mercurynews--2020-03-08--The Latest: US Democratic leaders call for paid sick leave

ROME ( AP ) — The Latest on the coronavirus outbreak ( all times local ) : The Democratic leaders of the U.S. Congress are proposing paid sick leave for people affected by coronavirus outbreaks as well as other economic initiatives they say will help workers and their families .
In a joint statement Sunday night , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer framed the proposals as a counter to the Trump administration ’ s call for tax cuts for major corporations reeling from the impact of the virus .
The proposals include enhanced unemployment insurance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jobs , and expanding food stamps , school lunches and other food-related assistance .
They also propose standards for and sufficient distribution of protective equipment for health care and other workers in contact with people exposed to the virus , and widespread and free coronavirus testing .
Pelosi and Schumer say that patients must be reimbursed for any noncovered coronavirus-related costs , and that consumers are protected from price gouging for medical and nonmedical essentials .
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says American passengers of the Grand Princess cruise ship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California , Texas and Georgia to be tested for the COVID-19 virus and for a 14-day quarantine .
The department said Sunday nearly 1,000 California residents will complete the mandatory quarantine at Travis Air Force Base north of San Francisco and Marine Corps Air Station Miramar near San Diego .
Residents of other states will complete the mandatory quarantine at Joint Base San Antonio Lackland in Texas or Dobbins Air Force Base in Georgia .
It says all will be monitored for symptoms of COVID-19 throughout their quarantine .
The Grand Princess ship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people from 54 countries , is expected to dock at the Port of Oakland , California , on Monday .
Federal officials say the Department of State is working with the home countries of several hundred passengers to arrange for repatriation to their countries .
France is banning events of more than 1,000 people to limit the spread of the coronavirus and recruiting recently retired medics and medical students to help deal with growing numbers of infections .
The country reported 1,126 cases as of Sunday , up 19 % from the day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases in Europe after Italy .
So far , 19 people in France have died .
“ The coming weeks will be difficult , ” Health Minister Olivier Veran said Sunday after President Emmanuel Macron held an emergency security meeting to develop anti-virus strategy .
Protests , exams and public transport could be exempt from the ban on large gatherings , because they are “ useful to the life of the country , ” Veran said .
He suggested that nationwide municipal elections coming in a week would be maintained .
Italy ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases crept past that of South Korea , becoming the country with the second-highest number of infections Sunday after China .
Italian government authorities say the country now has 7,375 cases .
That is 62 more than South Korea .
China has more than 80,000 cases .
Early in the outbreak , Italy was zealous in testing those living in hotbed areas , even if they had no symptoms or close contact with someone known to be infected .
So far , Italian health personnel have performed some 50,000 tests .
Most of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occurred in Lombardy , a populous northern region which the government ordered under lockdown Sunday until April 3 .
A cruise ship is being held off the coast of Florida on Sunday awaiting test results on whether two crew members have contracted the new coronavirus .
The Miami Herald reports that the Regal Princess was supposed to dock in Port Everglades on Sunday morning but was instead sailing up and down the coast .
The crew members in question had transferred from the Grand Princess cruise ship in California where nearly two dozen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus , including 19 crew members .
The Coast Guard delivered testing kits to the Regal Princess on Sunday morning and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a “ no-sail order ” for the ship .
It is unclear how many people are on board , but the cruise line ’ s website says it has a capacity of 3,560 guests .
Emails and phone calls to the cruise line , Coast Guard and port were not immediately returned Sunday .
The Regal Princess ’ next cruise scheduled to leave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was also canceled .
Germany ’ s health minister is urging event organizers to consider postponing any gatherings with more than 1,000 people as a measure to help stop the spread of the coronavirus .
Jens Spahn told the dpa news agency on Sunday that in his view , organizers are still going ahead with too many events like sports games , concerts and trade fairs .
He says “ I am aware of the consequences this will have for citizens and organizers — we will talk about how we will deal with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days.
” Germany ’ s governing parties are meeting Sunday night to talk about several measures , including bridge loans and possible tax deferrals for particularly hard-hit sectors such as the travel and hospitality industries .
They ’ re also talking about relaxing labor laws to allow more short-term employees to help companies with many workers out sick , and moving ahead a tax cut with the hope of stimulating the economy .
Already staggering under weeks of fears about the spread of the coronavirus , Italy ’ s tourism industry has now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Vatican announced Sunday that in coordination with drastic Italian government measures aimed at containing Italy ’ s virus outbreak , Europe ’ s worst , it is shutting down its museums , which include access to the Sistine Chapel , until April 3 .
The chapel ’ s ceiling and altar wall , frescoed by Michelangelo , are one of the world ’ s biggest tourist attractions , and a high point of Vatican Museums visits .
The Vatican said its one case of coronavirus is that of a person who had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health facilities as part of a doctor ’ s visit ahead of being hired .
Five people who had close contact with that person have been put in quarantine as a precaution The Italian government ’ s decree also shut down outdoor sites like Pompeii ’ s extraordinary archaeological ruins and a blockbuster exhibit in Rome of more than 100 paintings and drawings by Raphael , which was mounted to mark the Renaissance artist ’ s 500th anniversary of his death from a fever in the city .
Dozens of Americans who are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coast will be securely transferred to a military base outside Atlanta to undergo coronavirus testing .
Georgia Gov .
Brian Kemp said 34 Georgians are among the U.S. citizens expected to arrive at Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta on either Monday night or Tuesday morning .
Kemp said people from other eastern U.S. states would also be quarantined at the military base , but he did not specify how many .
The Grand Princess is carrying more than 3,500 people from 54 countries .
It is expected to dock in Oakland , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mike Pence announced Friday that at least 21 people aboard the ship , including 19 crew members , have tested positive for the virus .
Greece ’ s Health Ministry has announced that all sports events in the country will take place without spectators for the next two weeks to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus .
The ministry also says that recreation and support centers for the elderly will shut down for two weeks and no school trips will take place during that period .
As of Saturday night , 66 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Greece , 47 of them among a group of 54 travelers to Israel and Egypt .
Four other cases involve people coming in contact with those travelers .
There have been no fatalities .
A 66-year-old man , among the traveling group , is in intensive care .
The government is expected to announce economic measures related to the disease outbreak Monday .
Authorities in southern Italy have expressed concern that a mass movement of people moving from north to south would only spread the coronavirus to regions that have had relatively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Italy announced a sweeping quarantine early Sunday for its northern regions , igniting travel chaos as it restricted the movements of a quarter of its people in a bid to halt the coronavirus ’ relentless march across Europe .
Gov .
Michele Emiliano , who leads the region of Puglia in the ‘ ’ heel ’ of the boot-shaped Italian peninsula , said in his dramatic appeal , “ Don ’ t bring the Lombard , Veneto , Emilia-Romagna epidemic into our Puglia , by running away to prevent the government decree ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he signed an ordinance requiring a quarantine for all those who arrive in Puglia from Lombardy and the 11 other northern provinces covered by the lockdown .
Italian state TV reported that other governors in the south , which includes the Campania region around Naples and Sicily , were intent on doing the same .
Britain ’ s health secretary has outlined emergency plans to deal with the impact of the coronavirus outbreak , pledging to do “ all we can ” to contain the virus .
The plans , which will likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the month , are expected to include measures to allow some court proceedings to be conducted via telephone or video .
Volunteers who leave their main jobs to help health care systems will also be given employment safeguards .
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he wants “ to ensure government is doing everything in its power to be ready to delay and mitigate this threat.
” Some 206 people in the U.K. have tested positive for the virus , according to data last updated on Saturday .
Two people have died .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers who returned from South Korea but did not immediately go into a required 14-day quarantine to avoid spreading the coronavirus .
Deputy Minister of Public Health Satit Pitutecha said Sunday the workers must report to the authorities within three days or face legal penalties .
Thailand last week announced a policy under which all workers returning from South Korea must be quarantined for 14 days .
The arriving workers who left Bangkok ’ s Suvarnabhumi Airport without going into quarantine all arrived before midnight Saturday , according to Thanarak Plipat , deputy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department of Disease Control .
Thanarak said 60 more Thais who returned from South Korea on flights arriving after 1 a.m. Sunday were sent as planned to a naval base at Sattahip in eastern Thailand , which is the country ’ s main official quarantine facility .
He said the operation to provide escorts for the returning workers began only after midnight Saturday .
The Israel Airports Authority has announced massive cutbacks in response to the coronavirus ’ devastating effects on air travel .
The authority said Sunday it is putting 70 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and overtime has been canceled for all employees .
To protect those with families , it was decided that single employees would be put on leave first .
Senior management has announced it is forfeiting 50 % of its bonuses as well .
Israel has confirmed 25 cases of the virus , including a 38-year-old man who was in serious condition on Sunday .
Some 20,000 people have been ordered into 14-day home quarantine protectively .
The local travel sector has taken a beating , as scores of flights in and out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an extraordinary measure aimed at discouraging crowds , Pope Francis didn ’ t appear at a Vatican palazzo window to deliver his Sunday noon Angelus blessing and remarks .
Instead , a video of his reading his comments and reciting prayers standing at a lectern near a microphone in the Vatican ’ s apostolic library was beamed on maxi-screens set up in St. Peter ’ s Square to the faithful .
The bells of St. Peter ’ s Basilica tolled as the window opened and Francis appeared for a few seconds to wave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But he made no comments from the window , having already delivered the broadcast remarks .
The measure — which was announced on Saturday — was aimed at discouraging crowds from gathering in the square , where on days with good weather like this Sunday as many as 40,000 people can turn out to watch the pope in the window .
Several thousands of tourists and faithful turned out anyway , scattered across the vast , cobblestone square .
Italy ’ s Rai state TV says the governor of Piedmont in northern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Italian governor to test positive .
On Saturday , the governor of Lazio , the region including Rome , announced that he was staying in quarantine because he had been told he ’ s positive for the virus .
Earlier in the outbreak , the governor of Lombardy , the populous northern region at the heart of the outbreak , announced he was putting himself in quarantine because a close aide had tested positive .
On the first day of a sweeping quarantine in northern Italy , even outdoor sites like the sprawling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city destroyed by volcanic eruption in 79 A.D. , were shut to tourists .
In Rome , the blockbuster exhibition of “ Raffaello , ” a tribute to one of the Renaissance ’ s greatest artists for the 500th anniversary of his death , was shuttered Sunday , only three days after it opened to the public .
A notice on its website said advance ticket holders would be contacted about the closure , which lasts until April 3 .
The show , which assembled 120 works of Raphael in what was described @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many of his paintings and drawings loaned from museums and private collections worldwide , is due to close on June 2 .
Curators have said it would be nearly impossible to prolong it , with some many works on loan from museums eager to have them back .
Italy announced the quarantine early Sunday for its northern regions , igniting travel chaos as it restricted the movements of a quarter of its people in a bid to halt the coronavirus ’ relentless march across Europe .
Bulgaria has announced its first four coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirmed Sunday that a 27-year-old man from the northern town of Pleven and a 75-year-old woman from the central town of Gabrovo had tested positive for the virus .
Chief state health inspector Angel Kunchev said the two had not traveled or contacted anyone who had returned from a country with a coronavirus outbreak .
Both had been hospitalized a few days ago with severe respiratory problems .
After health officials tested a total of 70 people who had been in contact with the two infected , they announced that the samples of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ female health worker from Gabrovo had tested positive .
The Balkan country of 7 million , which is one of the last in the region to report coronavirus cases , is already facing a nationwide influenza epidemic , with schools closed and hospitals packed with patients .
Japan ’ s ancient sport of sumo is grappling with the harsh reality of the coronavirus outbreak .
The Spring Grand Sumo Tournament kicked off on Sunday in Osaka at Edion Arena with no spectators as part of Japan ’ s extraordinary efforts to halt the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wearing face masks and were required to use hand-sanitizing spray before entering the arena .
They were also required to take their temperatures before entering the raised ring .
If a wrestler has a temperature above 37.5 degrees celsius ( 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit ) for two or more days , he will be forced to sit out the tournament .
Sumo officials have said if a wrestler is diagnosed with the coronavirus , the 15-day tournament will be immediately halted .
The Associated Press receives support for health and science coverage from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Science Education .
The AP is solely responsible for all content .

