard ships.
"It has become clear that people with underlying conditions such as heart disease, chronic lung disease, diabetes, and other conditions that cause suppression of immune system particularly among the older adults, are at a high risk of serious disease if infected with the novel coronavirus.
"To best protect these vulnerable individuals, we recommend that such individuals avoid situations that increase their risk of acquiring infections. This entails avoiding crowded places, avoiding non-essential travel such as long plane trips, and especially avoiding embarking on cruise ships."
Advertisement
The State Department notes "this is a fluid situation" and "passengers with plans to travel by cruise ship should contact their cruise line companies directly for further information and continue to monitor the Travel.state.gov website and see the latest information from the CDC."
Carnival Cruise Line, which owns the Princess brand, said it will continue to offer cruises.
"Our brands have enhanced their health screening protocols, which includes thermal scans, temperature checks as well as other actions, both prior to boarding and onboard our ships," the company said in a statement.
"We are currently in discussions with the CDC, World Health Organization and other health officials, and we met as a cruise industry Saturday, March 7, with U.S. Vice President Mike Pence on an aggressive industry-wide response plan. The health and safety of our guests and crew is our highest priority, and cruising remains one of the most attractive vacation options available. "
Pence, who leads the White House Coronavirus Task Force, said new screening and quarantine protocols will be put into effect in a few days, and didn't mention avoid going on cruises.
"The American people value our cruise line industry," Pence, who leads the White House Coronavirus Task Force, said at a roundtable discussion with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in Fort Lauderdale. "American people value our cruise line industry, it brings great joy and great entertainment value for Americans. We want to ensure Americans can continue to enjoy the opportunities of the cruise line industry."
Advertisement
The Grand Princess cruise ship has been waiting off the coast of San Francisco for clearance to return to land.
Passengers who require medical treatment and hospitalization will disembark first, followed by California residents, who will undergo a health screening before being sent to a federal facility in the state for further testing and isolation.
Guests from outside California will be transported to facilities in other states, and the crew will be quarantined and treated aboard the ship, according to initial plans.
The disembarkation process will take several days, Princess Cruises said in an emailed statement to UPI.
Once all passengers have left the ship, it will continue on to San Francisco, it said, adding that plans for crew to be quarantine at its final distination are still being discussed.
U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, wrote on Twitter that the Trump administration has decided to quarantine some of the passengers from the Grand Princess at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, where 230 people have already been quarantined while calling for more tests in the state.
"Many of us have expressed to the Trump administration serious concerns with how the administration has handled the quarantine and treatment of infected patients," Castro wrote. "For example, we still do not have the testing kits we need to truly determine community spread."
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Meanwhile, Canada said Sunday it will be repatriating its citizens from the vessel.
Global Affairs Canada said it has chartered a flight for the evacuation but did not state when it will occur.
"This decision was made following a request for assistance from the government of the United States to repatriate Canadians," it said in a statement.
Due to the possibility of COVID-19 transmission among the vessel's passengers, Canadians evacuated from the cruise will be quarantined upon their return to a Canadian Forces base in Trenton, Ontario.
Another Princess cruise ship, the Regal Princess, was held up off the southeast coast of Florida on Sunday as it awaited tests for coronavirus from two crew members who were transferred from the Grand Princess. The ship was scheduled to pull into the port at 8 a.m. EDT.
The Coast Guard delivered testing kits to the ship from a small boat Sunday morning. The cruise line canceled the next cruise from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale.
Six deaths have been associated with the Diamond Princess cruise ship that traveled to Wuhan, China, and was docked in Yokahama, Japan, for several weeks. Around 700 of the 3,711 guests have been stricken, including 46 Americans.
