mercurynews--2020-03-15--The Latest: Czech Republic banning most travel in country

By The Associated Press The Latest on the world ’ s coronavirus pandemic , which has infected more than 156,000 people and killed more than 5,800 .
The disease for most people causes only mild or moderate symptoms but for some , especially the elderly or people with underlying health conditions , it can cause more severe illness .
Nearly 74,000 people have recovered from it so far , mostly in China .
The Czech government has imposed further restrictions on public movements in an effort to contain the outbreak of the coronavirus .
Prime Minister Andre Babis said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entire country , an unprecedented measure in his country ’ s history that will become effective Monday .
Babis said the government bans traveling in the country , apart from those going to work or if the travel is linked to performing a particular job .
People will be allowed to shop and visit doctors and hospitals .
Also , the visits of family members and close relatives won ’ t be banned .
Babis said the government orders the citizens “ to limit the movement at public spaces to a necessary minimum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with other people to a bare minimum.
” The Czech Republic has 253 cases of COVID-19 , 64 more than the previous day – the biggest day-to-day increase so far .
Also on Monday , the Czechs imposed further travel restrictions , barring all foreigners from entry except those who have residency in the country .
At the same time , Czech citizens are not allowed to travel abroad .
Checks on the border with Austria and Germany have been renewed and the government is deploying the military to guard the border on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ordered residents in the capital of Caracas and six states to stay home under a quarantine bid to control the spread of the coronavirus .
Under Maduro´s order , all but essential emergency service , health care and food distribution workers must remain home beginning early Monday .
Venezuela has 23 states and the six ones chosen are where cases have appeared .
Venezuela ’ s socialist president said in a national television address Sunday that the South American country has 17 confirmed cases .
There have been no reported deaths .
Authorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ raising anxiety in the crisis-stricken nation where many hospitals lack basics , such as water and soap , and struggle to treat even common ailments .
Authorities have already suspended flights from Europe , Colombia , the Dominican Republic and Panama for 30 days .
School and university classes have been suspended .
Colombian President Iván Duque closed its long border with Venezuela as a containment measure .
Vice President Mike Pence says the federal government will release updated guidance concerning restaurants , bars and other establishments amid the coronavirus outbreak .
Pence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the recommendations are being reviewed and will be made public on Monday .
California and Illinois are among the jurisdictions that have ordered restaurants and bars to close to help slow the spread of the virus .
When asked whether restaurants and bars should close , Dr. Anthony Fauci , the nation ’ s infectious disease chief , said he didn ’ t want to get ahead of the promised guidance but said “ that could be.
” Fauci promised to answer in greater detail after the guidance has been issued .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a to-go model for all its stores in the U.S. and Canada for at least two weeks over concern about the new coronavirus .
The Seattle-based coffee giant said Sunday it is closing seating in its cafes and patio areas , but customers can still order at the counter , at drive-thrus or on the Starbucks app .
The company will also temporary close stores in what it calls “ high social-gathering locations , ” such as malls and university campuses , and it will close stores or reduce hours in areas where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York City is closing the nation ’ s largest public school system , sending over 1.1 million children home in hopes of curbing the spread of coronavirus .
Gov .
Andrew Cuomo announced Sunday that schools will close early this week .
The decision follows a growing number of school closures in communities and states around the country , as well as mounting pressure in New York from residents , City Council members and others .
The shutdown affects the city ’ s nearly 1,900 public schools .
Many private schools already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bill de Blasio had been reluctant to close the school system because of the consequences for students and families .
Just Saturday , the Democratic mayor said keeping schools running was critical .
He worried that health care workers , first responders and other needed workers would have to stay home to care for children , and that hundreds of thousands of poor students could go hungry without their free or reduced-price school meals .
President Donald Trump is urging the public to stop hoarding groceries , telling Americans to “ take it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Sunday message comes as many supermarket shelves across the country have been picked bare , with people stockpiling supplies like canned goods and toilet paper .
Trump said at a White House briefing that stores are working to keep up with demand , but added “ there ’ s no need for anyone in the country to hoard ” essentials .
“ You don ’ t have to buy so much .
Take it easy .
Just relax ” because “ it all will pass , ” the president said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ little bit less , please ?
” Trump held a call earlier Sunday with the officials from the nation ’ s leading grocery stores .
He said he was told the stores are stocking up even more than they would around Christmas time .
Idaho Gov .
Brad Little declined to order a statewide closure of schools on Sunday , instead telling school leaders that the decision on whether to close to slow the spread of coronavirus should be made locally .
Little made the decision one day after state public health officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ known to be infected with the virus had jumped to five , and a few hours after the state teacher ’ s union urged the governor to close schools for at least three weeks .
During a conference call with school leaders , Little said he knew it was a tough decision but one best made locally with the help of local public health officials .
Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Director Dave Jeppesen , who was also on the call , said he would prefer that schools stay open , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kids can continue to work as usual without disruption .
California Gov .
Gavin Newsom on Sunday called for all bars , wineries , nightclubs and brewpubs to close in the nation ’ s most populous state in a bid to contain the spread of the coronavirus .
The state also will reduce current occupancy in restaurants by half to keep people farther away from each other , Newsom said at a news conference .
It comes as the Illinois governor shut down all bars and restaurants and officials elsewhere said they were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last week to cancel or postpone gatherings , large and small , that have roiled California ’ s economy , which is the fifth-largest in the world .
Schools have closed , sports games have been called off and theme parks like Disneyland have shut down .
The governor also urged seniors and people with chronic conditions to isolate themselves at home .
Spain ’ s Defense Ministry said the government will deploy military units under a state of emergency that it has declared to fight the coronavirus outbreak .
The ministry said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to respond to domestic natural disasters and often assist in fighting wildfires , will go on a reconnaissance Sunday of areas considered virus hotspots .
Those include Madrid , Sevilla , Valencia , Zaragoza , León and two of the Canary Islands .
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said Friday that he would include the deployment of military resources as part of a battery of measures to stem the contagion curve .
Using powers given it under the two-week state of emergency declared Saturday , Spain ’ s government has restricted movements to essential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It has also closed restaurants , bars and most retail shops .
Police units are enforcing the confinement , patrolling the streets and public areas like parks .
The ministry has also called up military doctors from the reserve and ordered for military pharmacies to increase production of disinfectant solutions and other generic medicines .
Thousands of Brazilians ignored warnings to avoid mass gatherings and staged demonstrations in favor of President Jair Bolsonaro and against his antagonists in Congress and the Supreme Court on Sunday .
Bolsonaro himself had urged supporters to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks ago , due to the spread of the new coronavirus .
But he apparently changed his mind Sunday morning , joining a rally in the capital of Brasilia where he shot selfies and shook hands with demonstrators .
Bolsonaro ’ s office announced Thursday that tests showed him free of the new virus despite his chief spokesman and other aides having tested positive following a visit to Washington , where they met U.S. President Donald Trump .
“ This is priceless , what the people are doing in spite of my recommendation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Many of the protesters in Rio de Janeiro wore medical masks while carrying placards supporting the president .
“ The corruption kills a lot more than the virus , ” said Alisson de Oliveira , 42 , though he acknowledged he was worried by the illness .
Slovenia on Sunday approved new measures to contain the coronavirus pandemic as the number of confirmed cases in the country rose to 219 and the first death has been reported .
Most shops will close , apart from grocery stores , pharmacies , banks , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stands .
Recommendations will be issued soon on how many people may be in one shop at once .
Authorities also extended indefinitely a decree that initially closed down schools and other education institutions for two weeks .
Top government officials appealed to young people in Slovenia to help organize day care for children .
Slovenia will also cancel all air traffic starting on Tuesday .
The authorities are now looking into possibilities to help individual citizens who may be stranded abroad .
The Foreign Ministry has issued a travel alert advising all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issuing special travel warnings for Italy , Serbia , Spain , Iran , South Korea , the US and China .
Public health officials in the Seattle area are reporting two more COVID-19 deaths , bring the total statewide to at least 42 .
Both additional victims were residents of the Life Care Center of Kirkland , the Washington state nursing home that has been the center of the outbreak in the hard-hit region .
Public Health-Seattle & King County said a woman in her 60s died Saturday and a woman in her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 29 coronavirus-related fatalities linked to the nursing home .
Portugal and Spain have agreed to halt tourism across their 1,200-kilometer shared border starting Monday , but they will still allow workers to commute and the exchange of goods across the land border , Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa told reporters in Lisbon .
Costa said the measure was agreed upon following a call with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez .
Details would be released Monday after a meeting of European Union ministers , he added .
Portugal has seen a spike in infections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 245 , although the situation is far less serious than in neighboring Spain .
There have been no deaths recorded in Portugal .
In a video statement , President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said late Sunday that he ’ s convening the Council of State on Wednesday to discuss whether a state of emergency is needed to halt the spread of the virus .
Rebelo de Sousa has been in self-isolation since earlier this week , despite having tested negative for COVID-19 , after he met a student who later was found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s president has proclaimed a nationwide state of emergency to fight spreading of the coronavirus in the Balkan country .
In an address to the nation Sunday , President Aleksandar Vucic said the government will announce details of the measures on Monday .
He suggested , however , that they include virtual closure of the borders for foreign citizens , restrictions on movement of people , and shutting down schools and universities .
Vucic said that as of Monday , state hospitals will be guarded by army troops which will be deployed on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay indoors and all others should leave their homes only if necessary , the president added , also suggesting that fitness and sports centers be closed .
Vucic said “ we are shutting down life to save life.
” He told foreigners wanting to enter Serbia “ don ’ t come or you ’ ll be quarantined.
” All those who manage to skip the isolation will face a three-year prison sentence , Vucic said .
Vucic said the border entry ban does not apply to people from China , praising the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and he criticized the European Union for allegedly failing to provide adequate support .
Montenegro , which has no confirmed cases of the new coronavirus yet , has preemptively banned foreigners from entry and ordered the closure of cafes , restaurants , shopping malls , fitness centers and children ’ s playgrounds .