ROME (AP) — The Latest on the coronavirus outbreak (all times local):
3:15 a.m.
Two members of Congress, Sen. Ted Cruz and congressman Paul Gosar, say they are isolating themselves after determining they had contact at a political conference with a man infected with the coronavirus.
Cruz says he had brief contact with the man at the Conservative Political Action Conference nearly two weeks ago and would spend the next few days at his home in Texas until a full 14 days had passed since their interaction.
Gosar says he had sustained contact with the man at CPAC and that he and three members of his senior staff are under self-quarantine. The office of the Arizona Republican will be closed for the week.
Besides Cruz and Gosar, the CPAC schedule lists three other senators and 12 House members who were scheduled to speak. They include No. 2 House GOP leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana, No. 3 Republican leader Liz Cheney of Wyoming and congressman Mark Meadows of North Carolina, who has since become the White House chief of staff.
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1:30 a.m.
China is reporting another slight drop in the number of new virus cases.
In its update Monday morning, China said 40 cases of infection with the new coronavirus were confirmed in the past 24 hours, down from 44 new cases the previous day.
Another 22 deaths were reported, all but one in the hardest-hit province of Hubei that has been the epicenter of the global outbreak.
China now has now recorded 80,735 total cases, among which 19,016 remain in treatment and 58,600 have been released.
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12:45 a.m.
Three cases of COVID-19 have been identified in the U.S. state of Iowa, Gov. Kim Reynolds said Sunday.
All three individuals with COVID-19 recently took a cruise in Egypt before returning home to Johnson County in Iowa. They are recovering at home in isolation.
Iowa health officials said one of the individuals is between 41 and 60 years old. The other two individuals with COVID-19 are between 61 and 80 years old.
The cruise that the three individuals were on ran from Feb. 17 to March 2. The individuals returned home on March 3.
“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 sick,” Reynolds said.
Health officials will work to determine who the three individuals had contact with since they returned, State Epidemiologist Dr. Caitlin Pedati said. It wasn’t immediately clear whether people who were in contact with the individuals will have to self quarantine.
Iowa health officials have now tested 37 individuals for COVID-19. Twenty-six tests were negative, and eight tests are still pending results. Those results are expected Monday.
The virus has infected more than 100,000 people and killed more than 3,400 globally, although most people who have contracted the virus since December have now recovered.
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12:15 a.m.
The Democratic leaders of the U.S. Congress are proposing paid sick leave for people affected by coronavirus outbreaks as well as other economic initiatives they say will help workers and their families.
In a joint statement Sunday night, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer framed the proposals as a counter to the Trump administration’s call for tax cuts for major corporations reeling from the impact of the virus.
The proposals include enhanced unemployment insurance benefits for those who may lose their jobs, and expanding food stamps, school lunches and other food-related assistance. They also propose standards for and sufficient distribution of protective equipment for health care and other workers in contact with people exposed to the virus, and widespread and free coronavirus testing.
Pelosi and Schumer say that patients must be reimbursed for any noncovered coronavirus-related costs, and that consumers are protected from price gouging for medical and nonmedical essentials.
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9:35 p.m.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says American passengers of the Grand Princess cruise ship will be taken to military bases in California, Texas and Georgia to be tested for the COVID-19 virus and for a 14-day quarantine.
The department said Sunday nearly 1,000 California residents will complete the mandatory quarantine at Travis Air Force Base north of San Francisco and Marine Corps Air Station Miramar near San Diego. Residents of other states will complete the mandatory quarantine at Joint Base San Antonio Lackland in Texas or Dobbins Air Force Base in Georgia.
It says all will be monitored for symptoms of COVID-19 throughout their quarantine.
The Grand Princess ship, which is carrying more than 3,500 people from 54 countries, is expected to dock at the Port of Oakland, California, on Monday.
Federal officials say the Department of State is working with the home countries of several hundred passengers to arrange for repatriation to their countries.
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9:10 p.m.
France is banning events of more than 1,000 people to limit the spread of the coronavirus and recruiting recently retired medics and medical students to help deal with growing numbers of infections.
The country reported 1,126 cases as of Sunday, up 19% from the day before, the second largest number of cases in Europe after Italy. So far, 19 people in France have died.
“The coming weeks will be difficult,” Health Minister Olivier Veran said Sunday after President Emmanuel Macron held an emergency security meeting to develop anti-virus strategy.
Protests, exams and public transport could be exempt from the ban on large gatherings, because they are “useful to the life of the country,” Veran said. He suggested that nationwide municipal elections coming in a week would be maintained.
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6:45 p.m.
Italy’s total number known number of COVID-19 cases crept past that of South Korea, becoming the country with the second-highest number of infections Sunday after China.
Italian government authorities say the country now has 7,375 cases. That is 62 more than South Korea.
China has more than 80,000 cases.
Early in the outbreak, Italy was zealous in testing those living in hotbed areas, even if they had no symptoms or close contact with someone known to be infected. So far, Italian health personnel have performed some 50,000 tests.
Most of Italy’s deaths and cases have occurred in Lombardy, a populous northern region which the government ordered under lockdown Sunday until April 3.
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6:15 p.m.
A cruise ship is being held off the coast of Florida on Sunday awaiting test results on whether two crew members have contracted the new coronavirus.
The Miami Herald reports that the Regal Princess was supposed to dock in Port Everglades on Sunday morning but was instead sailing up and down the coast. The crew members in question had transferred from the Grand Princess cruise ship in California where nearly two dozen on board have tested positive for the virus, including 19 crew members.
The Coast Guard delivered testing kits to the Regal Princess on Sunday morning and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a “no-sail order” for the ship.
It is unclear how many people are on board, but the cruise line’s website says it has a capacity of 3,560 guests. Emails and phone calls to the cruise line, Coast Guard and port were not immediately returned Sunday.
The Regal Princess’ next cruise scheduled to leave Port Everglades for a seven-day Caribbean trip was also canceled.
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4 p.m.
Germany’s health minister is urging event organizers to consider postponing any gatherings with more than 1,000 people as a measure to help stop the spread of the coronavirus.
Jens Spahn told the dpa news agency on Sunday that in his view, organizers are still going ahead with too many events like sports games, concerts and trade fairs.
He says “I am aware of the consequences this will have for citizens and organizers — we will talk about how we will deal with the economic consequences in the next few days.”
Germany’s governing parties are meeting Sunday night to talk about several measures, including bridge loans and possible tax deferrals for particularly hard-hit sectors such as the travel and hospitality industries.
They’re also talking about relaxing labor laws to allow more short-term employees to help companies with many workers out sick, and moving ahead a tax cut with the hope of stimulating the economy.
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2:55 p.m.
Already staggering under weeks of fears about the spread of the coronavirus, Italy’s tourism industry has now taken an even more punishing blow.
The Vatican announced Sunday that in coordination with drastic Italian government measures aimed at containing Italy’s virus outbreak, Europe’s worst, it is shutting down its museums, which include access to the Sistine Chapel, until April 3.
The chapel’s ceiling and altar wall, frescoed by Michelangelo, are one of the world’s biggest tourist attractions, and a high point of Vatican Museums visits.
The Vatican said its one case of coronavirus is that of a person who had come to the Holy See’s health facilities as part of a doctor’s visit ahead of being hired. Five people who had close contact with that person have been put in quarantine as a precaution
The Italian government’s decree also shut down outdoor sites like Pompeii’s extraordinary archaeological ruins and a blockbuster exhibit in Rome of more than 100 paintings and drawings by Raphael, which was mounted to mark the Renaissance artist’s 500th anniversary of his death from a fever in the city.
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2:55 p.m.