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Surgeon General Jerome Adams urged elderly Americans to avoid traveling, including on cruise ships, on Sunday.
"We now know more about who is at risk. Average age of death for people from coronavirus is 80," Adams said on CNN's State of the Nation.
"Average age of people who need medical attention is age 60. We want people who are older, people who have medical conditions, to take steps to protect themselves, including avoiding crowded spaces, including thinking very carefully about whether or not now is the time to get on that cruise ship, whether now is the time to take that long haul flight."
Including the Diamond Princess cruise passengers and three people infected with the virus repatriated from Wuhan, there are 547 cases in the United States, according to data from Johns Hopkins.
The death toll grew by two Sunday with two fatalities in the state of Washington for a total of 18. The other deaths are two in Florida and one in California. The first death was eight days ago -- in Kings County, Wash.
Washington State has 132 cases, New York has the second most with 106 and California at 98.
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Oregon Gov. Kate Brown declared a state of emergency on Sunday as the state, which borders Washington, identified seven new coronavirus cases, bringing its total to 14.
"This news is concerning for all Oregonians, but my resolve and that of my administration to address this public health crisis is unchanged," Brown said.
"This emergency declaration gives the Oregon Health Authority and the Office of Emergency Management all the resources at the state's disposal to stem the spread of this disease. We will do everything it takes, within our power and in coordination with federal and local officials to keep Oregonians safe."
State emergencies were previously declared in California, Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, New York, Washington and Utah.
Puerto Rico officials announced Sunday its first presumptive case of the virus after a passenger of a cruise ship from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., began experiencing symptoms on arrival in San Juan. The tests will be sent off to the CDC for confirmation.
The Puerto Rico Department of Health confirmed the patient to be a 68-year-old woman from Italy, which is dealing with Europe's largest and growing cluster of COVID-19.
The department said the woman had received medical treatment for pneumonia symptoms while on the vessel.
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"Her husband, who we also ordered the test, does not show any symptoms," the department said in a statement.
In response, Gov. Wanda Vasquez Garced ordered all cruise ships to certify that no passengers are experiencing symptoms or have a travel history to hotspots when docking on the Caribbean island, the Executive Branch of Puerto Rico said via Twitter.
Iowa on Sunday evening confirmed its three presumptive cases among former passengers of an Egypt cruise ship, two of whom suffer from underlying health conditions.
"While these are the first cases, it may not be the last and it's why Iowans must continue to practice safe habits like hand washing and staying home from work when said," Gov. Kim Reynolds said in a statement.
Virginia health officials also announced a second presumptive case of coronavirus in the state, an 80-year-old Fairfax resident who traveled on a similar Nile River cruise linked to three positive tests in Maryland. Presumptive positive cases refer to patients who have tested positive for the virus but have not yet been confirmed by the CDC.
Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said that the U.S. government could shut down some sections of the country due to outbreaks of COVID-19.
Advertisement
Fauci, a member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, told Fox News that "anything is possible" in regards to measures widespread lockdowns in areas affected by the coronavirus could take place in the United States.
"I don't think it would be as draconian as nobody in or nobody out but if we continue to get cases like this particularly at the community level there will be what we call 'mitigation,' where we have to essentially do social distancing, keep people out of crowded places, take a look at seriousness, do you really need to travel and I think it's particularly important among the most vulnerable," he said.
The first case was on U.S. soil was Jan. 21.
President Donald Trump on Sunday responded to criticism of his administration's handling of the outbreak, writing on Twitter that the White House has a "perfectly coordinated and fine-tuned" plan for the virus.
"We moved VERY early to close borders to certain areas which was a Godsend. V.P. is doing a great job. The Fake News Media is doing everything possible to make us look bad. Sad!" Trump wrote.