Montenegro ’ s authorities in charge of countering COVID-19 said traffic in goods will continue , but will be carried out under special sanitary measures and observation .
Any Montenegrin citizens coming from abroad must self-isolate , while no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a shop at the same time .
“ We are doing all we can to postpone the appearance of the coronavirus , and once registered , to prevent its spread , ” said deputy Prime Minister Milutin Simovic .
New Zealand ’ s central bank has cut the benchmark interest rate to a record low 0.25 % .
The cut of 0.75 % came outside of the bank ’ s normal schedule for changing rates .
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand said in a statement Monday that the negative impact of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economy will be significant .
Also Monday , national carrier Air New Zealand announced a trading halt on its shares , saying it needed time to more fully assess the impacts of global travel restrictions .
Tourism is New Zealand ’ s single largest earner of foreign income .
The industry is quickly grinding to a halt due to stringent new border restrictions imposed over the weekend .
Almost everybody arriving in the country , including citizens , must isolate themselves for two weeks .
New Zealand has had just eight confirmed cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 cases have risen to 331 .
That ’ s an increase of 103 in one day .
It ’ s the steepest daily rise yet for the country .
But of the new cases , 54 are due to the results of tests conducted a day or two earlier .
Four people have died in Greece from the coronavirus .
Professional soccer is shutting down in Mexico .
The move will follow Sunday ’ s matches , which were already being played before empty stands as a precaution due to the new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ men ’ s top-flight and second divisions and the fledgling women ’ s league .
Soccer officials said in a statement that the measure would remain in effect until it ’ s determined it ’ s safe to restart play in coordination with Mexico ’ s Health Department .
The decision follows similar ones elsewhere such as the United States , where professional and collegiate sports have been shut down .
Mexico previously played soccer matches without fans for several weeks during the 2009 H1N1 influenza health emergency , an outbreak with Mexico @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Saturday night raised the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the country to 41 , up from 26 the previous day and 11 the day before that .
On Sunday at least two more were announced by state-level authorities .
Puerto Rico ’ s governor has ordered the closure of all businesses and nonessential government offices , except for gas stations and those dealing in food , health or finance .
Territorial Gov .
Gov .
Wanda Vázquez announced that the closures will start at 6 p.m. Sunday and last for two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affects shops , theaters , parks , malls , gyms and other activities .
It follows confirmation of a fifth confirmed case of the new coronavirus in Puerto Rico .
Takeout restaurants , supermarkets , pharmacies and banks can remain open .
But they ’ ll have to close each day at 6 p.m .
Even citizens will be barred from the streets between 5 a.m. and 9 p.m. , save for those working in security , health or food distribution .
The governor ’ s order sets a six-month jail term or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for violators .
It came a day after the governor ordered schools closed until March 30 .
The Academy of Country Music Awards show has been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic .
The Academy of Country Music and its partners said in a news release Sunday that the awards show will be rescheduled for an undetermined time and venue in September .
It had been scheduled for April 5 in Las Vegas .
Academy of Country Music CEO Damon Whiteside said , “ We look forward to identifying a future date that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safely.
” The president of the European Commission is calling on all EU member states to help each other and keep goods flowing across Europe amid the coronavirus pandemic .
President Ursula von der Leyen ’ s comments were apparently a response to some country ’ s reintroducing border checks within the EU bloc .
She insisted goods should be able to travel across Europe “ without obstacles , ” in a video message .
She added that the EU executive body is working on producing more protective equipment .
She says the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prevents medical goods from be exported outside the EU without authorization .
The District of Columbia is instructing its restaurants , bars and nightclubs to help stem spread of the coronavirus by moving tables farther apart and limiting table seating to six persons or fewer .
The new health advisory issued Sunday is a follow up to the district ’ s ban announced last week on public gatherings of more than 250 people .
All eating establishments and multipurpose facilities must ensure their patrons are limited to that number at the same time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tables and booths must be separated by at least 6 feet ( 1.83 meters ) .
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said it is most concerned about spread of the virus through what it calls close contact .
That ’ s defined as being coughed on by a patient or being within about 6 feet for a prolonged period of time such as while sharing a room .
Slovakia is approving more restrictions in response to the coronavirus pandemic , shutting down retail businesses across the country .
Prime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ start Monday and will last for at least two weeks .
Pellegrini says stores with essential goods such as grocery stores , pharmacies , newsstands , post offices and banks will be allowed to remain open .
He said restaurants will be allowed to sell take away meals only .
As countries around the globe are calling off mass events to try to slow the spread of the new coronavirus , Nicaragua staged a large march through the capital billed as a show of unity to confront the pandemic .
Saturday ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time of COVID-19.
” It was a nod to the Gabriel García Márquez novel “ Love in the Time of Cholera.
” The government-aligned website El 19 said “ thousands ” took part .
Images in Nicaraguan media showed people streaming through the streets of Managua on foot , waving national flags and banners of President Daniel Ortega ’ s Sandinista movement .
Young people in blue wigs danced in the bed of a truck .
Hospital and clinic workers also took part , El 19 said , holding signs with recommended hygienic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus had been reported in Nicaragua as of Friday , according the country ’ s Health Ministry .
Still , Ortega opponents criticized the “ Love ” march .
Former health minister and ex-Sandinista guerrilla fighter Mario Sánchez accused the government of “ criminal irresponsibility , ” La Prensa newspaper reported .
Germany will partially close its borders with France , Switzerland , Austria , Luxembourg and Denmark as it steps up efforts to stem the spread of the new coronavirus .
Interior Minister Horst Seehofer says the new checks will take effect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who commute across the border to work will still be able to cross , as will goods .
Seehofer said Sunday that people “ without a valid reason to travel will no longer be allowed to enter and leave ” Germany .
He added that German citizens in the neighboring countries will be allowed back in .
Germany had confirmed nearly 4,000 infections with the virus by Saturday .
Authorities have reported 11 deaths .
Germany ’ s northern neighbour , Denmark , and eastern neighbors Poland and the Czech Republic already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Germany also has borders with the Netherlands and Belgium , which are not affected .
Ireland is ordering all pubs and bars to close for two weeks and is urging people not to hold house parties instead .
Those are the latest measures the country is taking to try to curb the coronavirus outbreak .
The Irish government said Sunday that it ’ s “ now calling on all public houses and bars ( including hotel bars ) to close ” until at least March 29 .
Authorities made the decision after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ real difficulty ” in carrying out guidelines on social distancing in pubs .
Ireland reported a second virus death and 39 new cases , bringing its total to 129 on Saturday .
A man removed from a Caribbean cruise has become the first death from COVID-19 in the Cayman Islands .
The man apparently was a passenger on the same vessel , the Costa Luminosa , that experienced two other confirmed cases of the virus .
The islands ’ government says that the 68-year-old patient was admitted to Health City in critical condition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ following two cardiac arrests .
Tests during treatment confirmed that he also had the virus .
Two other passengers from the ship , a 68-year-old Italian woman and her 70-year-old husband , were taken to a hospital in Puerto Rico .
Tests confirmed they had the virus .
Despite Italy ’ s lockdown , Pope Francis has visited two churches in Rome to pray for an end to the coronavirus pandemic .
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said Francis first went to St. Mary Major Basilica on Sunday .
It ’ s near Rome @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that , the pope walked along a stretch of a central Rome street to visit another church .
The second church has a crucifix that was carried in 1522 in a procession so that a plague then afflicting Rome would end .
Bruni says the pope prayed for an end to the pandemic and the healing of those who are sick .
Italians are cooped up at home by a government decree to combat the spread of the coronavirus .
More than 24,700 people in the country have been diagnosed with the disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
According to the World Health Organization , the vast majority of people who get COVID-19 recover within weeks .
The numbercases of COVID-19 in Italy has surged higher again .
Some 3,590 more cases of the coronavirus were reported in a 24-hour period , nearly 100 more than the increase as the day before .
The additional infections reported Sunday represent the country ’ s biggest day-to-day increase .
Italy ’ s Civil Protection chief Angelo Borrelli announced the latest number of cases , bringing the total number of people with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of deaths increased by 368 to 1,809 .
According to the World Health Organization , the vast majority of people who get COVID-19 recover within weeks .
Italy ’ s national health institute chief Silvio Brusaferro said it is not known if Italy is reaching its peak and might start seeing the number of new cases decline .
Ticket sales plunged to their lowest levels in at least 20 years at North American movie theaters , as the coronavirus pandemic led to one of Hollywood ’ s worst weekend ’ s ever at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show receipts totaled about $ 56 million in U.S. and Canada theaters .
According to data firm Comscore , box office revenues haven ’ t been that low since September 2000 .
At that time , $ 54.5 million in tickets were sold on a quiet weekend .
More people went to the movies the weekend after the Sept. 11 terror attacks , in 2001 .
Disney ’ s latest release from Pixar , “ Onward , ” remained the top film at the box office , with $ 10.5 million in its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I Still Believe , ” from Lionsgate , brought in $ 9.5 million .
Sony ’ s comic-book adaptation “ Bloodshot , ” with Vin Diesel , grossed an estimated $ 9.3 million .
All of those totals were notably below expectations .
Italy ’ s foreign minister says China is sending 150 pulmonary respirators now and more later to help treat seriously ill COVID-19 patients in Italy , the center of Europe ’ s coronavirus pandemic .
Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio also said Sunday that China will be shipping 5 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earlier , the top health official in the hard-hit region of Lombardy complained publicly about the quality of the masks that Italy ’ s central government had shipped to hospitals in his area , likening them to toilet paper .
Lombardy has 13,272 infections and 1,218 deaths alone .
China , which appears to have turned the corner on its own COVID-19 outbreak , will also be sending medical crews to aid the Italians , Di Maio said .
The nation ’ s top infectious disease expert says he ’ s trying to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hands .
Anthony Fauci , who heads the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health , said on ABC ’ s “ This Week ” that he ’ s “ working on ” getting Trump to greet people he meets with elbow bumps instead of handshakes as the coronavirus pandemic spreads around the globe .
Trump , a self-described germaphobe , avoided handshakes before jumping into politics in 2015 .
The president said he ’ s now having trouble giving up the instinctive “ habit ” of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ World Health Organization , meanwhile , says that even elbow bumps bring people too close together .
Walmart , the largest retailer and private employer in the United States , is limiting store hours at big box stores as well as its smaller grocery locations to help ensure workers are able to stock essentials like sanitizers and toilet paper .
Starting Sunday , more than 4,700 Walmart and Neighborhood Market locations in the U.S. will be open from 6 a.m. to 11 pm .