Dozens of Americans who are on a cruise ship off the California coast will be securely transferred to a military base outside Atlanta to undergo coronavirus testing.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said 34 Georgians are among the U.S. citizens expected to arrive at Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta on either Monday night or Tuesday morning.
Kemp said people from other eastern U.S. states would also be quarantined at the military base, but he did not specify how many.
The Grand Princess is carrying more than 3,500 people from 54 countries. It is expected to dock in Oakland, California, on Monday. Vice President Mike Pence announced Friday that at least 21 people aboard the ship, including 19 crew members, have tested positive for the virus.
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2:45 p.m.
Greece’s Health Ministry has announced that all sports events in the country will take place without spectators for the next two weeks to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
The ministry also says that recreation and support centers for the elderly will shut down for two weeks and no school trips will take place during that period.
As of Saturday night, 66 cases of the virus had been identified in Greece, 47 of them among a group of 54 travelers to Israel and Egypt. Four other cases involve people coming in contact with those travelers. There have been no fatalities. A 66-year-old man, among the traveling group, is in intensive care.
The government is expected to announce economic measures related to the disease outbreak Monday.
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2:15 p.m.
Authorities in southern Italy have expressed concern that a mass movement of people moving from north to south would only spread the coronavirus to regions that have had relatively few cases.
The worries come after Italy announced a sweeping quarantine early Sunday for its northern regions, igniting travel chaos as it restricted the movements of a quarter of its people in a bid to halt the coronavirus’ relentless march across Europe.
Gov. Michele Emiliano, who leads the region of Puglia in the ‘’heel’ of the boot-shaped Italian peninsula, said in his dramatic appeal, “Don’t bring the Lombard, Veneto, Emilia-Romagna epidemic into our Puglia, by running away to prevent the government decree” from effectively taking effect.
He said he signed an ordinance requiring a quarantine for all those who arrive in Puglia from Lombardy and the 11 other northern provinces covered by the lockdown. Italian state TV reported that other governors in the south, which includes the Campania region around Naples and Sicily, were intent on doing the same.
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1:50 p.m.
Britain’s health secretary has outlined emergency plans to deal with the impact of the coronavirus outbreak, pledging to do “all we can” to contain the virus.
The plans, which will likely go through Parliament by the end of the month, are expected to include measures to allow some court proceedings to be conducted via telephone or video. Volunteers who leave their main jobs to help health care systems will also be given employment safeguards.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he wants “to ensure government is doing everything in its power to be ready to delay and mitigate this threat.”
Some 206 people in the U.K. have tested positive for the virus, according to data last updated on Saturday. Two people have died.
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1:50 p.m.
The authorities in Thailand are looking for 70-80 workers who returned from South Korea but did not immediately go into a required 14-day quarantine to avoid spreading the coronavirus.
Deputy Minister of Public Health Satit Pitutecha said Sunday the workers must report to the authorities within three days or face legal penalties.
Thailand last week announced a policy under which all workers returning from South Korea must be quarantined for 14 days.
The arriving workers who left Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport without going into quarantine all arrived before midnight Saturday, according to Thanarak Plipat, deputy chief of the health ministry’s Department of Disease Control.
Thanarak said 60 more Thais who returned from South Korea on flights arriving after 1 a.m. Sunday were sent as planned to a naval base at Sattahip in eastern Thailand, which is the country’s main official quarantine facility. He said the operation to provide escorts for the returning workers began only after midnight Saturday.
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1:20 p.m.
The Israel Airports Authority has announced massive cutbacks in response to the coronavirus’ devastating effects on air travel.
The authority said Sunday it is putting 70% of its temporary workforce on unpaid leave and overtime has been canceled for all employees. To protect those with families, it was decided that single employees would be put on leave first. Senior management has announced it is forfeiting 50% of its bonuses as well.
Israel has confirmed 25 cases of the virus, including a 38-year-old man who was in serious condition on Sunday. Some 20,000 people have been ordered into 14-day home quarantine protectively. The local travel sector has taken a beating, as scores of flights in and out of the country have been canceled.
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12:40 p.m.
In an extraordinary measure aimed at discouraging crowds, Pope Francis didn’t appear at a Vatican palazzo window to deliver his Sunday noon Angelus blessing and remarks.
Instead, a video of his reading his comments and reciting prayers standing at a lectern near a microphone in the Vatican’s apostolic library was beamed on maxi-screens set up in St. Peter’s Square to the faithful.
The bells of St. Peter’s Basilica tolled as the window opened and Francis appeared for a few seconds to wave to the people below in the square. But he made no comments from the window, having already delivered the broadcast remarks.
The measure — which was announced on Saturday — was aimed at discouraging crowds from gathering in the square, where on days with good weather like this Sunday as many as 40,000 people can turn out to watch the pope in the window. Several thousands of tourists and faithful turned out anyway, scattered across the vast, cobblestone square.
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11:05 a.m.
Italy’s Rai state TV says the governor of Piedmont in northern Italy has the coronavirus, the latest Italian governor to test positive.
On Saturday, the governor of Lazio, the region including Rome, announced that he was staying in quarantine because he had been told he’s positive for the virus.
Earlier in the outbreak, the governor of Lombardy, the populous northern region at the heart of the outbreak, announced he was putting himself in quarantine because a close aide had tested positive.
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10:40 a.m.
On the first day of a sweeping quarantine in northern Italy, even outdoor sites like the sprawling ruins of Pompeii, the ancient Roman city destroyed by volcanic eruption in 79 A.D., were shut to tourists.
In Rome, the blockbuster exhibition of “Raffaello,” a tribute to one of the Renaissance’s greatest artists for the 500th anniversary of his death, was shuttered Sunday, only three days after it opened to the public. A notice on its website said advance ticket holders would be contacted about the closure, which lasts until April 3.
The show, which assembled 120 works of Raphael in what was described as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to see so many of his paintings and drawings loaned from museums and private collections worldwide, is due to close on June 2. Curators have said it would be nearly impossible to prolong it, with some many works on loan from museums eager to have them back.
Italy announced the quarantine early Sunday for its northern regions, igniting travel chaos as it restricted the movements of a quarter of its people in a bid to halt the coronavirus’ relentless march across Europe.
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10:40 a.m.
Bulgaria has announced its first four coronavirus cases.
The national coronavirus task force confirmed Sunday that a 27-year-old man from the northern town of Pleven and a 75-year-old woman from the central town of Gabrovo had tested positive for the virus.
Chief state health inspector Angel Kunchev said the two had not traveled or contacted anyone who had returned from a country with a coronavirus outbreak.
Both had been hospitalized a few days ago with severe respiratory problems.
After health officials tested a total of 70 people who had been in contact with the two infected, they announced that the samples of a 61-year-old man from Pleven and a female health worker from Gabrovo had tested positive.
The Balkan country of 7 million, which is one of the last in the region to report coronavirus cases, is already facing a nationwide influenza epidemic, with schools closed and hospitals packed with patients.
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10:40 a.m.
Japan’s ancient sport of sumo is grappling with the harsh reality of the coronavirus outbreak.
The Spring Grand Sumo Tournament kicked off on Sunday in Osaka at Edion Arena with no spectators as part of Japan’s extraordinary efforts to halt the spread of the virus.
Wrestlers arrived wearing face masks and were required to use hand-sanitizing spray before entering the arena. They were also required to take their temperatures before entering the raised ring. If a wrestler has a temperature above 37.5 degrees celsius (99.5 degrees Fahrenheit) for two or more days, he will be forced to sit out the tournament.
Sumo officials have said if a wrestler is diagnosed with the coronavirus, the 15-day tournament will be immediately halted.
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The Associated Press receives support for health and science coverage from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.