upi--2020-03-08--North Korea fires three projectiles into sea

SEOUL , March 8 ( UPI ) -- North Korea fired three unidentified projectiles into waters off its east coast on Monday morning , its second weapons test in a week , South Korea 's military announced .
The projectiles were fired from a location near the town of Sondok in South Hamgyong Province , South Korea 's joint chiefs of staff said in a release , noting that the military is monitoring for possible additional launches .
South Korean defense officials held an emergency meeting on Monday and `` reviewed the overall military security situation around the country , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in a brief statement .
The statement added that the recent military activities by the North `` did not help peace efforts on the Korean Peninsula . ''
North Korea fired a pair of short-range projectiles last Monday , two days after conducting live-fire exercises , moves that drew the condemnation of South Korea as well as five European member states of the United Nations Security Council .
After a closed-door meeting , Belgium , Estonia , France , Germany and Britain criticized the `` provocative actions '' of the North and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and peace .
Pyongyang responded on Saturday , calling the statement an `` absurd argument '' and defending the right of North Korea to conduct military exercises .
`` The routine drills of our army are just the same as those conducted by any country of the world , '' a spokesperson for North Korea 's foreign ministry was quoted as saying in the state-run Korea Central News Agency .
The spokesperson warned that the condemnation `` will become a fuse that will trigger yet another momentous reaction . ''
Kim Yong Jo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kim Jong Un , also made a statement last week defending the missile tests and criticizing South Korea 's condemnation , calling remarks from President Moon Jae-in an `` incoherent and imbecile way of thinking . ''
Nuclear negotiations between the United States and North Korea have stalled since a summit last year between U.S. President Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un in Hanoi , Vietnam , failed to produce an agreement .
After a 17-month hiatus , Pyongyang conducted more than a dozen weapons tests throughout the latter half of 2019 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its first submarine-launched missile and a version of the highly maneuverable Russian Iskander .
In December , the North carried out a pair of what it called `` crucial '' tests at its Sohae Satellite Launching Station , which analysts suggested could be a long-range rocket engine for an intercontinental ballistic missile .
At the end of 2019 , Kim Jong Un announced that there was no longer any reason for North Korea to be `` unilaterally bound '' to its commitment to halt nuclear and inter-continental ballistic missile tests and warned of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soon .
The latest weapons test comes as South Korea continues to battle a coronavirus outbreak , with the number of confirmed cases rising to 7,382 by Monday .
Last week , Kim Jong Un sent a letter to Moon expressing support .
The North Korean leader also `` expressed his candid thoughts and positions on the situation surrounding the Korean Peninsula , '' in the letter , the Blue House said .

North Korea fired two unidentified projectiles from its east coast on Monday morning, its second such test in a week, according to the South Korea military. Photo by Jeong Heon-kyun/EPA-EFE
SEOUL, March 8 (UPI) -- North Korea fired three unidentified projectiles into waters off its east coast on Monday morning, its second weapons test in a week, South Korea's military announced. The projectiles were fired from a location near the town of Sondok in South Hamgyong Province, South Korea's joint chiefs of staff said in a release, noting that the military is monitoring for possible additional launches. Advertisement
South Korean defense officials held an emergency meeting on Monday and "reviewed the overall military security situation around the country," the country's presidential Blue House said in a brief statement. The statement added that the recent military activities by the North "did not help peace efforts on the Korean Peninsula."
North Korea fired a pair of short-range projectiles March 2, two days after conducting live-fire exercises, moves that drew the condemnation of South Korea, as well as five European member states of the United Nations Security Council.
After a closed-door meeting, Belgium, Estonia, France, Germany and Britain criticized the "provocative actions" of the North and said the missile tests undermined regional stability and peace.
Pyongyang responded on Saturday, calling the statement an "absurd argument" and defending the right of North Korea to conduct military exercises.
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"The routine drills of our army are just the same as those conducted by any country of the world," a representative of North Korea's foreign ministry was quoted as saying in the state-run Korea Central News Agency.
The representative warned that the condemnation "will become a fuse that will trigger yet another momentous reaction."
Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, also made a statement last week defending the missile tests and criticizing South Korea's condemnation, calling remarks from President Moon Jae-in an "incoherent and imbecile way of thinking."
Nuclear negotiations between the United States and North Korea have stalled since a summit last year between U.S. President Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un in Hanoi, Vietnam, failed to produce an agreement.
After a 17-month hiatus, Pyongyang conducted more than a dozen weapons tests throughout the latter half of 2019, launching several short-range ballistic missiles, including its first submarine-launched missile and a version of the highly maneuverable Russian Iskander.
In December, the North carried out a pair of what it called "crucial" tests at its Sohae Satellite Launching Station, which analysts suggested could be a long-range rocket engine for an intercontinental ballistic missile.
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At the end of 2019, Kim Jong Un announced that there was no longer any reason for North Korea to be "unilaterally bound" to its commitment to halt nuclear and inter-continental ballistic missile tests and warned of a "new strategic weapon" coming soon.
The latest weapons test comes as South Korea continues to battle a coronavirus outbreak, with the number of confirmed cases rising to 7,382 by Monday. Last week, Kim Jong Un sent a letter to Moon expressing support.
The North Korean leader also "expressed his candid thoughts and positions on the situation surrounding the Korean Peninsula," in the letter, the Blue House said.