until further notice .
Prior to this , most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and some Neighborhood stores were too .
Dacona Smith , chief operating officer , said “ I don ’ t think any of us have been through an experience like this , and we continue to be amazed at what people , whether in the stores or in the supply chain , are doing to make sure customers have what they need , ” The list of retailers beyond Apple announcing they will temporarily close their stores as the outbreak intensifies keeps growing .
They now include Urban Outfitters , Everlane , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio , reacting to announcement of a curfew in neighboring Hoboken , New Jersey , says that a lockdown in the nation ’ s largest city couldn ’ t be ruled out .
“ Every option is on the table in a crisis , ” the Democrat said Sunday on CNN .
Also in New York , Gov .
Andrew Cuomo said the Army Corps of Engineers should be mobilized by equipping facilities like military bases or college dorms to serve as temporary medical centers .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York Times , Cuomo called on President Donald Trump to authorize states to expand testing capabilities , set federal standards for shutting down commerce and schools , and mobilize the military to bolster medical treatment capabilities .
He wrote that “ states can not build more hospitals , acquire ventilators or modify facilities quickly enough , ” adding they need the expertise and equipment of the Army Corps .
German airline Lufthansa plans more than a dozen special flights from the Caribbean and Spain ’ s Canary Islands to bring back to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by travel restrictions .
Lufthansa said Sunday that tour and cruise companies had asked the company to put on the flights .
There will be 15 special flights , in addition to two regular flights from the Dominican Republic and Barbados .
The first people were expected to arrive Sunday on the flights to Frankfurt , Munich , Hamburg and Berlin .
Bulgaria ’ s government has announced financial bonus for all medics involved in the treatment of coronavirus patients .
An additional 500 euros ( $ 543 ) will be paid to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said Sunday .
Bulgaria is experiencing a shortage of medical workers , after many moved to western Europe .
Indonesian President Joko Widodo was being tested for COVID-19 on Sunday after his transportation minister , Budi Karya Sumadi , tested positive for coronavirus .
Morocco suspended all international flights Sunday to limit the spread of coronavirus .
The announcement is a drastic move for the North African country , which relies heavily on international tourism to its Atlantic beaches , desert towns and northern mountains .
Hungary has reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 75-year-old man who had been hospitalized with pneumonia .
U.S. state officials like llinois Gov .
J.B. Pritzker are upset that federal agents have created huge lines and crowds at U.S. airports as Americans return from vacations in Europe .
And he says the U.S. airports are going to see even worse problems on that front Sunday because there are even more flights returning .
He tells ABC ’ s “ This Week ” that the federal government should have known when President Donald Trump “ gave the orders that European travel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be cut off , that there would be influx of people.
” Pritzker said authorities should have increased the Customs and Border Patrol numbers and medical workers at airports like Chicago ’ s O ’ Hare but “ they did neither of those.
” He said the packed crowds of people are “ exactly what you don ’ t want in this pandemic.
” He said the only communications he has received was a call from a White House staffer “ who yelled at me ” for pointing the problem out to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Italian airline , is coordinating with Italy ’ s Foreign Ministry to arrange for special flights to allow thousands of Italians to return to Italy .
The airline said Sunday said that “ it will continue to operate toward some countries that have imposed restrictive measures on Italian citizens and on passengers who have been In Europe.
” It noted that a special flight was departing Sunday evening for the Maldives .
Alitalia will continue to operate two flights daily to New York and to London to allow Italians and foreigners , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to return home .
It will also fly to Miami and Buenos Aires until March 17 , and to many other destinations , including in Europe , northern Africa , New Delhi , Tokyo and Rio de Janeiro .
The government ’ s top official on infectious diseases says he ’ s worried about the health risks of long lines and crowding at U.S. airports amid new coronavirus travel restrictions .
Dr. Anthony Fauci , who heads the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health , told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we ’ d like to not see crowds like that ” as Americans and other travelers return from Europe .
He cited the aim of social distancing to prevent spread of COVID-19 .
Fauci says it ’ s understandable with a travel ban , people would immediately feel they want to “ hunker and get home , ” but if you ’ re an American citizen , you can get back “ there is no need to rush back.
” Weary travelers returning to the U.S. amid coronavirus-related travel restrictions have been greeted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ required medical screenings at airports .
Health authorities in Spain say deaths from the coronavirus have more than doubled in 24 hours , while total infections approached 8,000 .
The Health Ministry said Spain has recorded 288 deaths since the start of the pandemic , up from 136 on Saturday .
The European Union nation has 7,753 infections , up from 5,700 on Saturday , with around half of them concentrated in the capital of Madrid .
The jump comes a day after Spain ’ s government declared a state of emergency and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commuting to work and necessary errands .
It has also closed restaurants , bars , most retail shops and reduced public transport .
The Vatican says all Holy Week ceremonies will take place without the “ physical presence of the faithful ” because of the health emergency over the coronavirus .
The Vatican tweeted Sunday citing an announcement by the office of the pontifical household said that until April 12 , when Easter Sunday is celebrated this year , all the general audiences on Wednesday as well as Pope Francis weekly Sunday noon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Among popular Holy Week ceremonies is the Good Friday Way of the Cross torchlit procession at Rome ’ s Colosseum .
Holy Week ceremonies usually draw tens of thousands of people to Rome , but with Italy the European center of the COVID-19 outbreak , tourism in the country has vanished .
Brunei says it will ban its citizens and residents from traveling abroad starting Monday in a drastic move to stem further cases of COVID-19 .
The tiny oil-rich sultanate has been hit by 50 cases in just a week since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 9 .
This included 10 new cases reported Sunday .
Britain ’ s top health official says the government plans to set out emergency powers this week to deal with the viral outbreak , including requiring the elderly to self-isolate and banning mass gatherings .
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said Sunday the government ’ s bill laying out its emergency action plan would be unveiled on Tuesday and published Thursday .
Britain has taken a different approach and hasn ’ t yet heavily restricted everyday activities in the same way other countries across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s comments suggested the government was ready to escalate its efforts .
Britain has 1,140 confirmed virus cases and 21 deaths .
Pope Francis has praised people for their continuing efforts to help vulnerable communities , including the poor and the homeless , amid the coronavirus pandemic .
Francis for a second Sunday delivered noon remarks and the spoken blessing from inside the Apostolic Library instead of from a window overlooking St. Peter ’ s Square .
He later waved from the window and gave a silent blessing with his arm , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the public in the square .
Italians are being left even more isolated Sunday amid a national lockdown to stop the spread of coronavirus .
Sardinia ’ s governor had asked for the ban to stop travelers from bringing possible infection from the mainland peninsula .
Cargo can still go by ferry to the island , but every day people will need special permission from the governor to hop aboard .
The minister also banned overnight train trips , which many in the north had been taking to reach homes and families in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outbreak outside of China , with 21,000 infections and 1,441 deaths .
Spain awoke to its first day of a nationwide quarantine on Sunday after the government declared a two-week state of emergency .
The government imposed the special measures including the confinement of people to their homes unless shopping for food and medicine , going to and from work , and to meet other basic needs .
Restaurants and hotels are closed and public transport reduced .
In Barcelona , people who ventured out on quiet streets to buy bread at one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( about three feet ) in between each person as recommended by authorities to reduce the risk of contagion .
Police patrolled parks and told people who weren ’ t taking their dog on a quick walk to go home .
The state of emergency declared by the government of Pedro Sánchez includes the temporary centralization of Spain ’ s health care system which is run by regional authorities .
Singapore has announced that all travelers arriving from Southeast Asian countries , Japan , Switzerland and the United Kingdom or with a travel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ upon arrival will have to self-isolate under new efforts to battle the coronavirus .
The health ministry said the measure , starting Sunday , will also apply to Singapore residents .
Southeast Asian visitors will also be required to submit information on their health for approval before their travel , it said .
The city-state , which has recorded 212 virus cases , has already banned visitors from China , Iran , Italy , France , Germany , South Korea and Spain .
The new measure will not apply to sea and land @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between the neighbors .
Austria is further tightening restrictions on public life , closing restaurants and sports facilities and halting flights to a number of countries in an effort to fight the coronavirus .
Chancellor Sebastian Kurz announced the new measures in a parliamentary session on Sunday .
The Austria Press Agency reported that he announced flight bans for Britain , Ukraine and Russia .
Restaurants will now have to close entirely starting on Tuesday .
Austria has confirmed 758 cases of the new coronavirus , including one death .
Travelers returning to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with hourslong waits for required medical screenings at airports .
While American citizens , green card holders and some others are allowed to return to the U.S. amid new European travel restrictions , they ’ re being funneled to 13 U.S. airports where they ’ re subject to health screenings and quarantine orders .
Acting Secretary Chad Wolf says the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is trying to add additional screening capacity and work with airlines to expedite the process .
Videos and photos posted to social media showed packed , winding lines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ airports like Dallas/Fort Worth and Chicago O ’ Hare acknowledged the delays and asked for patience .
But local politicians were incensed .
South Korea ’ s president has declared southeastern parts of the country hit hard by the coronavirus outbreak as “ special disasters zones , ” a designation that makes residents there eligible for emergency relief , tax benefits and other state financial support .
The Daegu city and some areas in the southeastern Gyeongsang province were declared disaster zones .
It ’ s the first time South Korea has declared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to an infectious disease .
South Korea has so far reported 8,162 coronavirus cases and 72 deaths .
Australia ’ s prime minister says all travelers arriving in the country will have to self-isolate for 14 days to try and stem the spread of the new coronavirus .
Prime Minister Scott Morrison made the announcement Sunday , saying in Sydney that the measures are indefinite and will be reviewed periodically .
Morrison also banned all cruise ships from docking in Australian ports for at least 30 days .
The measures are similar to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Just across the Hudson River from New York City , a New Jersey city is imposing a curfew on residents amid the virus outbreak .
Hoboken residents must stay in their homes from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. beginning Monday , a daily curfew that ’ s among the first and most far-reaching such measures taken in the U.S. Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla announced Saturday night that exceptions will be made for emergencies and people required to work .
He also said bars and restaurants can only offer takeout and delivery services .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and two virus-related deaths .
Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https : //apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https : //apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak 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 .