mercurynews--2020-03-08--Five things we learned in the Giants’ win: Pence gets hero’s welcome, Samardzija an ‘item’ with spli

Five things we learned in the Giants’ win: Pence gets hero’s welcome, Samardzija an ‘item’ with splitter, Ruf unstoppable

SCOTTSDALE , Ariz. — Hunter Pence could go hitless in Cactus League play and it wouldn ’ t change the tone of the ovation he receives each time the two-time World Series champion steps to the plate .
The fact Pence went 2-for-3 with a long home run and a RBI double in Sunday ’ s 8-4 victory the Mariners only encouraged fans to cheer louder .
“ Oh my gosh , the fan response has been unbelievable , ” Pence said .
“ I feel like I ’ m not able to walk three steps without someone telling me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m very thankful for that support and that love.
” At the end of the 2018 season , it would have been impossible to envision Pence wearing a Giants uniform again .
At the end of Pence ’ s five-year , $ 90 million deal , the Giants treated Pence like a player destined for retirement as they gifted him a personal scooter and handed him the microphone to address the Oracle Park crowd after the team ’ s last game .
Pence insisted he wasn ’ t finished playing , but many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be the last he would wear .
It turns out , both parties might be right .
At 36 , Pence is back in camp after parlaying a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training into an All-Star-caliber season with the Texas Rangers last year .
He signed a major league contract with the team in February and while Pence isn ’ t expected to play every day , he will be counted on as a middle-of-the-order fixture against left-handed pitchers .
After revamping his swing and recovering his power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Giants as an outfielder just as capable of making hard contact as he is providing valuable leadership .
“ You really have to slow it down to look and see the difference ( in my swing ) , ” Pence said .
“ It ’ s still my quirky movements and batting stance , but I ’ m swinging a lot more with my top hand and my left hand is doing something totally different.
” Pence ’ s rocket onto the left field lawn on Sunday marked his first home run @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last spring against former and now current teammate Jeff Samardzija .
After going 0-for-3 in his first appearance with the Rangers against the Giants in 2019 , Pence returned and went 3-for-3 in their second meeting .
“ Oh yeah , I remember it , ” Pence said .
“ I remember the outs and the hits .
3-2 , hung a cutter or a slider up and in on me.
” Samardzija back together with his splitter Earlier this spring , Samardzija joked that his splitter is like “ a hot cheating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ always loyal to him , but the right-hander said after Sunday ’ s outing that he and the pitch “ are together right now.
” The veteran has been “ hot and heavy ” with the splitter this spring and used it to strike out Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford on his final pitch of the afternoon .
With 3 1/3 innings on Sunday , Samardzija indicated he ’ s healthy , strong and eager to see his splitter tie up left-handed hitters in the regular season .
“ It ’ s like a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You have a good idea , I can manipulate it a little to get away from righties with a little more middle finger , but when there ’ s a lefty and there ’ s all of that space over there open and hitting a guy isn ’ t really an issue , you can really pronate it.
” Samardzija topped out at 91 miles per hour against Seattle but is optimistic he ’ ll be able to reach back and increase his velocity when the season begins .
Outside of having an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ particularly pleased with the way his slider felt on Sunday .
“ All the pitches were working , the slider was really great too and that ’ s really encouraging , ” Samardzija said .
“ That ’ s a big pitch for me.
” The reigning American League Gold Glove Award winner at second base won ’ t have a chance to defend his title , but the Giants are happy to have former White Sox infielder Yolmer Sánchez in camp this spring .
Sánchez is a second baseman by trade , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ games at third base in his six-year major league career .
For the second time in Cactus League play , the Giants sent Sánchez out to shortstop on Sunday and the Venezuela native held his own at the position .
“ You ’ re going to see that all the time , ” Samardzija said .
“ I think the best thing we can play about Yolmer is just the way he plays the game .
I was really stoked when we signed him over here.
” After handling a pair of routine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sánchez made an outstanding sliding catch in shallow left field field to rob Mariners first baseman Evan White of a bloop single in the third .
With the bases loaded and two outs in the fourth , Sánchez made another impressive catch as he leaped to knock down a Dee Gordon line drive and then caught the ball off a deflection before it hit the ground .
The switch-hitter is off to a very slow start at the plate , but Giants pitchers love him and the front office may elect to keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hope that his offense comes along .
“ He ’ s just an amazing teammate , a lot like ( Kevin ) Pillar if you really want to compare him to somebody , ” Samardzija said .
“ Plays hard every day .
Not scared .
And really plays for his teammates.
” In the best performance by a Giants hitter this spring , first baseman and corner outfielder Darin Ruf went 3-for-3 with two tape measure home runs in Saturday ’ s win over the White Sox .
On Sunday against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again went 3-for-3 and peppered the outfield wall at Scottsdale Stadium with three doubles .
Ruf ’ s 15 total bases over a two-day span might be an unofficial Cactus League record , but the power isn ’ t what the slugger is focused on right now .
After exiting Sunday ’ s game , he joined the NBC Sports Bay Area broadcast and told Duane Kuiper and Mike Krukow that having all five of his extra-base hits go to center or right center field was a source of pride .
“ That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really been working on , ” Ruf said .
“ I feel like my timing in Korea , I got a little pull-happy which led to my swing being a little long.
” After spending the last three years in the Korean Baseball Organization , Ruf said hitting coaches Donnie Ecker , Dustin Lind and Justin Viele have helped him make changes to his swing path that could lead to sustained success if he ’ s given an opportunity in the major leagues .
Kapler said Saturday it ’ s difficult to determine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States can thrive against top major league pitchers based on spring training at-bats because batters face so many minor leaguers and the sample sizes are so small .
If the past two days are any indication , it probably wouldn ’ t be a bad idea for the Giants to see how Ruf fares at Oracle Park .
With left-hander Justus Sheffield slated to pitch for the Mariners on Sunday , the Giants had their starters take pregame batting practice against a slider machine that threw breaking balls from the left side of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right-handers set to pitch after Sheffield , players expected to enter the game in the later innings took pregame batting practice against a machine that fired sliders from the right side of the mound .
Under Kapler and an innovative group of hitting coaches , the Giants are attempting to disrupt traditional pregame routines and employ more effective methods of preparation .
In past seasons , the Giants had a left-handed coach throw batting practice on days they expected to face left-handed starters and a right-hander throw on days they were lined up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the model teams have used for decades , but introducing breaking balls in on-field batting practice isn ’ t something players are accustomed to .
It ’ s another slight tweak the Giants are trying this season and it ’ s possible coaches and players will experiment with other ways to make batting practices more efficient and more “ game-like .
”

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Hunter Pence could go hitless in Cactus League play and it wouldn’t change the tone of the ovation he receives each time the two-time World Series champion steps to the plate.
The fact Pence went 2-for-3 with a long home run and a RBI double in Sunday’s 8-4 victory the Mariners only encouraged fans to cheer louder.
“Oh my gosh, the fan response has been unbelievable,” Pence said. “I feel like I’m not able to walk three steps without someone telling me ‘Welcome back’ and I’m very thankful for that support and that love.”
At the end of the 2018 season, it would have been impossible to envision Pence wearing a Giants uniform again. At the end of Pence’s five-year, $90 million deal, the Giants treated Pence like a player destined for retirement as they gifted him a personal scooter and handed him the microphone to address the Oracle Park crowd after the team’s last game.
Pence insisted he wasn’t finished playing, but many in the organization believed the Giants uniform would be the last he would wear. It turns out, both parties might be right.
At 36, Pence is back in camp after parlaying a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training into an All-Star-caliber season with the Texas Rangers last year. He signed a major league contract with the team in February and while Pence isn’t expected to play every day, he will be counted on as a middle-of-the-order fixture against left-handed pitchers.
After revamping his swing and recovering his power last offseason, Pence has returned to the Giants as an outfielder just as capable of making hard contact as he is providing valuable leadership.
“You really have to slow it down to look and see the difference (in my swing),” Pence said. “It’s still my quirky movements and batting stance, but I’m swinging a lot more with my top hand and my left hand is doing something totally different.”
Pence’s rocket onto the left field lawn on Sunday marked his first home run at Scottsdale Stadium since he hit one last spring against former and now current teammate Jeff Samardzija. After going 0-for-3 in his first appearance with the Rangers against the Giants in 2019, Pence returned and went 3-for-3 in their second meeting.
“Oh yeah, I remember it,” Pence said. “I remember the outs and the hits. 3-2, hung a cutter or a slider up and in on me.”
Samardzija back together with his splitter
Earlier this spring, Samardzija joked that his splitter is like “a hot cheating girlfriend,” who isn’t always loyal to him, but the right-hander said after Sunday’s outing that he and the pitch “are together right now.”
The veteran has been “hot and heavy” with the splitter this spring and used it to strike out Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford on his final pitch of the afternoon. With 3 1/3 innings on Sunday, Samardzija indicated he’s healthy, strong and eager to see his splitter tie up left-handed hitters in the regular season.
“It’s like a knuckleball,” Samardzija said. “You have a good idea, I can manipulate it a little to get away from righties with a little more middle finger, but when there’s a lefty and there’s all of that space over there open and hitting a guy isn’t really an issue, you can really pronate it.”
Samardzija topped out at 91 miles per hour against Seattle but is optimistic he’ll be able to reach back and increase his velocity when the season begins. Outside of having an effective fastball and splitter, Samardzija is particularly pleased with the way his slider felt on Sunday.
“All the pitches were working, the slider was really great too and that’s really encouraging,” Samardzija said. “That’s a big pitch for me.”
Yolmer can pick it
The reigning American League Gold Glove Award winner at second base won’t have a chance to defend his title, but the Giants are happy to have former White Sox infielder Yolmer Sánchez in camp this spring.
Sánchez is a second baseman by trade, but has also played close to 200 games at third base in his six-year major league career. For the second time in Cactus League play, the Giants sent Sánchez out to shortstop on Sunday and the Venezuela native held his own at the position.
“You’re going to see that all the time,” Samardzija said. “I think the best thing we can play about Yolmer is just the way he plays the game. I was really stoked when we signed him over here.”
After handling a pair of routine groundballs in the first two innings, Sánchez made an outstanding sliding catch in shallow left field field to rob Mariners first baseman Evan White of a bloop single in the third.
With the bases loaded and two outs in the fourth, Sánchez made another impressive catch as he leaped to knock down a Dee Gordon line drive and then caught the ball off a deflection before it hit the ground. The switch-hitter is off to a very slow start at the plate, but Giants pitchers love him and the front office may elect to keep him on the Opening Day roster with the hope that his offense comes along.
“He’s just an amazing teammate, a lot like (Kevin) Pillar if you really want to compare him to somebody,” Samardzija said. “Plays hard every day. Not scared. And really plays for his teammates.”
Diamond in the Ruf?
In the best performance by a Giants hitter this spring, first baseman and corner outfielder Darin Ruf went 3-for-3 with two tape measure home runs in Saturday’s win over the White Sox.
On Sunday against the Mariners, the minor league free-agent again went 3-for-3 and peppered the outfield wall at Scottsdale Stadium with three doubles. Ruf’s 15 total bases over a two-day span might be an unofficial Cactus League record, but the power isn’t what the slugger is focused on right now.
After exiting Sunday’s game, he joined the NBC Sports Bay Area broadcast and told Duane Kuiper and Mike Krukow that having all five of his extra-base hits go to center or right center field was a source of pride.
“That’s one thing we’ve really been working on,” Ruf said. “I feel like my timing in Korea, I got a little pull-happy which led to my swing being a little long.”
After spending the last three years in the Korean Baseball Organization, Ruf said hitting coaches Donnie Ecker, Dustin Lind and Justin Viele have helped him make changes to his swing path that could lead to sustained success if he’s given an opportunity in the major leagues.
Kapler said Saturday it’s difficult to determine whether a hitter returning to the United States can thrive against top major league pitchers based on spring training at-bats because batters face so many minor leaguers and the sample sizes are so small.
If the past two days are any indication, it probably wouldn’t be a bad idea for the Giants to see how Ruf fares at Oracle Park.
Batting practice changes
With left-hander Justus Sheffield slated to pitch for the Mariners on Sunday, the Giants had their starters take pregame batting practice against a slider machine that threw breaking balls from the left side of the mound. With a handful of right-handers set to pitch after Sheffield, players expected to enter the game in the later innings took pregame batting practice against a machine that fired sliders from the right side of the mound.
Under Kapler and an innovative group of hitting coaches, the Giants are attempting to disrupt traditional pregame routines and employ more effective methods of preparation.
In past seasons, the Giants had a left-handed coach throw batting practice on days they expected to face left-handed starters and a right-hander throw on days they were lined up to face righties. It’s the model teams have used for decades, but introducing breaking balls in on-field batting practice isn’t something players are accustomed to.
It’s another slight tweak the Giants are trying this season and it’s possible coaches and players will experiment with other ways to make batting practices more efficient and more “game-like.”