upi--2020-03-08--Ted Cruz, Paul Gosar self-quarantine after interacting with CPAC guest who tested positive for COVID

Ted Cruz, Paul Gosar self-quarantine after interacting with CPAC guest who tested positive for COVID-19

March 8 ( UPI ) -- Sen. Ted Cruz and Rep. Paul Gosar announced on Sunday that they have quarantined themselves after coming into contact with a guest who tested positive for COVID-19 at last week 's Conservative Political Action Conference .
Cruz , the Republican senator for Texas , said in a statement that he is not experiencing symptoms and feels healthy , but `` out of an abundance of caution '' will quarantine himself at his Texas home for the remainder of the coronavirus ' 14-incubation period from when he interacted with the now-symptomatic guest at the conservative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 29 .
Cruz said the interaction with the conference guest lasted less than a minute about 10 days ago and consisted of `` a brief conversation and a handshake . ''
Gosar , the Republican congressman for Arizona , said in a separate statement that followed Cruz 's that he and his staff had come into contact with a guest who has since been hospitalized with COVID-19 .
It is unclear if Gosar and Cruz were referring to the same unnamed conference attendee .
`` I was with the individual for an extended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several times , '' Gosar said , adding neither he nor any of his staff is experiencing symptoms .
`` However , in order to prevent any potential transmission , I will remain at my home in Arizona until the conclusion of the 14-day period following my interaction with this individual . ''
He also said his office in Washington , D.C. , will be closed for the week `` out of an abundance of caution '' and his staff will be telecommuting instead .
The announcement came a day after the American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , announced a CPAC attendee had tested positive Saturday for COVID-19 and had contracted the virus prior to attending the conference held in Maryland .
President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence attended this year 's conference but neither came into contact with the infected guest , the ACU said .
In a statement on Sunday , ACU said the Maryland Department of Health has screened thousands of employees at the resort , conference center and hotel where the conference was held and `` not a single person has reported any unusual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Health is not restricting the movement or interactions with others of those hotel employees , '' it said in a statement , adding it is encouraging them to take their temperature twice daily and pay attention for symptoms .
The ACU said the infected attendee was receiving medical care in New Jersey and was quarantined .
On Saturday , Trump told reporters that campaign rallies will continue despite growing fears of the virus spreading among large gatherings .
Asked if he is worried about the coronavirus getting near the White House , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerned . ''
News of the CPAC infection came days after the American Israel Public Affairs Committee announced attendees to its policy conference last week may have come into contact with a person infected with the virus .
CPAC is the largest and `` most influential '' conservative gathering , attracting thousands of guests a year , it said on its website .
Since the coronavirus outbreak began in China in December , there have been more than 3,800 deaths and 110,000 cases worldwide , including 21 fatalities in the United States and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

