foxnews--2020-05-15--How does the new coronavirus compare with the flu?

Since the new coronavirus was first discovered in January , many people have compared it with a more well-known disease : The flu .
Many of these comparisons pointed to the perhaps underappreciated toll of the flu , which causes millions of illnesses and tens of thousands of deaths every year in the U.S. alone .
( During the current flu season , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) estimates that there have been 39 million to 56 million flu illnesses and 24,000 to 62,000 flu deaths in the U.S. , although that number is an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , not based on actually counting up every person who has died of flu . )
The new coronavirus disease , COVID-19 , has caused more than 1.4 million illnesses and 85,000 deaths in the U.S. as of May 14 , according to data from Johns Hopkins University .
Related : Is 6 feet enough space for social distancing ?
Both COVID-19 and the flu are respiratory illnesses .
But COVID-19 is not the flu .
Research so far indicates that COVID-19 spreads more easily and has a higher death rate than the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out more about COVID-19 , and our understanding may change as new information becomes available .
Based on what we know so far , here 's how it compares with the flu .
Both seasonal flu viruses ( which include influenza A and influenza B viruses ) and COVID-19 are contagious viruses that cause respiratory illness .
Typical flu symptoms include fever , cough , sore throat , muscle aches , headaches , runny or stuffy nose , fatigue and , sometimes , vomiting and diarrhea , according to the CDC .
Flu @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who get the flu will recover in less than two weeks .
But in some people , the flu causes complications , including pneumonia .
The overall hospitalization rate in the U.S. for flu this season is about 69 hospitalizations per 100,000 people , according to the CDC .
With COVID-19 , doctors are still trying to understand the full picture of disease symptoms and severity .
Reported symptoms in patients have varied from mild to severe , and can include fever , cough and shortness of breath , according to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , chills , repeated shaking with chills , muscle pain , headache , sore throat and new loss of taste or smell .
COVID-19 symptoms appear to come on more gradually than those of flu , according to Healthline .
Older adults and people with underlying medical conditions , including heart disease , lung disease or diabetes , appear to be at higher risk for more serious complications from COVID-19 , compared with people in younger age groups and those without underlying conditions .
The overall hospitalization rate for COVID-19 in the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as of May 8 , although the hospitalization rate for adults ages 65 and older is higher , at 162 hospitalizations per 100,000 people , according to the CDC .
( However , because fewer people have likely gotten COVID-19 in the U.S. than have gotten the flu , the odds of becoming hospitalized if you have a confirmed case of COVID-19 are thought to be higher than the odds of being hospitalized with influenza . )
Children are a high risk group for complications from flu , but this does n't seem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few children have been hospitalized with the new coronavirus .
A study of COVID-19 cases in the United States published March 18 found that , among 4,226 reported cases , at least 508 people ( 12 % ) were hospitalized , and of these , less than 1 % were younger than 20 years old .
But recently , COVID-19 has been linked to a rare but serious inflammatory syndrome in children , called pediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome .
New York City has confirmed 100 cases of the syndrome in children , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's important to note that , because respiratory viruses cause similar symptoms , it can be difficult to distinguish different respiratory viruses based on symptoms alone , according to the World Health Organization .
Related : Can homemade masks protect you from COVID-19 ?
The death rate from seasonal flu is typically around 0.1 % in the U.S. , according to news reports .
Though the death rate for COVID-19 is unclear , almost all credible research suggests it is much higher than that of the seasonal flu .
It 's important to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rate for COVID-19 ; the rate can vary by location , age of person infected and the presence of underlying health conditions , Live Science previously reported .
Among reported COVID-19 cases in the U.S. , nearly 6 % have died .
This is what 's known as the case fatality rate , which is determined by dividing the number of deaths by the total number of confirmed cases .
But the case fatality rate is limited for a few reasons .
First , not everyone with COVID-19 is being diagnosed with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to testing limitations in the U.S. and the fact that people who experience mild or moderate symptoms may not be eligible for or seek out testing .
As the number of confirmed cases goes up , the fatality rate may decrease .
Researchers from Columbia University recently estimated that only 1 in 12 cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. are documented , which they said would translate to an infection fatality rate of about 0.6 % , according to The Washington Post .
But even this lower estimate is still at least six @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
( The case fatality rate in people who become sick with flu may be 0.1 % , but when you account for people who become infected with flu but never show symptoms , the death rate will be half or even a quarter of that , the Post reported . )
What 's more , unlike the flu , for which there is a vaccine , everyone in the population is theoretically susceptible to COVID-19 .
So while the flu affects 8 % of the U.S. population every year , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 80 % of the population could be infected with COVID-19 , according to a study published March 30 in the journal The Lancet .
In the U.S. , that would translate to 1 million deaths from COVID-19 if half the population becomes infected and there are no social distancing measures or therapeutics , the Post reported .
Another limitation with the case fatality rate is that some people who are counted as confirmed cases may eventually die from the disease , which would lead to an increase in the death rate .
For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case fatality rate of 0.6 % in early March , but it later rose to 1.7 % by the beginning of April , according to New Scientist .
Related : Why are more men dying from COVID-19 ?