mercurynews--2020-03-08--Cruise ship held off Florida, awaiting virus test of 2 staff

FORT LAUDERDALE , Fla. — The Regal Princess cruise ship was held off Florida ’ s coast Sunday awaiting test results on whether two crew members have contracted the new coronavirus , authorities said .
The Regal Princess was supposed to dock in Port Everglades on Sunday morning but was instead sailing up and down the coast .
The crew members in question had transferred more than two weeks ago from the Grand Princess cruise ship in California where nearly two dozen on board have tested positive for the virus , including 19 crew members , according to Princess Cruises @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement that the crew members of the Regal Princess did not exhibit respiratory symptoms consistent with COVID-19 and are well beyond the advised 14-day incubation period for the illness .
Based on that , “ these crew members should not pose any risks to the health and welfare of anyone aboard Regal Princess , ” the statement said .
The Coast Guard said it delivered testing kits to the Regal Princess on Sunday morning and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a “ no-sail order ” for the ship .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ hours .
The stalled ship comes a day after the governor ’ s office confirmed that two people who tested positive for the new coronavirus have died in the state , the first deaths on the East Coast attributed to the outbreak in the U.S. Helen Aguirre Ferre , a spokeswoman for Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis , confirmed the deaths on Twitter , writing the individuals were in their 70s and had traveled overseas .
DeSantis met with Vice President Mike Pence , Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott and heads of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ devise better ways for cruise lines to deal with the outbreak .
Cruise line heads agreed to enhanced entry and exit screenings , to establish shipboard testing for the virus , along with new quarantine standards established by the CDC .
They also asked the industry to devise and fund a new plan on how to transport any cruise passengers who contract the disease .
Some of the new protocol was expected to start taking effect early this week .
The cruise lines “ need to take action to make sure they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end up putting undo burden on federal resources , ” DeSantis said .
It is unclear how many people are on board the Regal Princess , but the cruise line ’ s website said it has a capacity of 3,560 guests .
• New coronavirus cases reported in Santa Clara and Contra Costa counties • Under quarantine , 13-year-old New Yorker has a bar mitzvah over video chat The vessel ’ s next cruise scheduled to leave Port Everglades for a seven-day Caribbean trip was also canceled .
The cruise line said guests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 300 reimbursement for one night ’ s hotel costs .

By Kelli Kennedy | Associated Press
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The Regal Princess cruise ship was held off Florida’s coast Sunday awaiting test results on whether two crew members have contracted the new coronavirus, authorities said.
The Regal Princess was supposed to dock in Port Everglades on Sunday morning but was instead sailing up and down the coast. The crew members in question had transferred more than two weeks ago from the Grand Princess cruise ship in California where nearly two dozen on board have tested positive for the virus, including 19 crew members, according to Princess Cruises.
The cruise line said in a statement that the crew members of the Regal Princess did not exhibit respiratory symptoms consistent with COVID-19 and are well beyond the advised 14-day incubation period for the illness.
Based on that, “these crew members should not pose any risks to the health and welfare of anyone aboard Regal Princess,” the statement said.
The Coast Guard said it delivered testing kits to the Regal Princess on Sunday morning and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a “no-sail order” for the ship. Test results can take up to 48 hours.
The stalled ship comes a day after the governor’s office confirmed that two people who tested positive for the new coronavirus have died in the state, the first deaths on the East Coast attributed to the outbreak in the U.S.
Helen Aguirre Ferre, a spokeswoman for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, confirmed the deaths on Twitter, writing the individuals were in their 70s and had traveled overseas.
DeSantis met with Vice President Mike Pence, Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott and heads of the cruise line industry on Saturday to devise better ways for cruise lines to deal with the outbreak. Cruise line heads agreed to enhanced entry and exit screenings, to establish shipboard testing for the virus, along with new quarantine standards established by the CDC.
They also asked the industry to devise and fund a new plan on how to transport any cruise passengers who contract the disease. Some of the new protocol was expected to start taking effect early this week.
The cruise lines “need to take action to make sure they are keeping their passengers safe and do not end up putting undo burden on federal resources,” DeSantis said.
It is unclear how many people are on board the Regal Princess, but the cruise line’s website said it has a capacity of 3,560 guests.


mercurynews--2020-03-08--Nashville church worships in the rubble after deadly tornado

NASHVILLE , Tenn. — Bobbie Harris , 79 , lost her rental home , her job and her church when a deadly tornado struck her community in North Nashville .
But all she could think about was her blessings .
“ Through it all , God is good , ” Harris said .
Harris joined other members of Mount Bethel Missionary Baptist Church on Sunday to worship just outside the ruins of the church , which has been in the community for 135 years .
The roofs of their two church buildings are gone , ripped away by strong winds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tent in the parking lot and the congregants gathered to sing , pray and hold hands in what the church called “ worship in the rubble.
” Even contractors who were busily trying to replace downed power lines paused and took off their hard hats as Pastor Jacques Boyd led the congregation in prayer on the sunny , windy morning .
The National Weather Service has said at least six tornadoes hit middle Tennessee during last week ’ s storms that killed 24 people and caused massive damage in parts of Middle Tennessee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the church , where she also worked as a cook .
When the tornado hit her home , the powerful winds grabbed her air conditioning unit and flung it into a fence across the street .
Her granddaughter ’ s car was destroyed .
“ God is good .
He was the conductor on that train and he went around me , ” Harris said .
“ He saved me.
” Boyd told his congregation that the storm was a challenge from God and had brought everyone closer together in the recovery efforts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blew around in the breeze and the wooden beams that once held up the roof of the chapel were exposed .
Many of the neighboring homes were still without power Sunday and blue tarps covered roofs nearby .
But under the white tent , there were smiles on people ’ s faces as they greeted each other , danced to the music and sung hymns .
“ Nashville is now primed to show the world what we ’ re made of , ” said Boyd , in a blue suit , as people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a congregation of about 300 people , held before- and after-school care for children , had a gymnasium where kids from the neighborhood could go , put on summer camps for children and provided computer literacy classes for its older congregants .
“ We must trust in the savior who does not deliver us from storms , but through storms , ” he told the clapping congregation .
But Boyd said the church was more than the red brick building behind him .
“ Now that the brick and mortar is gone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
” he asked as his choir raised their hands and voices in response .
Boyd said the church will continue to hold its services inside the tent .
In the meantime , they are hoping other institutions will help the church continue to provide its community services .
Tennessee Gov .
Bill Lee and his wife , Maria , sat in the front row of the folding chairs , shook hands with the church members and bowed their heads in prayer .
“ There was a lot of hope here , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like this in this environment to bring hope to this community , and it was great to see.
” Boyd said that as soon as he saw the demolished buildings , he prayed for guidance .
• Under quarantine , 13-year-old New Yorker has a bar mitzvah over video chat • Despite virus risk , 2020 hopefuls keep up campaigns for now “ I asked God , ‘ What do I say in moments like this ?
’ ” Boyd said .
“ And God spoke clearly , as I am speaking to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while hurting .
”