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Rep. Mark Meadows of North Carolina, and President Donald Trump's next chief of staff, makes remarks during a Conservative Political Action Conference session late February, an event where he interacted with a person now-confirmed to be infected with COVID-19. Photo by Mike Theiler/UPI | License Photo
March 8 (UPI) -- Five Republican lawmakers including President Donald Trump's incoming chief of staff said Monday they have quarantined themselves after coming into contact with a guest who tested positive for COVID-19 at last week's Conservative Political Action Conference. U.S. Rep. Mark Meadows of North Carolina, who was tapped Friday by Trump to be his incoming chief of staff, has self-isolated himself at home despite having been tested negative for the deadly coronavirus that has killed more than 4,000 people worldwide, Ben Williamson, Meadows' chief of staff and communications, said in a statement. Advertisement
"While he's experiencing zero symptoms, under doctors' standard precautionary recommendations, he'll remain at home until the 14-day period expires this Wednesday," Williamson said.
The extent of Meadows' interaction with the confirmed case at CPAC, which ran from Feb. 26 to 29, was not detailed other than it occurred 12 days ago.
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The announcement of Meadows' self-isolation follows that of several others on Monday who attended CPAC, which, according to its website, is the largest and "most influential" conservative gathering in the world.
The American Conservative Union, which hosted the conference, announced Sunday a CPAC attendee had tested positive the day prior for COVID-19 and had contracted the virus prior to attending the conference held in Maryland.
President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence attended this year's conference but neither came into contact with the infected guest, the ACU said.
The White House said in a statement late Monday that Trump has not been tested for the infectious coronavirus as he has "neither had prolonged close contact with any known confirmed COVID-19 patients, nor does he have any symptoms."
"President Trump remains in excellent health, and his physician will continue to closely monitor him," said Stephanie Grisham, White House press secretary.
The statement followed reporters asking Vice President Mike Pence whether he or Trump had been tested for the virus after having attended the event and potentially having come into contact with the infected attendee or others who had.
"I have not been tested for the coronavirus," Pence told reporters during a press briefing by the Coronavirus Task Force.
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He added that he didn't know if Trump had been tested.
On Saturday, Trump told reporters that campaign rallies will continue despite growing fears of the virus spreading among large gatherings.
Asked if he is worried about the coronavirus getting near the White House, Trump said, "I'm not concerned."
Earlier Monday, Sen. Ted Cruz, Rep. Paul Gosar, Rep. Doug Collins and Rep. Matt Gaetz separately announced that they have all been quarantined due to having interacted with the confirmed case at the conservative event.
Cruz, the Republican senator for Texas, said in a statement that he is not experiencing symptoms and feels healthy, but "out of an abundance of caution" will quarantine himself at his Texas home for the remainder of the coronavirus' 14-day incubation period from when he interacted with the now-symptomatic guest at the conservative conference that ran from Feb. 26 to 29.
Cruz said the interaction with the conference guest lasted less than a minute about 10 days ago and consisted of "a brief conversation and a handshake."
Gosar, the Republican congressman for Arizona, said in a separate statement that followed Cruz's that he and his staff had come into contact with a guest who has since been hospitalized with COVID-19. It is unclear if Gosar and Cruz were referring to the same unnamed conference attendee.
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"I was with the individual for an extended period of time and we shook hands several times," Gosar said, adding neither he nor any of his staff is experiencing symptoms. "However, in order to prevent any potential transmission, I will remain at my home in Arizona until the conclusion of the 14-day period following my interaction with this individual."
He also said his office in Washington, D.C., will be closed for the week "out of an abundance of caution" and his staff will be telecommuting instead.
Collins, a Georgian lawmaker, said he was notified by CPAC after a photo surfaced of him and the patient while Gaetz, a lawmaker for Florida, said his interaction occurred 11 days ago. Both have also placed themselves in self-isolation.
Meanwhile, Texas Rep. Louie Gohmert, who came into contact with the infected guest during CPAC, said he will not be quarantining himself following consultations over the weekend with "a top CDC physician."
"I took the advice of the expert and returned to work," Gohmert said in a statement. "No one is panicking and we are observing the recommended precautions."
News of the CPAC infection came days after the American Israel Public Affairs Committee announced attendees to its policy conference last week may have come into contact with a person infected with the virus.
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Since the coronavirus outbreak began in China in December, there have been more than 4,000 deaths and 113,000 cases worldwide, including 21 fatalities in the United States and more than 500 cases of the disease.
In a statement on Sunday, ACU said the Maryland Department of Health has screened thousands of employees at the resort, conference center and hotel where the conference was held and "not a single person has reported any unusual illness."
"The Dept. of Health is not restricting the movement or interactions with others of those hotel employees," it said in a statement, adding it is encouraging them to take their temperature twice daily and pay attention for symptoms.
The ACU said the infected attendee was receiving medical care in New Jersey and was quarantined.
In a separate situation, Rep. Julia Brownley, D-Calif., said she has self-isolated herself after having come into contact last week in Washington, D.C., with a person who has tested positive for the virus.
She said despite the risk of exposure to herself and her staff being low, she has decided to self-quarantine "out of an abundance of absolute caution."
"My D.C. staff and I are self-monitoring and maintaining social distancing practices," she said in a statement. "Neither I, nor my staff, are experiencing any symptoms at this time."