By The Associated Press
The Latest on the coronavirus pandemic, which has infected more than 169,000 people and killed more than 6,500. The COVID-19 illness causes mild or moderate symptoms but most people, but severe symptoms are more common in the elderly or people with other health conditions. Nearly 77,000 people have recovered from it so far, mostly in China.
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The Peace Corps is evacuating all of its volunteers and suspending operations in dozens of countries worldwide.
Director Jody Olsen says Sunday’s decision comes as “international travel becomes more and more challenging by the day.” She said the agency wanted to avoid leaving volunteers stranded in host countries.
Her statement stressed that posts would not close, but didn’t provide a timeline for resuming operations.
As of September 2019, the service program run by the U.S. government said it operates in more than 60 countries and has more than 7,300 volunteers and trainees. Volunteers in China and Mongolia have already been evacuated over virus concerns.
Olsen says host country staff will remain in their current roles.
The statement didn’t provide details about the evacuations and suspensions, which Olsen called “logistically challenging.”
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Closures over the new coronavirus are starting to hit the Las Vegas Strip.
MGM Resorts, which lists 13 resorts in Las Vegas, joined the Wynn Las Vegas and Encore in announcing closures Sunday.
Wynn Resorts said the two-week closure starts March 17 at 6 p.m. MGM says its Las Vegas properties will suspend operations by March 17.
The closures hit the same day that Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak announced that all public, private and charter K-12 schools in the state will be closed Monday until at least April 6. He says properties are making individual decisions about whether to close.
As of Saturday, health officials have announced 21 cases of coronavirus in Nevada.
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Peru’s president has declared an emergency and ordered people to stay home, while Honduras is closing its borders and ordering most businesses to close.
Peruvian President Martín Vizcarra stated in a televised address Sunday there is growing risk that all of Peru will be afflicted by the virus, acknowledging that some of those recently diagnosed with coronavirus had not traveled abroad.
The new measures include: closing its borders; suspending rights to free movement; instructing the military and police to ensure public services; and instructing people to work from and remain in their homes.
Peru confirmed its first coronavirus case on March 6 and its caseload has jumped to 71.
In Honduras, which has six cases, President Juan Orlando Hernández said air, land and sea border restrictions take effect one minute before midnight. They affect entry by people but not shipments of cargo and supplies. He did not specify any different treatment for Honduran nationals who might be looking to return from abroad.
Exceptions to business closures included essential services: food markets, pharmacies, hotels, gas stations and banks.
All large public gatherings are banned.
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South Korea has reported 74 additional cases of the new coronavirus, continuing its downward trend.
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday the additional cases brought the country’s total to 8,236. It has 75 deaths.
South Korea has the fourth-highest number of cases worldwide, but its new cases have been declining recently.
About 90% of cases in South Korea are in the southeastern city of Daegu and nearby areas.
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An Australian television editor has tested positive for the new coronavirus after meeting actress-singer Rita Wilson in Sydney.
Wilson and her husband Tom Hanks have been isolated in an Australian hospital since they were both diagnosed with COVID-19 on March 12.
Nine Network entertainment editor Richard Wilkins says he was tested because he met Wilson at the Sydney Opera House on March 7 and again at Nine’s Sydney studio on March 9. The result came back positive on Sunday.
The 65-year-old journalist told Nine on Monday he assumes he was infected by Wilson but doesn’t know for sure. Wilkins says he doesn’t feel unwell.
Wilkins’ son Christian Wilkins has been tested because he had spent the night of March 10 in his father’s Sydney home. Christian Wilkins is competing in the Australian version of the reality TV show “Dancing With The Stars” which is being broadcast without a studio audience because of the COVID-19 risk.
Richard Wilkins has been self-isolating at home since Thursday last week.
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New York City’s mayor ordered restaurants and bars to limit their business to take out and delivery services, and he told movie theaters, concert halls and other entertainment venues to close.
Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a statement Sunday night: “Our lives are all changing in ways that were unimaginable just a week ago.”
He said the actions were part of an effort to “save the lives of loved ones and our neighbors.”
The announcement came just hours after he shut the city’s schools.
The business order and the school closings take effect Tuesday.
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United Airlines is laying out a dire situation for airlines.
It will cut 50% of its flying capacity in April and May – cuts that could extend into the peak summer travel season – and expects planes to be only 20% to 30% full at best.
United will seek unspecified help from the federal government to navigate a sharp downturn in bookings due to the new coronavirus. It has begun talking to its pilot and flight attendant unions about taking cuts in pay or hours.
The airline handled a million fewer passengers in the first two weeks of March than it did a year ago, and revenue fell $1.5 billion below the year-ago pace, CEO Oscar Munoz and President Scott Kirby said in a letter to employees Sunday night.
“The bad news is that it’s getting worse,” they wrote. “We expect both the number of customers and revenue to decline sharply in the days and weeks ahead.”
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Everyone arriving in Beijing from overseas is being quarantined for 14 days in designated facilities at their expense.
The new policy took effect Monday. Previously, people without symptoms could self-quarantine at home.
Chinese cities have become increasingly concerned about importing cases of the new coronavirus from abroad after largely containing its spread at home.
In the latest tally, the National Health Commission reported 16 new cases of COVID-19 in the previous 24 hours. Twelve of them were imported from overseas, including four in Beijing.
The state-owned Global Times newspaper applauded Beijing’s move as an example for other regional governments and called for the building of a wall of prevention against the epidemic.
China now has 80,860 confirmed cases. The health commission said 67,749 patients have recovered and been discharged from hospitals. Fourteen more deaths were reported in the last 24 hours, raising the toll to 3,213.
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Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said he would order all bars, restaurants, entertainment and recreation facilities to temporarily close to fight the spread of coronavirus in the state with by far the most deaths in the U.S. from the disease.
In a statement Inslee said the ban, to be issued via emergency proclamation Monday, wouldn’t apply to grocery stores and pharmacies and that restaurants could continue take-out and delivery services.
No time frame was given on how long the restrictions will last. Inslee also revised his ban on events to prohibit gatherings of 50 or more people. Previously the limit was 250.
“These are very difficult decisions, but hours count here and very strong measures are necessary to slow the spread of the disease. I know there will be significant economic impacts to all our communities and we are looking at steps to help address those challenges,” Inslee said.
Public health officials in the Seattle area reported two more COVID-19 deaths, bring the total statewide to at least 42.
Other governors have instituted such measures. California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sunday called for all bars, wineries, nightclubs and brewpubs to close in the nation’s most populous state. The governors of Ohio, Massachusetts and Illinois also ordered bars and restaurants to shutter.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending that gatherings of 50 people or more in US be canceled or postponed over the next eight weeks because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The dramatic recommendation Sunday night came Americans struggled to come to terms with how to change their daily habits.
The CDC added that proper precautions should be taken at any event, including making sure people are washing their hands and not getting too close.
But in a sign of the difficulty of striking the right balance, the statement from the CDC also said the recommendation does not apply to “the day to day operation of organizations such as schools, institutes of higher learning, or businesses.”
The death toll from COVID-19 in the United States climbed to 64, while about 3,500 have been infected with the virus that causes it.
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An emergency room doctor at a suburban Seattle hospital that has treated many people with coronavirus has contracted the disease.
EvergreenHealth Medical Center in Kirkland, Washington, said in a statement Sunday that the doctor was in “critical condition but stable.”
At least 42 people have died from COVID-19 in Washington and there are more than 750 confirmed cases statewide.
Dr. Liam Yore, the immediate past president of the Washington Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians, told The Seattle Times the doctor was in his 40s.
Yore told the newspaper the doctor had used personal protective equipment and that it was not known whether the physician contracted COVID-19 in the community or at work.
Twenty-nine of the deaths in Washington state are linked to the Life Care Center of Kirkland, the nursing home at the center of the outbreak in the hard-hit region.
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Guatemala has confirmed the Central American nation’s first death from the new coronavirus.
The Health Ministry announced in a Sunday news conference that the patient was an 85-year-old man who had traveled to Spain recently. He died in the department, or province, of Guatemala that comprises the capital Guatemala City.
The ministry said there would be no wake and the man’s body would be buried immediately.
Health Minister Hugo Monroy said the condition of another patient, age 27, who also tested positive for the virus was “evolving positively.”
The first of Guatemala’s two cases was announced Friday.
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Schools in Massachusetts will close for at least three weeks and all gatherings of more than 25 people will be banned in the latest attempt to arrest the spread of the coronavirus, Gov. Charlie Baker announced Sunday.
The governor also ordered all bars and dine-in restaurants to close for a month. Take-away and delivery services won’t be affected by the rules, nor will grocery stores or pharmacies.
“I realize these measures are unprecedented,” Baker, a Republican, said at a news conference announcing the directives. “But we’re asking our residents to take a deep breath and understand the rationale behind this guidance.”
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The Czech government has imposed further restrictions on public movements in an effort to contain the outbreak of the coronavirus.
Prime Minister Andre Babis said the government is declaring a quarantine for the entire country taking effect Monday.
Babis said the government bans traveling in the country except to commute or to carry out work duties.
People will be allowed to shop and visit doctors and hospitals. Also, the visits of family members and close relatives won’t be banned.
Babis said the government orders the citizens “to limit the movement at public spaces to a necessary minimum” and “to limit the contacts with other people to a bare minimum.
The Czech Republic has 253 cases of COVID-19.
Also on Monday, the Czechs imposed further travel restrictions, barring all foreigners from entry except those who have residency in the country. At the same time, Czech citizens are not allowed to travel abroad.
Checks on the border with Austria and Germany have been renewed and the government is deploying the military to guard the border on Monday.
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Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has ordered residents in the capital of Caracas and six states to stay home under a quarantine bid to control the spread of the coronavirus.
Under Maduro´s order, all but essential emergency service, health care and food distribution workers must remain home beginning early Monday. Venezuela has 23 states and the six ones chosen are where cases have appeared.
Venezuela’s socialist president said the South American country has 17 confirmed cases. The outbreak has caused anxiety in the crisis-stricken nation where many hospitals lack basics, such as water and soap, and struggle to treat even common ailments.
Authorities have already suspended flights from Europe, Colombia, the Dominican Republic and Panama for 30 days.
Colombian President Iván Duque closed its long border with Venezuela as a containment measure.
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Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak
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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--2020-03-15--Coronavirus: Bars, nightclubs urged to close; seniors, others told to self-isolate at home