By Kristin M. Hall | Associated Press
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Bobbie Harris, 79, lost her rental home, her job and her church when a deadly tornado struck her community in North Nashville. But all she could think about was her blessings.
“Through it all, God is good,” Harris said.
Harris joined other members of Mount Bethel Missionary Baptist Church on Sunday to worship just outside the ruins of the church, which has been in the community for 135 years. The roofs of their two church buildings are gone, ripped away by strong winds early Tuesday.
The church pitched a tent in the parking lot and the congregants gathered to sing, pray and hold hands in what the church called “worship in the rubble.” Even contractors who were busily trying to replace downed power lines paused and took off their hard hats as Pastor Jacques Boyd led the congregation in prayer on the sunny, windy morning.
The National Weather Service has said at least six tornadoes hit middle Tennessee during last week’s storms that killed 24 people and caused massive damage in parts of Middle Tennessee.
Harris lived only blocks away from the church, where she also worked as a cook. When the tornado hit her home, the powerful winds grabbed her air conditioning unit and flung it into a fence across the street. Her granddaughter’s car was destroyed.
“God is good. He was the conductor on that train and he went around me,” Harris said. “He saved me.”
[vemba-video id=”van/ns-acc/2020/03/08/SE-009SU_CNNA-ST1-1000000005ae7c83″]
Boyd told his congregation that the storm was a challenge from God and had brought everyone closer together in the recovery efforts. Behind him, bits of insulation blew around in the breeze and the wooden beams that once held up the roof of the chapel were exposed. Many of the neighboring homes were still without power Sunday and blue tarps covered roofs nearby. But under the white tent, there were smiles on people’s faces as they greeted each other, danced to the music and sung hymns.
“Nashville is now primed to show the world what we’re made of,” said Boyd, in a blue suit, as people responded “Amen.”
The church, with a congregation of about 300 people, held before- and after-school care for children, had a gymnasium where kids from the neighborhood could go, put on summer camps for children and provided computer literacy classes for its older congregants.
“We must trust in the savior who does not deliver us from storms, but through storms,” he told the clapping congregation.
But Boyd said the church was more than the red brick building behind him. “Now that the brick and mortar is gone, do you still love this community?” he asked as his choir raised their hands and voices in response.
Boyd said the church will continue to hold its services inside the tent. In the meantime, they are hoping other institutions will help the church continue to provide its community services.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and his wife, Maria, sat in the front row of the folding chairs, shook hands with the church members and bowed their heads in prayer.
“There was a lot of hope here,” Lee said. “God uses people like this in this environment to bring hope to this community, and it was great to see.”
Boyd said that as soon as he saw the demolished buildings, he prayed for guidance.
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Mount Bethel Missionary Baptist Church: http://www.mountbethel1885.org/


mercurynews--2020-03-08--Former San Jose Mayor Susan Hammer, known for building community and diversity, dies at 81

SAN JOSE — Former San Jose Mayor Susan Hammer , a leader committed to expanding diversity and the arts and passing a living wage ordinance in the 1990s , has died .
Hammer , 81 , who was diagnosed with Alzheimer ’ s disease several years ago , died Saturday evening at home in Willow Glen surrounded by family .
She is survived by her husband , Phil , whose name , along with hers , still graces the top of the San Jose Repertory Theatre building , now known as the Hammer Theatre .
“ We are heartbroken at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grateful for her boundless love for her family , ” her son , Matt , said in a statement Sunday .
“ She was our model of living a life of compassion and devotion to community.
” Hammer increased diversity among numerous city commissions , created the Mayor ’ s Gang Task force focusing on the social issues contributing to gang involvement and began the partnership between the city and San Jose State University to build the Martin Luther King Library downtown .
Mayor Sam Liccardo , who spent time with Hammer and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hours Saturday , called Hammer “ an extraordinary role model ” for him and for generations of leaders .
“ She was a study in contrasts — she had a deep commitment to underserved communities , a steadfast civility in the face of heated disagreement , and a genuine humility despite her tremendous professional and personal accomplishment , ” Liccardo said .
“ Susan made San Jose a place for compassionate action , for artistic celebration , and for youthful aspiration.
” Hammer spearheaded the design and funding for the San Jose Repertory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ San Jose Arena , now known as SAP Center , which opened in 2003 .
With former Vice Mayor Blanca Alvarado , she helped launch the Mexican Heritage Plaza by diverting redevelopment funds .
Hamme also created Project Diversity , the San Jose Conservation Corps and youth homework centers .
Taking leadership on issues that are still fraught today , Hammer introduced a policy requiring replacement of low-income housing that had been destroyed by redevelopment projects as well as requiring city contractors to pay their workers a living wage .
“ Susan said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she wanted to be thought of as a builder of community , a mayor who put families first , championed the potential of people , fostered social action and changed the face of the city by nurturing its spirit , ” said Alvarado , the former vice mayor and one of Hammer ’ s longtime personal friends .
“ I can ’ t think of a better way to honor Mayor Hammer than to remember her in this way.
” Hammer was a grassroots activist and protege of the late Mayor Janet Gray @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mayor of a large city in the 1970s , a time when women made up the majority of the city council and San Jose became known as the “ feminist capital of the world.
” Hammer served on the city council representing downtown district 3 beginning in 1983 , before her election as mayor in 1991 and again in 1994 .
Hammer appointed Regina Williams as city manager in 1994 , making her one of the first women managers of a major city .
“ She was pretty impossible not to like , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had a growing respect when you saw how deeply she felt about little things.
” Although the Alzheimers progressed rapidly in recent months , Hammer attended a program in September at the San Jose Women ’ s Club celebrating the city ’ s history as the “ feminist capital.
” “ Susan didn ’ t want a big deal made about her , so we didn ’ t announce her attendance at the beginning , ” said Barbara Marshman , former Mercury News editor of the editorial pages who spoke at the event @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mentioned her name in my opening talk , the audience spontaneously applauded .
I filled up .
People loved her .
I ’ m so sad.
” No public memorials have been announced .

SAN JOSE — Former San Jose Mayor Susan Hammer, a leader committed to expanding diversity and the arts and passing a living wage ordinance in the 1990s, has died.
Hammer, 81, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease several years ago, died Saturday evening at home in Willow Glen, surrounded by family. She is survived by her husband, Phil, whose name, along with hers, still graces the top of the former San Jose Repertory Theatre building, now known as the Hammer Theatre.
“We are heartbroken at Mom’s passing and feel so grateful for her boundless love for her family,” her son, Matt, said in a statement Sunday. “She was our model of living a life of compassion and devotion to community.”
Hammer served on the city council representing downtown district 3 beginning in 1983, before her election as mayor in 1990 and again in 1994.
She pushed for an increase in diversity among numerous city commissions, created the Mayor’s Gang Prevention Task Force focusing on social issues contributing to gang involvement and began the partnership between the city and San Jose State University to build the Martin Luther King Library downtown.
Taking leadership on issues that are still fraught today, Hammer introduced policies requiring the replacement of low-income housing destroyed by redevelopment projects and city contractors to pay workers a living wage.
Mayor Sam Liccardo, who spent time with Hammer and her family during some of her final hours Saturday, called Hammer “an extraordinary role model” for him and for generations of leaders.
“She was a study in contrasts — she had a deep commitment to underserved communities, a steadfast civility in the face of heated disagreement, and a genuine humility despite her tremendous professional and personal accomplishment,” Liccardo said. “Susan made San Jose a place for compassionate action, for artistic celebration, and for youthful aspiration.”
Hammer spearheaded both design and funding for the former San Jose Repertory Theatre building and oversaw the construction of the San Jose Arena, now known as SAP Center, which opened in 1993. Hammer also created Project Diversity, the San Jose Conservation Corps and youth homework centers. With former Vice Mayor Blanca Alvarado, she helped launch the Mexican Heritage Plaza by diverting redevelopment funds.
Alvarado called Hammer a “pioneer, a real warrior” and a champion for women’s rights and inclusiveness.
She said she would never forget how Hammer invited her to a small gathering at Hammer’s grand home on Hedding Street in the Rose Garden neighborhood — a setting of numerous fundraisers and gatherings — when Vice President Al Gore came to town.
“She sat me right next to him,” Alvarado said. “The fact that she invited me of all the council members, it was an indication of our friendship, our political alignment, but especially being the only minority from East San Jose to be part of that gathering.”
Hammer was a grassroots activist and protege of the late Mayor Janet Gray Hayes, who was the first female mayor of a large city in the 1970s, a time when women made up the majority of the city council and San Jose became known as the “feminist capital of the world.” Hammer appointed Regina Williams as city manager in 1994, making her one of the first women managers of a major city.
Born in 1938, Hammer grew up in the small Southern California town of Monrovia and graduated from UC Berkeley, where she met her husband who was studying to be a lawyer. They worked on the presidential campaign of John F. Kennedy and in 1960, moved to Washington D.C., where she got a job on the first Peace Corps staff. Phil became a staff attorney for the Civil Rights Commission. After Kennedy’s assassination in 1963, they returned to Phil’s hometown of San Jose in 1964.
Over the years, she became a member of the Santa Clara County juvenile justice commission and a founding board member and president of the San Jose Museum of Art. She was named to the National Conference of Christians and Jews.
Former San Jose Mayor Tom McEnery called Hammer a “strong, forceful individual.”
“She was pretty impossible not to like,” McEnery said, “but you had a growing respect when you saw how deeply she felt about little things.”
Although the Alzheimers progressed rapidly in recent months, Hammer attended a program in September at the San Jose Women’s Club celebrating the city’s history as the “feminist capital.”
“Susan didn’t want a big deal made about her, so we didn’t announce her attendance at the beginning,” said former Mercury News editorial-page editor Barbara Marshman, who spoke at the event. “But the first time I mentioned her name in my opening talk, the audience spontaneously applauded. I filled up. People loved her. I’m so sad.”
No public memorials were announced immediately.
Staff writer Linda Zavoral contributed to this report.


mercurynews--2020-03-08--Protests and celebrations mark Women’s Day, despite threats