upi--2020-03-09--New York Jets to release CB Trumaine Johnson

March 9 ( UPI ) -- After two disappointing seasons in New York , the Jets are planning to release cornerback Trumaine Johnson .
League sources told ESPN and Newsday on Monday the Jets informed Johnson that he will be released in the coming days .
The team must make the roster move before March 20 , when Johnson 's $ 11 million salary for this season becomes fully guaranteed .
Johnson , who turned 30 in January , failed to live up to the team 's expectations after signing with the Jets as a free agent in 2018 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ him a five-year , $ 72.5 million contract , including $ 34 million guaranteed at signing and a $ 20 million signing bonus .
Johnson missed nine games last season after being benched for two contests and suffering multiple ankle injuries .
He sat out five contests in 2018 due to a strained quadriceps and also missed the Jets ' final game of that season because of a violation of team rules .
Before joining the Jets , Johnson spent six seasons with the St. Louis and Los Angeles Rams .
In 102 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jets , he has recorded 393 total tackles , 23 interceptions , 74 passes defensed and four defensive touchdowns .

New York Jets cornerback Trumaine Johnson (22) signed a five-year, $72.5 million contract with the Jets in 2018 but failed to live up to the team's expectations. File Photo by Chris Szagola/UPI | License Photo
March 9 (UPI) -- After two disappointing seasons in New York, the Jets are planning to release cornerback Trumaine Johnson. League sources told ESPN and Newsday on Monday the Jets informed Johnson that he will be released in the coming days. The team must make the roster move before March 20, when Johnson's $11 million salary for this season becomes fully guaranteed. Advertisement
Johnson, who turned 30 in January, failed to live up to the team's expectations after signing with the Jets as a free agent in 2018. According to Spotrac, the Jets gave him a five-year, $72.5 million contract, including $34 million guaranteed at signing and a $20 million signing bonus.
Johnson missed nine games last season after being benched for two contests and suffering multiple ankle injuries. He sat out five contests in 2018 due to a strained quadriceps and also missed the Jets' final game of that season because of a violation of team rules.
Before joining the Jets, Johnson spent six seasons with the St. Louis and Los Angeles Rams. In 102 career NFL games between the Rams and Jets, he has recorded 393 total tackles, 23 interceptions, 74 passes defensed and four defensive touchdowns.


upi--2020-03-09--Grand Princess cruise ship with 21 positive coronavirus cases docks in California

March 9 ( UPI ) -- A cruise ship carrying 21 people diagnosed with COVID-19 docked in Oakland on Monday after waiting off the California coast since Thursday .
The Grand Princess arrived at the Port of Oakland Monday afternoon carrying 2,421 passengers and 1,113 crew members all of whom will be screened for the coronavirus disease before departing the ship .
Two passengers and 19 crew members have already tested positive for the virus .
Princess Cruises announced Sunday that passengers who require immediate medical attention will be disembarked first and said that it completed delivery of prescription refills @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 962 California residents on the ship will be the next to depart followed by passengers from other states and international travelers .
California residents will be transported to Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield , Calif. , and Miramar Naval Air Station in San Diego for a 14-day quarantine period while American passengers from other states will be transferred to bases in Texas and Georgia .
The cruise line said it has not yet determined plans for a crew quarantine .
`` To avoid delays , testing will be conducted when guests arrive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cruises said .
`` Once disembarkation of the guests is completed , the crew will remain onboard and Grand Princess will depart from San Francisco bay . ''
During a briefing by the White House Coronavirus Task Force , Health and Human Services Department deputy secretary Robert Kaldec said that the government intends to disembark about half of the passengers on Monday and the other half on Tuesday .
All passengers will be screened for the virus before departing the ship and those whose health is in question will receive additional screening .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ transported back to the country and the U.S. government is working with the United Kingdom to ensure the return of its residents .