Amid the rapid spread of the coronavirus pandemic , Gov .
Gavin Newsom on Sunday afternoon announced broad new restrictions on bars and nightclubs , and called for home-isolation of seniors and people with chronic health conditions .
Newsom ordered the closing of bars , nightclubs , brew pubs and wineries on Sunday , and said he was ordering restaurants to half-capacity to address concerns about the spread of the virus .
The governor stopped short of asking restaurants to shut their doors , saying the need for food service during the pandemic remained vital .
“ We need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during an hour-long press conference in Sacramento .
“ We are looking at this from a very holistic perspective.
” He also announced an online , Bay Area pilot program to expand assessment of high-risk individuals , backed by Google parent Alphabet ’ s Verily Life Sciences and joined by federal , state and local health offices .
• A look at some of the hardest hit sectors in the S & P 500 • Photos : National and worldwide attempts to contain the coronavirus The new guidance comes as the number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state leaders rushed to expand testing , identify new capacity in hospitals , and manage the great , unknown economic impact of widespread closures and business slowdowns .
Newsom introduced new , multi-pronged efforts to curb the spread of the fast-moving virus that has crippled communities worldwide .
As of Sunday afternoon , the state had 335 verified cases and six fatalities .
Healthcare providers have conducted 8,316 tests .
The state is working to increase capacity to test sick residents , and expand the number of hospital beds to meet the expected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Private lab company Quest is opening two more facilities in the state ; the company can do some 1,200 tests a day at the one lab it currently has open , Newsom said , but will be able to expand to some 5,000 tests daily as soon as the end of this week , he said .
The state ’ s 19 laboratories are also being supplemented by hospitals that are helping with testing , Newsom said , including Stanford , UC Los Angeles and others .
“ We are increasing capacity on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A new state partnership with Google sister company Verily Life Service launches Monday , and will allow Californians to take an online survey to determine whether they should be screened .
By Tuesday , health officials expect to have drive-through testing centers in the region ’ s hardest hit counties , Santa Clara and San Mateo .
The public-private collaboration was initially announced Friday by President Donald Trump , but the company quickly clarified that the pilot program would be conducted only in the Bay Area with the goal to eventually serve @ @ @