NEW YORK — From the streets of Manila to the plazas of Santiago , Chile , people around the world marked International Women ’ s Day on Sunday with calls to end exploitation and increase equality .
But tensions marred some celebrations , with police reportedly using tear gas to break up a demonstration by thousands of women in Turkey and security forces arresting demonstrators at a rally in Kyrgyzstan .
“ In many different ways or forms , women are being exploited and taken advantage of , ” Arlene Brosas , the representative of a Filipino advocacy group said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the area near the presidential palace .
Protesters called for higher pay and job security , and demanded that President Rodrigo Duterte respect women ’ s rights .
Turkish riot police tear gas to disperse thousands of demonstrators who , in defiance of a government ban , tried to march along Istanbul ’ s main pedestrian street to mark International Women ’ s Day , media reports said .
Turkish authorities declared Istiklal street , near Istanbul ’ s main Taksim square , off-limits , and said the planned march down the avenue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most of them women , gathered near Istiklal regardless and tried to break through police barricades to reach it , according to the opposition Cumhuriyet newspaper and other media .
The independent T24 news website said police also fired blanks to disperse the crowd .
Several demonstrators were detained , according to Cumhuriyet .
Turkish authorities have restricted protests in the country in recent years , citing security .
Police had set up barricades on all streets leading to Istiklal and closed down the nearest subway stop .
In Pakistan , however , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country , despite petitions filed in court seeking to stop them .
The opposition was stirred in part by controversy over a slogan used in last year ’ s march : “ My Body , My Choice.
” Some conservative groups had threatened to stop this year ’ s marches by force .
But Pakistani officials pledged to protest the marchers .
The rallies are notable in a conservative country where women often do not feel safe in public places because of open harassment .
The main Islamic political party , Jamaat-e-Islami @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the march .
One of the largest demonstrations occurred in Chile , where crowds thousands flooded the streets of the capital with dancing , music and angry demands for gender equality and an end to violence against women .
“ They kill us , they rape us and nobody does anything , ” some chanted .
National police estimated 125,000 took part in the capital and nearly 35,000 in other cities , but organizers said the crowds were far larger .
Scattered clashes broke out at points when demonstrators threw rocks at police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Many protesters demanded that a proposed new constitution strengthen rights for women and thousands wore green scarves in a show of support for activists in neighboring Argentina , which is considering a proposal to legalize elective abortion .
Tens of thousands of women also marched through Paris , inveighing against the “ virus of the patriarchy.
” “ Enough impunity !
” chanted some activists , who focused on France ’ s unusually high rate of women killed by their husbands .
Last year , one woman was killed every two or three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and the government is increasing efforts to crack down on domestic violence .
“ They should provide resources for shelters for women , victim of violence , real resources , human resources , also prevention programs for violent men , ” union activist Julia Parbotin said .
Thousands of women also marched in Madrid and other Spanish cities , despite concern over the spread of the new coronavirus .
A massive banner reading , “ With rights , without barriers .
Feminists without frontiers ” in Spanish was carried at the front @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Spanish health authorities said did not put any restrictions on the march , but recommended that anyone with symptoms similar to those of the coronavirus stay home .
At a school in East London , meanwhile , the duchess of Sussex , Meghan Markle , joined students in listening to speeches about women labor activists , and urged both girls and boys to respect the contributions of women every day of the year .
“ For young men … you have your mothers , sisters , girlfriends , friends in your life — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feeling valued and safe , ” she told the students .
But safety was in short supply at some events to mark the day .
The detonation of explosives triggered panic at a ceremony in Bamenda , an English-speaking town in the northwest of Cameroon .
Suspicions focused on separatists who had vowed to disrupt the events .
No one was killed or wounded .
Police in Bishek , the capital city of Kyrgyzstan , detained about 60 people after a group of unidentified men broke up what authorities called an unauthorized rally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s main square to express support for women ’ s and children ’ s rights .
But unidentified men barged into the gathering .
Police said people from both sides were detained , but news reports said they were primarily women .
They were released several hours later , after about 10 had been charged with resisting police , the Akipress news agency reported , citing an attorney .
• Anxiety grips companies across the world as virus spreads In Nicaragua , where authorities have banned opposition protests since September 2018 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women at a church and human rights office who had planned to stage a demonstration .

By Adam Geller | Associated Press
NEW YORK — From the streets of Manila to the plazas of Santiago, Chile, people around the world marked International Women’s Day on Sunday with calls to end exploitation and increase equality.
But tensions marred some celebrations, with police reportedly using tear gas to break up a demonstration by thousands of women in Turkey and security forces arresting demonstrators at a rally in Kyrgyzstan.
“In many different ways or forms, women are being exploited and taken advantage of,” Arlene Brosas, the representative of a Filipino advocacy group said during a rally that drew hundreds to the area near the presidential palace. Protesters called for higher pay and job security, and demanded that President Rodrigo Duterte respect women’s rights.
Turkish riot police tear gas to disperse thousands of demonstrators who, in defiance of a government ban, tried to march along Istanbul’s main pedestrian street to mark International Women’s Day, media reports said.
Turkish authorities declared Istiklal street, near Istanbul’s main Taksim square, off-limits, and said the planned march down the avenue was unauthorized. Thousands of demonstrators, most of them women, gathered near Istiklal regardless and tried to break through police barricades to reach it, according to the opposition Cumhuriyet newspaper and other media.
The independent T24 news website said police also fired blanks to disperse the crowd.
Several demonstrators were detained, according to Cumhuriyet.
Turkish authorities have restricted protests in the country in recent years, citing security. Police had set up barricades on all streets leading to Istiklal and closed down the nearest subway stop.
In Pakistan, however, women managed to rally in cities across the country, despite petitions filed in court seeking to stop them. The opposition was stirred in part by controversy over a slogan used in last year’s march: “My Body, My Choice.”
Some conservative groups had threatened to stop this year’s marches by force. But Pakistani officials pledged to protest the marchers. The rallies are notable in a conservative country where women often do not feel safe in public places because of open harassment. The main Islamic political party, Jamaat-e-Islami, organized its own rallies to counter the march.
[vemba-video id=”van/ns-acc/2020/03/08/IN-19SU_CNNA-ST1-1000000005ae7475″]
One of the largest demonstrations occurred in Chile, where crowds thousands flooded the streets of the capital with dancing, music and angry demands for gender equality and an end to violence against women.
“They kill us, they rape us and nobody does anything,” some chanted.
National police estimated 125,000 took part in the capital and nearly 35,000 in other cities, but organizers said the crowds were far larger. Scattered clashes broke out at points when demonstrators threw rocks at police, who responded with water cannon.
Many protesters demanded that a proposed new constitution strengthen rights for women and thousands wore green scarves in a show of support for activists in neighboring Argentina, which is considering a proposal to legalize elective abortion.
Tens of thousands of women also marched through Paris, inveighing against the “virus of the patriarchy.”
“Enough impunity!” chanted some activists, who focused on France’s unusually high rate of women killed by their husbands. Last year, one woman was killed every two or three days by a current or former partner, and the government is increasing efforts to crack down on domestic violence.
“They should provide resources for shelters for women, victim of violence, real resources, human resources, also prevention programs for violent men,” union activist Julia Parbotin said.
Thousands of women also marched in Madrid and other Spanish cities, despite concern over the spread of the new coronavirus.
A massive banner reading, “With rights, without barriers. Feminists without frontiers” in Spanish was carried at the front of the march in the capital.
Spanish health authorities said did not put any restrictions on the march, but recommended that anyone with symptoms similar to those of the coronavirus stay home.
At a school in East London, meanwhile, the duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, joined students in listening to speeches about women labor activists, and urged both girls and boys to respect the contributions of women every day of the year.
“For young men … you have your mothers, sisters, girlfriends, friends in your life — protect them. Make sure they are feeling valued and safe,” she told the students.
But safety was in short supply at some events to mark the day.
The detonation of explosives triggered panic at a ceremony in Bamenda, an English-speaking town in the northwest of Cameroon. Suspicions focused on separatists who had vowed to disrupt the events. No one was killed or wounded.
Police in Bishek, the capital city of Kyrgyzstan, detained about 60 people after a group of unidentified men broke up what authorities called an unauthorized rally.
Demonstrators had gathered in the city’s main square to express support for women’s and children’s rights. But unidentified men barged into the gathering. Police said people from both sides were detained, but news reports said they were primarily women. They were released several hours later, after about 10 had been charged with resisting police, the Akipress news agency reported, citing an attorney.
In Nicaragua, where authorities have banned opposition protests since September 2018, police surrounded and blocked two groups of women at a church and human rights office who had planned to stage a demonstration.


mercurynews--2020-03-08--New coronavirus cases reported in Santa Clara and Contra Costa counties

Bay Area public health officials on Sunday reported new coronavirus cases , bringing the total to 37 in Santa Clara County and nine in Contra Costa County .
Five new cases were reported Sunday in each county .
County health officials did not provide additional information about the new cases .
There were no announced fatalities as of Sunday in either the Santa Clara County or Contra Costa County cases .
In addition to the nine confirmed cases in Contra Costa County , three people were transferred to Contra Costa County from an out-of-county location to receive care .
At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Contra Costa residents who have contracted the virus were on the same Grand Princess cruise ship that was attended by a Northern California man who later died from the virus .
“ As we ramp up our testing , we expect to identify more cases .
But there is still a lot we can do to slow down the spread and protect our most vulnerable , ” Dr. Ori Tzvieli , acting Contra Costa Health Officer , said in a press release Sunday .
County public health officials have called for employers and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , such as concerts , sports games and conferences , in order to limit the spread of the virus .
Many organizations have done so .
They have also urged employers to suspend non-essential employee travel , minimize employees working within arm ’ s length of one another and allow employees to work from home whenever possible .
These measures were added on top of a warning earlier this week by county public health officials for those over the age of 50 or with poor health conditions to avoid large public gatherings .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Clara County public health officials , for instance , San Jose Diocese Bishop Oscar Cantu granted those at a greater risk of contracting the virus a special dispensation to stay home from mass for the time being .
“ In light of the delicate situation we are facing at this time , I dispense persons falling into the categories of greater risk from attending Mass , ” Cantu said in a statement .
“ May we continue to observe the precautions prescribed by our public health department to protect ourselves and our brothers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oak Grove High School in San Jose was undergoing a “ deep cleaning ” after one student was confirmed to have had contact with a family member who has contracted the virus , school officials said .
Though the student had not exhibited any symptoms , they were being quarantined and will be tested for the virus , the school said in a press release .
Classes have not been canceled and will go on as planned on Monday .
Meanwhile , in San Francisco , at least two schools will be closed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Lowell High School , which was one of the first schools to close in the Bay Area last week , will not resume classes on Monday .
School officials closed the school Thursday afternoon because a parent of a student at the school had tested positive for the virus .
Immaculate Conception Academy Cristo Rey , a Dominican Catholic college preparatory school in San Francisco , announced Sunday that it would be close for two weeks because a custodial staff member tested positive for the virus .
The school has hired a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school buildings , and it plans to resume classes on Friday , March 20 , Principal George Fornero said in a letter to parents and students .