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The Grand Princess cruise ship carrying 2,421 passengers and 1,113 crew members including 21 people diagnosed with COVID-19 docked in Oakland on Monday. Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI | License Photo
March 9 (UPI) -- A cruise ship carrying 21 people diagnosed with COVID-19 docked in Oakland on Monday after waiting off the California coast since Thursday. The Grand Princess arrived at the Port of Oakland Monday afternoon carrying 2,421 passengers and 1,113 crew members all of whom will be screened for the coronavirus disease before departing the ship. Advertisement
Two passengers and 19 crew members have already tested positive for the virus.
Princess Cruises announced Sunday that passengers who require immediate medical attention will be disembarked first and said that it completed delivery of prescription refills to passengers over the weekend.
The 962 California residents on the ship will be the next to depart followed by passengers from other states and international travelers.
California residents will be transported to Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, Calif., and Miramar Naval Air Station in San Diego for a 14-day quarantine period while American passengers from other states will be transferred to bases in Texas and Georgia. The cruise line said it has not yet determined plans for a crew quarantine.
"To avoid delays, testing will be conducted when guests arrive at their onward destination," Princess Cruises said. "Once disembarkation of the guests is completed, the crew will remain onboard and Grand Princess will depart from San Francisco bay."
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During a briefing by the White House Coronavirus Task Force, Health and Human Services Department deputy secretary Robert Kaldec said that the government intends to disembark about half of the passengers on Monday and the other half on Tuesday.
All passengers will be screened for the virus before departing the ship and those whose health is in question will receive additional screening.
Kaldec added that Canadian passengers will be transported back to the country and the U.S. government is working with the United Kingdom to ensure the return of its residents.


upi--2020-03-09--'Lost in Space' renewed for a third and final season

March 9 ( UPI ) -- Netflix renewed its sci-fi family drama Lost in Space for a third and final @ @ @ @ @ From the beginning , we 've always viewed this particular story of The Robinsons as @ @ @ @ @ producer/show-runner Zack Estrin said in a press release .
`` A three part epic family @ @ @ @ @ , middle and end .
It 's also worth noting that , with what these @ @ @ @ @ to survive each episode -- if anyone deserves to catch their breath before their next @ @ @ @ @ , Penny , Judy , Maureen , John , Don West , Dr. Smith ... @ @ @ @ @ , of course , Debbie the Chicken . ''
The show stars Toby Stephens , @ @ @ @ @ , Mina Sundwall , Taylor Russell , Ignacio Serricchio and Parker Posey .
It follows @ @ @ @ @ on their way to colonize a new planet .
Lost in Space 3 is expected @ @ @ @ @

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Molly Parker's "Lost in Space" will return to Netflix for a third and final season. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
March 9 (UPI) -- Netflix renewed its sci-fi family drama Lost in Space for a third and final season on Monday. "From the beginning, we've always viewed this particular story of The Robinsons as a trilogy," executive producer/show-runner Zack Estrin said in a press release. Advertisement
"A three part epic family adventure with a clear beginning, middle and end. It's also worth noting that, with what these characters go through just trying to survive each episode -- if anyone deserves to catch their breath before their next mission -- it's Will, Penny, Judy, Maureen, John, Don West, Dr. Smith... and The Robot. And, of course, Debbie the Chicken."
The show stars Toby Stephens, Molly Parker, Maxwell Jenkins, Mina Sundwall, Taylor Russell, Ignacio Serricchio and Parker Posey. It follows a group of Earth people on their way to colonize a new planet.
Lost in Space 3 is expected to premiere in 2021.
More #LostinSpace is coming. The third and final season arrives in 2021 on Netflix. pic.twitter.com/tZw1r5ZOCR— Lost In Space (@lostinspacetv) March 9, 2020
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upi--2020-03-09--Italy to suspend all sporting events until April 3 due to coronavirus