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As the coronavirus continues its rapid spread, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sunday afternoon issued an urgent call for all California bars and nightclubs to shut their doors, restaurants to cut the number of tables in half and for millions of seniors and people with chronic health conditions to immediately “self-isolate” at home.
Newsom’s unprecedented call for action is designed to slow the infection rate, especially among the most vulnerable. The governor stopped short of asking eating establishments to shut their doors, saying the need for food service during the pandemic remained vital.
“We need to prioritize our focus,” Newsom said during an hour-long press conference in Sacramento. “We are looking at this from a very holistic perspective.”
The guidelines were issued by the state on the same day the federal Centers for Disease Control recommended that all gatherings of more than 50 people within the United States be canceled for the next 8 weeks.
As of Sunday afternoon, the state had 335 verified cases of COVID-19, a 14 percent increase in a day, and six fatalities, after a new death was reported overnight in San Mateo County. Healthcare providers have conducted 8,316 tests.
Bay Area health officials on Sunday also confirmed 23 new cases of coronavirus in Santa Clara County, bringing the total number of cases to 114. Contra Costa County’s confirmed cases remained at 29 and Alameda County has recorded 10, including three in Berkeley.
Newsom also announced an online, Bay Area pilot program to expand the assessment of high-risk individuals, backed by Google parent company Alphabet’s firm Verily Life Sciences and joined by federal, state and local health offices. The program would aim to use online screening to find patients most in need of testing due to symptoms or exposure and could be directing Santa Clara and San Mateo county residents to drive-through testing as early as Tuesday.
The website went live on Sunday evening. It is limited to U.S. residents in those in the two counties who are 18 years old or older, read and speak English and are willing to sign a COVID-19 Public Health authorization form.
The public-private collaboration was initially announced Friday by President Donald Trump, but the company quickly clarified that the pilot program would be conducted only in the Bay Area with the goal of eventually serving other communities.
On Sunday, Newsom also emphasized the state’s more than 100,000 homeless residents, a population very vulnerable to the virus. He said officials were working to secure hotel and motel space for those most at risk, and were working with several teams to find other ways to help homeless people get shelter and access to hygiene services.
The new guidance comes as the number of new cases in California jumped, and state leaders rushed to expand testing, identify new capacity in hospitals, and manage the great, unknown economic impact of widespread closures and business slowdowns.
The governor cautioned the state could make the new guidelines legally binding with the stroke of a pen. So far, he added, the state’s public health recommendations have been widely followed with little need for enforcement.
“We have the capacity to enforce, if necessary,” he said.
The state is working to increase capacity to test sick residents, and expand the number of hospital beds to meet the expected demand for care, Newsom said.
Private lab company Quest is opening two more facilities in the state; the company can do some 1,200 tests a day at the one lab it currently has open, Newsom said, but will be able to expand to some 5,000 tests daily as soon as the end of this week, he said.
The state’s 19 laboratories are also being supplemented by hospitals that are helping with testing, Newsom said, including Stanford, UCLA and others.
“We are increasing capacity on an hourly basis,” Newsom said.
While testing capacity is increased, the state is focusing on preventing community spread of the disease by pushing to cancel social functions and connections — from closing neighborhood dives and wine tasting rooms to asking older residents to stay home.
Newsom said bars and nightclubs serve a “non-essential function in our state.” The calculation was different for the food service industry, which provides regular meals for millions across the state. “As it relates to restaurants, we have more nuanced concerns and considerations.”
Bar and nightclub workers wondered how far the pandemic would cut into their business. As news spread through the bar community on Sunday, many wondered about their future.
“This is scary — for our business, our employees and our financial future,” said Cache Bouren, owner of downtown San Jose craft cocktail lounge Haberdasher. “The lost revenue will never be recovered, but the safety of our staff and of our community far outweighs the needs of our small business.”
At The Libertine, a popular bar in Oakland’s Grand Lake neighborhood, owner-operator Matthew Winger said he was doing his best to keep up with reports from outside.
“We heard about it through the grapevine, but there’s still a large sense of confusion,” Winger said Sunday. “My understanding is that it’s more of a guidance than a legal government order. If we’re legally ordered by the state government, we will shut down.”
Harrison Fong, proprietor of the Vintage Wine Merchants at Santana Row, said he had already canceled all tasting events and private parties at the shop. After Sunday’s edict, he said, it will be challenging to pay employees and rent, as well as meet obligations to suppliers.
“It’s a trying time for everyone,” Fong said. “As long as we all maintain our sanity and band together as a community, we’ll get out of this sooner or later.”
Some bars acted immediately.
“Everyone was shocked when I kicked them out,” said Patrick Breen, the manager of McNally’s Irish Pub, a bar that’s been open since 1933 in Oakland. “But we take it seriously.”
Patrons downed their pints of Guinness and Smithwick’s — it was a little early in the day for the hard stuff, he noted — with a few asking, “What? I really have to go home now?”
The recommendation that older residents and those with chronic health conditions self-isolate reflect the greater risk the virus presents to them. The new guidelines to self-quarantine are an effort to protect the state’s most vulnerable residents, Newsom said. It was unclear how long the self-quarantine should continue.
Seniors shopping at a Safeway in Berkeley on Sunday seemed accept the new reality.
Nina Barton, 66, said has limited her travel only to essential, local trips. Barton hasn’t panicked, but said she’ll continue to self-quarantine.
“I think we weren’t necessarily informed of the severity rapidly enough,” Barton said. “But we have to take better care of our people, so I hope we have a limited spread of serious cases if we start doing this.”
Alison Hess, 65, cares for her 92-year-old mother, who suffers from a respiratory disorder and relies on oxygen tanks. Hess said it would be nearly impossible for her to self-quarantine with her mother. “I can’t,” she said. Someone has to shop, cook and run errands.
Kathy Bradley, 72, intends to self-quarantine, although acknowledged she could be better prepared. “It’s scary,” Bradley said. “I have a minor surgery on Tuesday. Should I go? I’m not sure if it’s going ahead, but am I more at risk if I go through with it?”
Bradley also said it would be hard to stockpile enough food and necessities for a two-week quarantine, since her freezer isn’t very big. Still she said, Newsom’s decision “is probably a good idea.”
Rossmoor, an adult community that houses thousand of senior residents in the East Bay, suspended many recreational services, including golfing, the fitness center, pools and bus service. The community had already suspended several social events and other facilities.
The governor also announced restrictions on hospital visits, saying for now they would be limited to those receiving end-of-life care.
State officials are also monitoring school closures. Just over half of California school districts have shuttered, primarily the largest ones, sending about 8 in 10 school-aged students home, Newsom said Sunday.
Newsom said some schools in poor or rural districts, where families dependent on free meals and the virus has not spread widely, may need to remain open.
Staff writers Aldo Toledo, Linda Zavoral, and George Kelly contributed to this report.