To read the latest on coronavirus cases and the Bay Area’s first virus-related death click here.
Bay Area public health officials on Sunday reported new coronavirus cases, bringing the total to 37 in Santa Clara County and nine in Contra Costa County.
Five new cases were reported Sunday in each county. County health officials did not provide additional information about the new cases. There were no announced fatalities as of Sunday in either the Santa Clara County or Contra Costa County cases.
In addition to the nine confirmed cases in Contra Costa County, three people were transferred to Contra Costa County from an out-of-county location to receive care. At least two of the nine of the Contra Costa residents who have contracted the virus were on the same Grand Princess cruise ship that was attended by a Northern California man who later died from the virus.
“As we ramp up our testing, we expect to identify more cases. But there is still a lot we can do to slow down the spread and protect our most vulnerable,” Dr. Ori Tzvieli, acting Contra Costa Health Officer, said in a press release Sunday.
County public health officials have called for employers and event organizers to cancel any large gatherings, such as concerts, sports games and conferences, in order to limit the spread of the virus. Many organizations have done so.
They have also urged employers to suspend non-essential employee travel, minimize employees working within arm’s length of one another and allow employees to work from home whenever possible.
These measures were added on top of a warning earlier this week by county public health officials for those over the age of 50 or with poor health conditions to avoid large public gatherings.
In accordance with the recommendations from Santa Clara County public health officials, for instance, San Jose Diocese Bishop Oscar Cantu granted those at a greater risk of contracting the virus a special dispensation to stay home from mass for the time being.
“In light of the delicate situation we are facing at this time, I dispense persons falling into the categories of greater risk from attending Mass,” Cantu said in a statement. “May we continue to observe the precautions prescribed by our public health department to protect ourselves and our brothers and sisters.”
Over the weekend, Oak Grove High School in San Jose was undergoing a “deep cleaning” after one student was confirmed to have had contact with a family member who has contracted the virus, school officials said.
Though the student had not exhibited any symptoms, they were being quarantined and will be tested for the virus, the school said in a press release. Classes have not been canceled and will go on as planned on Monday.
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Lowell High School, which was one of the first schools to close in the Bay Area last week, will not resume classes on Monday. School officials closed the school Thursday afternoon because a parent of a student at the school had tested positive for the virus.
Immaculate Conception Academy Cristo Rey, a Dominican Catholic college preparatory school in San Francisco, announced Sunday that it would be close for two weeks because a custodial staff member tested positive for the virus. The school has hired a company to deep clean all of the school buildings, and it plans to resume classes on Friday, March 20, Principal George Fornero said in a letter to parents and students.


mercurynews--2020-03-08--Portugal’s president self-isolates amid virus outbreak

LISBON , Portugal ( AP ) — The office of Portugal ’ s 71-year-old president said Sunday that he has @ @ @ @ @ will stay at home amid the coronavirus outbreak .
President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa recently @ @ @ @ @ from a school which has since been closed following the detection of a student with @ @ @ @ @ that the president had no symptoms .
It added that the infected student wasn ’ @ @ @ @ @ that visited the presidential palace .
His office said that he decided to self-isolate “ @ @ @ @ @ taking preventative measures while continuing to work at home.
” The president ’ s office @ @ @ @ @ photos with the group of students , he didn ’ t greet them individually .
@ @ @ @ @ as being an effusive and affectionate president who is extremely popular in Portugal .
• @ @ @ @ @ Santa Clara and Contra Costa counties • Under quarantine , 13-year-old New Yorker has a @ @ @ @ @ Portugal has recorded 25 coronavirus cases and no deaths .

LISBON, Portugal (AP) — The office of Portugal’s 71-year-old president said Sunday that he has canceled all public activities and will stay at home amid the coronavirus outbreak.
President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa recently received a group of students from a school which has since been closed following the detection of a student with COVID-19.
His office said that the president had no symptoms. It added that the infected student wasn’t included in the group that visited the presidential palace. His office said that he decided to self-isolate “to provide an example of taking preventative measures while continuing to work at home.”
The president’s office specified that although he took photos with the group of students, he didn’t greet them individually. Rebelo de Sousa is known as being an effusive and affectionate president who is extremely popular in Portugal.


mercurynews--2020-03-08--San Bruno police arrest three on attempted fraud, explosives charges

SAN BRUNO — An attempted fraudulent purchase Sunday morning led to the arrest of three men and the seizure of counterfeit money and identification cards , and a large cache of fireworks and explosive materials , San Bruno police said .
The fraud attempt , reported about 11:20 a.m. at a business in the 200 block of El Camino Real , was in progress when officers arrived .
Police detained a 29-year-old San Francisco resident , a 41-year-old San Francisco resident , and a 50-year-old San Bruno resident and determined that they possessed fraudulent identification cards , a large amount @ @ @ @ @ @ @ checks , the department said in a news release .
Police then obtained a warrant and searched a residence in the 3800 block of Colby Way in San Bruno .
The search turned up more than 25 pounds of illegal fireworks and explosive materials , more fraudulent currency , false identifications and Social Security cards , along with equipment used to manufacture personal identifying information , police said .
The men were booked into the San Mateo County Jail for chargers related to burglary , forgery , identity theft , and possession of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Sunnyvale , suspect arrested near San Jose Anyone with any information about the case is urged to contact the San Bruno Police Department at ( 650 ) 616-7100 or sbpdtipline @ sanbruno.ca.gov .
Information can be left anonymously .

Bay City News
SAN BRUNO — An attempted fraudulent purchase Sunday morning led to the arrest of three men and the seizure of counterfeit money and identification cards, and a large cache of fireworks and explosive materials, San Bruno police said.
The fraud attempt, reported about 11:20 a.m. at a business in the 200 block of El Camino Real, was in progress when officers arrived.
Police detained a 29-year-old San Francisco resident, a 41-year-old San Francisco resident, and a 50-year-old San Bruno resident and
determined that they possessed fraudulent identification cards, a large amount of counterfeit U.S. currency, and fraudulent checks, the department said in a news release.
Police then obtained a warrant and searched a residence in the 3800 block of Colby Way in San Bruno. The search turned up more than 25
pounds of illegal fireworks and explosive materials, more fraudulent currency, false identifications and Social Security cards, along with
equipment used to manufacture personal identifying information, police said.
The men were booked into the San Mateo County Jail for chargers related to burglary, forgery, identity theft, and possession of explosive
materials.


mercurynews--2020-03-09--Letter: You want to save animals? Buy a hunting license, then …

Nonhunters can buy tags to help wildlife , CDFW In response to Marsha Armstrong ’ s letter titled “ Idea to let animal lovers buy ‘ non-hunting access ’ licenses ” ( Eastbaytimes.com , March 4 ) : When you have anti-hunting lawmakers in Sacramento passing laws based on feelings and not science , no bear hunting with dogs , no bobcat hunting , it is difficult to raise money for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife .
The CDFW already set limits on how many animals can be taken in a year .
You want to help and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( $ 49.94 ) , then buy some deer tags ( $ 32.97 for first deer , $ 41.04 second deer ) , a bear tag ( $ 48.34 ) , an elk tag — if you ’ re lucky enough to get drawn — ( $ 473.95 ) , a pronghorn tag ( $ 159.33 ) , a bighorn sheep tag ( $ 433.75 ) , and that ’ s just for starters .
Add in birds and pigs , and you are on your way to helping the animals .
• @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with arrivals ?
• Letter : If these Oakland leaders back this rent strike , it ’ s a disgrace • Letter : $ 1M is enough to sway the federal monitor ’ s finding on OPD • Letter : Like 2016 , the GOP is mounting a very strong digital onslaught You don ’ t have to hunt — just buy tags .
No need to add more bureaucracy and paperwork .
Just pay up .
Like the rest of the hunters .
Submit your letter to the editor via this form @ @ @ @ @ @

Nonhunters can buy tags
to help wildlife, CDFW
Re: “The decline of hunting in California” (Eastbaytimes.com, March 4):
In response to Marsha Armstrong’s letter titled “Idea to let animal lovers buy ‘non-hunting access’ licenses” (Eastbaytimes.com, March 4): When you have anti-hunting lawmakers in Sacramento passing laws based on feelings and not science, no bear hunting with dogs, no bobcat hunting, it is difficult to raise money for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
The CDFW already set limits on how many animals can be taken in a year.
You want to help and save animals? Buy a hunting license ($49.94), then buy some deer tags ($32.97 for first deer, $41.04 second deer), a bear tag ($48.34), an elk tag — if you’re lucky enough to get drawn — ($473.95), a pronghorn tag ($159.33), a bighorn sheep tag ($433.75), and that’s just for starters.
Add in birds and pigs, and you are on your way to helping the animals.
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Dan Rivera
Milpitas
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