March 9 ( UPI ) -- All sporting events in Italy will be suspended until next month because of the coronavirus outbreak , the Italian Olympic Committee announced Monday .
The committee , which oversees all sports in Italy , said in a statement that all sports activities will be postponed until April 3 , and that it would request a government decree to impose the decision .
The Italian Olympic Committee 's ruling is expected to impact everything from the country 's top soccer league , Serie A , to preparatory events for the upcoming Olympic Games in Tokyo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CONI , said its decision does n't include international competition for clubs or national teams since it does n't oversee those .
Juventus , Napoli and Atalanta are competing in the Champions League , while Inter Milan and Roma are playing in the Europa League .
Italy previously ordered that sporting events in the country be carried out without fans in attendance .
Serie A , which has n't been canceled since World War II , resumed Sunday with five games played in empty stadiums , including the rivalry match between Inter Milan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases of COVID-19 exist in Italy , according to statistics released Sunday from the World Health Organization .
The virus has killed at least 234 people in the country and more than 3,500 around the world .
The coronavirus outbreak has impacted sporting events around the world , including Champions League soccer matches and Japan 's Nippon Professional Baseball .
The Champions League has instituted postponements and ordered matches played behind closed doors , while Nippon Professional Baseball delayed the start of its regular season because of the virus .
`` We ca @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , where for every one person in a large crowd , two to three more will likely become infected , '' Nippon Professional Baseball commissioner Atsushi Saito told reporters Monday .
`` If you have games , you have to make a maximum effort .
`` If you do n't have the ability to measure body temperatures , disinfect the stadium and equipment and ... then you ca n't be said to be doing your best . ''

March 9 (UPI) -- All sporting events in Italy have been suspended until next month because of the coronavirus outbreak, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte confirmed Monday.
Conte said the suspension, which is part of a countrywide lockdown due to the disease, will go into effect Tuesday.
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"We're having an important growth in infection... and of deaths," Conte said in his address. "We all must give something up for the good of Italy. We have to do it now, and we'll only be able if we all collaborate and adapt to these more stringent measures.
"This is why I decided to adopt even more strong and severe measures to contain the advance... and protect the health of all citizens."
Earlier Monday, the Italian Olympic Committee, which oversees all sports in the country, said in a statement that all sports activities will be postponed until April 3, and that it would request a government decree to impose the decision.
The committee's ruling is expected to impact everything from the country's top soccer league, Serie A, to preparatory events for the upcoming Olympic Games in Tokyo.
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The committee, also known as CONI, said its decision doesn't include international competition for clubs or national teams since it doesn't oversee those. Juventus, Napoli and Atalanta are competing in the Champions League, while Inter Milan and Roma are playing in the Europa League.
Italy previously ordered that sporting events in the country be carried out without fans in attendance. Serie A, which hasn't been canceled since World War II, resumed Sunday with five games played in empty stadiums, including the rivalry match between Inter Milan and Juventus.
More than 5,800 confirmed cases of COVID-19 exist in Italy, according to statistics released Sunday from the World Health Organization. The virus has killed at least 234 people in the country and more than 3,500 around the world.
The coronavirus outbreak has impacted sporting events around the world, including Champions League soccer matches and Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball.
The Champions League has instituted postponements and ordered matches played behind closed doors, while Nippon Professional Baseball delayed the start of its regular season because of the virus.
"We can't play games in the current situation, where for every one person in a large crowd, two to three more will likely become infected," Nippon Professional Baseball commissioner Atsushi Saito told reporters Monday. "If you have games, you have to make a maximum effort.
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"If you don't have the ability to measure body temperatures, disinfect the stadium and equipment, then you can't be said to be doing your best."