mercurynews--2020-03-15--Governor: NYC schools to close Monday to fight coronavirus

By Larry Neumeister and Marina Villeneuve | Associated Press NEW YORK — New York City will close the nation ’ s largest public school system on Monday , sending over 1.1 million children home in hopes of curbing the spread of coronavirus .
Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the decision to close schools through at least April 20 and possibly for the school year , following a growing number of school closures in communities and entire states around the country and mounting pressure in New York from residents , City Council members and others .
The mayor called it a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when I ’ m just distraught at having to take this action , but I became convinced over the course of today that there is no other choice.
” He also announced that there were now five deaths in New York and that he was ordering the end of elective surgeries .
The shutdown affects the city ’ s nearly 1,900 public schools .
Many private schools already have closed .
Gov .
Andrew Cuomo ’ s office had announced the city school closure moments before de Blasio , but initially said it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ De Blasio had been reluctant to close the school system because of the consequences for students and families .
Just Saturday , the Democratic mayor said keeping schools running was critical .
He worried that health care workers , first responders and other needed workers would have to stay home to care for children and that hundreds of thousands of poor students could go hungry without their free or reduced-price school meals .
Multiple states had already announced they were closing schools .
So have cities including Los Angeles , Houston , San @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The shutdown had started to seem inevitable Sunday as de Blasio lost key support to keep schools open and Cuomo called for all downstate schools to be closed .
“ For New York City , I want to close the New York City public schools , ” the Democratic governor had said earlier in the day , adding he thought it prudent to do so as soon as a plan was in place to ensure that children of health care workers would be cared for .
Cuomo spoke shortly after county officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across the state , in all of Erie County , including Buffalo .
Earlier , George Gresham , president of the healthcare workers union SIEU 1199 , had called on de Blasio to close city schools , a step the mayor still seemed reluctant to take when he cited the union ’ s support for keeping the schools open as he spoke on WABC-TV earlier Sunday .
The union had previously warned that hospitals , now bracing for a flood of virus patients , could face a manpower crisis if schools closed suddenly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home with their children .
Gresham , though , said in a statement that he was now confident that a plan could be reached to provide childcare for healthcare workers through school resource centers .
He also called on the city and state to provide more funding for childcare for health care workers .
“ With these critical processes moving , I am now calling on Mayor de Blasio to close New York City ’ s public schools to help protect public health and prevent the spread of COVID-19 , ” he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Nassau County County Executive Laura Curran announced that schools throughout the county adjacent to New York City would be closed for at least the next two weeks .
Nassau County has more than 1.3 million residents .
• Coronavirus : Newsom calls for bars , nightclubs to close across California • A look at some of the hardest hit sectors in the S & P 500 • Photos : National and worldwide attempts to contain the coronavirus Later in the day , the Suffolk County executive announced that schools there would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks .
The county executive for Westchester — just north of the city — said schools would be closed by Wednesday .

By Larry Neumeister and Marina Villeneuve | Associated Press
NEW YORK — New York City will close the nation’s largest public school system on Monday, sending over 1.1 million children home in hopes of curbing the spread of coronavirus.
Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the decision to close schools through at least April 20 and possibly for the school year, following a growing number of school closures in communities and entire states around the country and mounting pressure in New York from residents, City Council members and others.
The mayor called it a “very troubling moment, a moment when I’m just distraught at having to take this action, but I became convinced over the course of today that there is no other choice.”
He also announced that there were now five deaths in New York and that he was ordering the end of elective surgeries.
The shutdown affects the city’s nearly 1,900 public schools. Many private schools already have closed.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office had announced the city school closure moments before de Blasio, but initially said it would start as early as Tuesday.
[vemba-video id=”politics/2020/03/15/sotu-de-blasio-schools.cnn”]
De Blasio had been reluctant to close the school system because of the consequences for students and families. Just Saturday, the Democratic mayor said keeping schools running was critical. He worried that health care workers, first responders and other needed workers would have to stay home to care for children and that hundreds of thousands of poor students could go hungry without their free or reduced-price school meals.
Multiple states had already announced they were closing schools. So have cities including Los Angeles, Houston, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington, D.C.
The shutdown had started to seem inevitable Sunday as de Blasio lost key support to keep schools open and Cuomo called for all downstate schools to be closed.
“For New York City, I want to close the New York City public schools,” the Democratic governor had said earlier in the day, adding he thought it prudent to do so as soon as a plan was in place to ensure that children of health care workers would be cared for.
Cuomo spoke shortly after county officials shut schools in Long Island and, across the state, in all of Erie County, including Buffalo.
Earlier, George Gresham, president of the healthcare workers union SIEU 1199, had called on de Blasio to close city schools, a step the mayor still seemed reluctant to take when he cited the union’s support for keeping the schools open as he spoke on WABC-TV earlier Sunday.
The union had previously warned that hospitals, now bracing for a flood of virus patients, could face a manpower crisis if schools closed suddenly and health care workers had to stay home with their children.
Gresham, though, said in a statement that he was now confident that a plan could be reached to provide childcare for healthcare workers through school resource centers. He also called on the city and state to provide more funding for childcare for health care workers.
“With these critical processes moving, I am now calling on Mayor de Blasio to close New York City’s public schools to help protect public health and prevent the spread of COVID-19,” he said in a statement.
On Sunday morning, Nassau County County Executive Laura Curran announced that schools throughout the county adjacent to New York City would be closed for at least the next two weeks. Nassau County has more than 1.3 million residents.
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Long Covid cases in US adults are on the decline, but many continue to struggle with symptoms Health | COVID Q&A: Can I use an expired test? Time to get boosted? How to cope with California’s sneaky summer surge Later in the day, the Suffolk County executive announced that schools there would be closed as well for the next two weeks. The county executive for Westchester — just north of the city — said schools would be closed by Wednesday.
Associated Press Writer Marina Villeneuve reported from Albany.


mercurynews--2020-03-15--A look at some of the hardest hit sectors in the S&P 500

By The Associated Press Seven weeks after the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in the U.S. , the outbreak is now classified as a pandemic and it ’ s doing widespread damage to critical economic sectors of the global economy .
Airlines are dropping routes because people are not flying , workers are staying home , public events that raise millions of dollars for local communities have been canceled and oil prices have sunk to near $ 30 a barrel .
Here ’ s a look at some of the hardest hit sectors in the S & P 500 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fallen in the past 30 days .
The S & P energy sector has plunged more 47 % in the past month .
The price of oil continues a steady decline toward $ 30 per barrel .
Saudi Arabia on Wednesday directed its oil company Aramco to increase its maximum production capacity as it squared off with Russia , even as airlines cut flights , shippers dial back deliveries of goods and people are being told to stay home .
In its monthly report Wednesday , OPEC revised down its projections for global @ @ @ @ @ @ @ raising projections for supply .
That is a recipe for plunging energy prices and layoffs in the oil patch .
Shares in Exxon are down about 38 % in the past 30 days .
Already , energy giants like Exxon and Occidental Petroleum have cut spending .
The latter cut its dividend by 86 % Tuesday to save cash .
Banks have been punished by falling interest rates .
Interest payments on loans are a major source of revenue .
The Fed last week lowered its main borrowing rate by half a point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outbreak .
Analysts suspect another cut may be coming soon .
But there is also the anticipation of slowing global economic growth , which was already underway before the pandemic hit .
That would mean slowing business , and fewer fees , for banks that employ millions of people .
On Thursday , the U.S. Federal Reserve injected $ 500 billion into short-term lending markets to address disruptions in the Treasury market .
It is also broadening its ongoing purchases of Treasurys to include longer-term bonds .
The action , being led by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to keep credit markets functioning and ensure that banks can continue to provide loans to businesses and other borrowers across the economy .
Manufacturers are also taking a hit as businesses pull back on orders for goods due to the impact of the spreading coronavirus .
Companies like Ingersoll Rand , which makes a wide range of industrial products including many used by the oil and gas industry , has seen its shares lose a third of their value in the past 30 days .
Major manufactures like Caterpillar and Deere and just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between the world ’ s two largest economies , China and the United States .
Caterpillar on Thursday reported broad declines in retail sales for the three-month rolling period ending in February , with worldwide sales slumping 11 % following a 7 % decline from January .
The broad sector that covers everything from the sale of a Big Mac , a Barbie doll , Gap jeans or a Disneyland vacation — is taking a beating as people cancel trips , avoid the mall or shut in .
Airlines and cruise ships have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ travel bans , infections on cruise ships and a sudden aversion to boarding a commercial aircraft .
Shares in airlines are down more than 40 % in the past month and cruise ships stocks , which are grouped with resorts and hotels , are down about 50 % .
Princess Cruises , which had one of its ships quarantined off the coast of Japan last month , said Thursday that it would suspend global operations through early May .
Starbucks stores in the U.S. and Canada may become drive-thru only while others could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the company said Thursday .
Shares in the coffee chain plunged 7 % Thursday to a 52-week low and are down almost 30 % in the past month .
And more bad news for anyone thinking they would self-quarantine on the couch and watch their favorite team : the NHL is following the NBA ’ s lead and suspending its season amid the coronavirus outbreak .
Major League Baseball is delaying the start of its season by at least two weeks .
And the NCAA canceled the men ’ s and women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And hold off on that Disneyland vacation : Disneyland Resort said it will close Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park through the end of the month , though there have been no reported cases of the new virus .
The announcement doesn ’ t affect Disney World in Florida .
Technology companies have not been immune to the Wall Street coronavirus sell-off during the past 30 days .
China manufactures a wide range of parts for U.S. tech companies , and when the country shut down most of its factories last month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left companies without products to ship .
Additionally , companies from every sector are likely trimming non-essential spending until the pandemic passes .
That means fewer tech upgrades or overhauls , and individuals may pull back on spending as well for everything from iPhones to Xboxes .
Alphabet , which owns Google , has lost about one-quarter of its value in the past month .
Chipmaker Dell has seen its stock fall about 37 % during the same stretch .

By The Associated Press
Seven weeks after the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in the U.S., the outbreak is now classified as a pandemic and it’s doing widespread damage to critical economic sectors of the global economy. Airlines are dropping routes because people are not flying, workers are staying home, public events that raise millions of dollars for local communities have been canceled and oil prices have sunk to near $30 a barrel. Here’s a look at some of the hardest hit sectors in the S&P 500, and how far they’ve fallen in the past 30 days.
ENERGY (-47%)
The S&P energy sector has plunged more 47% in the past month. The price of oil continues a steady decline toward $30 per barrel. Saudi Arabia on Wednesday directed its oil company Aramco to increase its maximum production capacity as it squared off with Russia, even as airlines cut flights, shippers dial back deliveries of goods and people are being told to stay home. In its monthly report Wednesday, OPEC revised down its projections for global oil demand growth this year, while raising projections for supply. That is a recipe for plunging energy prices and layoffs in the oil patch. Shares in Exxon are down about 38% in the past 30 days. Already, energy giants like Exxon and Occidental Petroleum have cut spending. The latter cut its dividend by 86% Tuesday to save cash.
FINANCE AND BANKING (-33%)
Banks have been punished by falling interest rates. Interest payments on loans are a major source of revenue. The Fed last week lowered its main borrowing rate by half a point to combat the economic drag from the outbreak. Analysts suspect another cut may be coming soon. But there is also the anticipation of slowing global economic growth, which was already underway before the pandemic hit. That would mean slowing business, and fewer fees, for banks that employ millions of people. On Thursday, the U.S. Federal Reserve injected $500 billion into short-term lending markets to address disruptions in the Treasury market. It is also broadening its ongoing purchases of Treasurys to include longer-term bonds. The action, being led by the New York Fed, is intended to keep credit markets functioning and ensure that banks can continue to provide loans to businesses and other borrowers across the economy.
INDUSTRY AND MANUFACTURING (-32%)
Manufacturers are also taking a hit as businesses pull back on orders for goods due to the impact of the spreading coronavirus. Companies like Ingersoll Rand, which makes a wide range of industrial products including many used by the oil and gas industry, has seen its shares lose a third of their value in the past 30 days. Major manufactures like Caterpillar and Deere and just beginning to stabilize from a trade war between the world’s two largest economies, China and the United States. Caterpillar on Thursday reported broad declines in retail sales for the three-month rolling period ending in February, with worldwide sales slumping 11% following a 7% decline from January.
DISCRETIONARY SPENDING (-27%)
The broad sector that covers everything from the sale of a Big Mac, a Barbie doll, Gap jeans or a Disneyland vacation — is taking a beating as people cancel trips, avoid the mall or shut in. Airlines and cruise ships have been the most notable losers amid government travel bans, infections on cruise ships and a sudden aversion to boarding a commercial aircraft. Shares in airlines are down more than 40% in the past month and cruise ships stocks, which are grouped with resorts and hotels, are down about 50%. Princess Cruises, which had one of its ships quarantined off the coast of Japan last month, said Thursday that it would suspend global operations through early May. Starbucks stores in the U.S. and Canada may become drive-thru only while others could limit the number of people allowed inside, the company said Thursday. Shares in the coffee chain plunged 7% Thursday to a 52-week low and are down almost 30% in the past month. And more bad news for anyone thinking they would self-quarantine on the couch and watch their favorite team: the NHL is following the NBA’s lead and suspending its season amid the coronavirus outbreak. Major League Baseball is delaying the start of its season by at least two weeks. And the NCAA canceled the men’s and women’s Division I basketball tournaments. And hold off on that Disneyland vacation: Disneyland Resort said it will close Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park through the end of the month, though there have been no reported cases of the new virus. The announcement doesn’t affect Disney World in Florida.
TECHNOLOGY (-26%)
Technology companies have not been immune to the Wall Street coronavirus sell-off during the past 30 days. China manufactures a wide range of parts for U.S. tech companies, and when the country shut down most of its factories last month, it disrupted the supply chain and left companies without products to ship. Additionally, companies from every sector are likely trimming non-essential spending until the pandemic passes. That means fewer tech upgrades or overhauls, and individuals may pull back on spending as well for everything from iPhones to Xboxes. Alphabet, which owns Google, has lost about one-quarter of its value in the past month. Chipmaker Dell has seen its stock fall about 37% during the same stretch.


mercurynews--2020-03-15--Rohnert Park medical clinic worker tests positive for COVID-19

ROHNERT PARK — A worker at the Rohnert Park Health Center on State Farm Drive tested positive for novel coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) on Saturday and is now in self-quarantine , Mayor Joe Callinan said Sunday .
The case is the first confirmed in Sonoma County .
The center “ is identifying and notifying anyone who might have come in close contact with them , including patients and staff .
We applaud the Rohnert Park Health Center for being forthright and transparent in sharing this information in a timely manner , ” Callinan said in a statement .
Test results @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the positive case , he said .
“ On behalf of the City of Rohnert Park , we want to share our concern and send our good thoughts to the employee who tested positive and to their family , ” Callinan said .
“ Our concern extends to all who may have had contact with the employee as well as our entire community.
” The city has closed community centers and the senior center and on Friday suspended all recreation classes , activities , and programs , as well as private events at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Performing Arts Center .
• Coronavirus : Newsom calls for bars , nightclubs to close across California • A look at some of the hardest hit sectors in the S & P 500 • Photos : National and worldwide attempts to contain the coronavirus The public can also get information or ask questions by calling 211 .

Bay City News
ROHNERT PARK — A worker at the Rohnert Park Health Center on State Farm Drive tested positive for novel coronavirus (COVID-19) on Saturday and is now in self-quarantine, Mayor Joe Callinan said Sunday.
The case is the first confirmed in Sonoma County.
The center “is identifying and notifying anyone who might have come in close contact with them, including patients and staff. We applaud the
Rohnert Park Health Center for being forthright and transparent in sharing this information in a timely manner,” Callinan said in a statement.
Test results are pending for a person associated with the positive case, he said.
“On behalf of the City of Rohnert Park, we want to share our concern and send our good thoughts to the employee who tested positive and to their family,” Callinan said. “Our concern extends to all who may have had contact with the employee as well as our entire community.”
The city has closed community centers and the senior center and on Friday suspended all recreation classes, activities, and programs, as well as private events at city facilities and performances at the Spreckels Performing Arts Center.
Sonoma County has established a central information source online at Socoemergency.org.


mercurynews--2020-03-15--Photos: National and worldwide attempts to contain the coronavirus

CLICK HERE if you ’ re having a problem viewing the photos on a mobile device .
City , state , county and national governments , along with the Centers for Disease and Prevention Control ( CDC ) and the World Health Organization ( WHO ) are attempting to contain the spread of the coronavirus as borders are closed and travel restricted .
There are now more than 3,000 cases of the novel coronavirus in the US , according to government agencies and the CDC .
In Ohio , restaurants and bars ordered to close at 9 p.m. with only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country including Chicago , Fort Lauderdale and Seattle are full of travelers returning to the country from abroad .
In Vermont , all schools will close no later than Wednesday .
Worldwide , as of Sunday , there are now 168,903 cases and 6,492 deaths , with hard hit Italy just announcing 368 more deaths .
Iran ’ s Health Ministry today reported another 113 deaths , bringing the total to 724 and nearly 14,000 cases .
Two Royal Caribbean ships , the Silver Shadow and Silver Explorer , have passengers who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ international ports .
Twenty passengers and another 20 crew members on the MS Braemar , belonging the British company Fred Olsen Cruise Lines , have tested positive and are in isolation and anchored about 25 miles off the Bahamas .

ROME, ITALY - MARCH 15: A Police patrol of the Ostia Commissariat checks two citizens, who will later be reported for violating the quarantine, at the Ostia harbor on March 15, 2020 in Rome, Italy. Ostias streets, one of Rome neighborhood were eerily quiet on the forth day of a nationwide quarantine. The Italian Government has taken the unprecedented measure of a nationwide lockdown by closing all businesses except essential services such as, pharmacies, grocery stores, hardware stores, tobacconists and banks, in an effort to fight the world's second-most deadly Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak outside of China.The movements in the streets are allowed only for work reasons and health reasons proven by a medical certificate. Citizens are encourage to stay home and have an obligation to respect the safety distance of one meter from each other in a row at supermarkets or in public spaces. According to the Ministry of the Interior, of the over half a million people controlled by the police in the past four days, over 20 thousand people have been reported for violating the quarantine. (Photo by Marco Di Lauro/Getty Images)