It 's also important to note that estimates of flu illnesses and deaths from the CDC are just that — estimates ( which make certain assumptions ) rather than raw numbers .
( The CDC does not know the exact number of people who become sick with or die from the flu each year in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ estimated based on data collected on flu hospitalizations through surveillance in 13 states . )
A recent paper published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine emphasized this point when it found that , in the U.S. , there were 20 times more deaths per week from COVID-19 than from the flu in the deadliest week of an average influenza season , Live Science previously reported .
The measure scientists use to determine how easily a virus spreads is known as the `` basic reproduction number , '' or R0 ( pronounced R-nought ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ average number of people who catch the virus from a single infected person , Live Science previously reported .
The flu has an R0 value of about 1.3 , according to The New York Times .
Researchers are still working to determine the R0 for COVID-19 .
Preliminary studies estimated an R0 value for the new coronavirus to be between 2 and 3 , according to a review study published Feb. 28 in the journal JAMA .
This means each infected person has spread the virus to an average of 2 to 3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an even higher R0 value .
For example , a study published April 7 in the journal Emerging Infectious Disease used mathematical modeling to calculate an R0 of nearly 6 in China .
It 's important to note that R0 is not a constant number .
Estimates can vary by location , depending on such factors as how often people come into contact with each other and the efforts taken to reduce viral spread , Live Science previously reported .
Seasonal flu , which causes outbreaks every year , should not be confused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outbreak of a new flu virus that is very different from the strains that typically circulate .
This happened in 2009 with the swine flu pandemic , which is estimated to have infected up to 1.4 billion people and killed between 151,000 and 575,000 people worldwide , according to the CDC .
There is no flu pandemic happening currently .
On March 11 , the WHO officially declared the outbreak of COVID-19 a pandemic .
This is the first time the WHO has declared a pandemic for a coronavirus .
Related : When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Unlike seasonal flu , for which there is a vaccine to protect against infection , there is no vaccine for COVID-19 .
But researchers in the U.S. and around the world are working to develop one .
In addition , the flu has several treatments approved by the Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) , including antiviral drugs such as amantadine and rimantadine ( Flumadine ) , and inhibitors of influenza , such as oseltamivir ( Tamiflu ) and zanamivir ( Relenza ) .
In contrast , the FDA has yet to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approval for remdesivir , an antiviral initially developed to treat Ebola , is pending .
In general , the CDC recommends the following to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses , which include both coronaviruses and flu viruses : Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds ; avoid touching your eyes , nose and mouth with unwashed hands ; avoid close contact with people who are sick ; stay home when you are sick ; and clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces .
Wearing cloth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distancing — or staying at least 6 feet ( 1.8 meters ) away from other people — is also recommended to prevent the spread of COVID-19 .

Editor's note: This article was updated on May 14 with the latest information on COVID-19.
Since the new coronavirus was first discovered in January, many people have compared it with a more well-known disease: The flu.
Many of these comparisons pointed to the perhaps underappreciated toll of the flu, which causes millions of illnesses and tens of thousands of deaths every year in the U.S. alone. (During the current flu season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that there have been 39 million to 56 million flu illnesses and 24,000 to 62,000 flu deaths in the U.S., although that number is an estimate based on hospitalizations with flu symptoms, not based on actually counting up every person who has died of flu.)
The new coronavirus disease, COVID-19, has caused more than 1.4 million illnesses and 85,000 deaths in the U.S. as of May 14, according to data from Johns Hopkins University .
Related: Is 6 feet enough space for social distancing?
Both COVID-19 and the flu are respiratory illnesses. But COVID-19 is not the flu. Research so far indicates that COVID-19 spreads more easily and has a higher death rate than the flu.
Scientists are racing to find out more about COVID-19, and our understanding may change as new information becomes available. Based on what we know so far, here's how it compares with the flu.
Symptoms and severity
Both seasonal flu viruses (which include influenza A and influenza B viruses) and COVID-19 are contagious viruses that cause respiratory illness.
Typical flu symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches, headaches, runny or stuffy nose, fatigue and, sometimes, vomiting and diarrhea, according to the CDC . Flu symptoms often come on suddenly. Most people who get the flu will recover in less than two weeks. But in some people, the flu causes complications, including pneumonia . The overall hospitalization rate in the U.S. for flu this season is about 69 hospitalizations per 100,000 people, according to the CDC.
With COVID-19, doctors are still trying to understand the full picture of disease symptoms and severity. Reported symptoms in patients have varied from mild to severe, and can include fever, cough and shortness of breath, according to the CDC. Other symptoms may include fever, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat and new loss of taste or smell . COVID-19 symptoms appear to come on more gradually than those of flu, according to Healthline .
Older adults and people with underlying medical conditions, including heart disease , lung disease or diabetes , appear to be at higher risk for more serious complications from COVID-19, compared with people in younger age groups and those without underlying conditions.
The overall hospitalization rate for COVID-19 in the U.S. is about 50 hospitalizations per 100,000 people as of May 8, although the hospitalization rate for adults ages 65 and older is higher, at 162 hospitalizations per 100,000 people, according to the CDC. (However, because fewer people have likely gotten COVID-19 in the U.S. than have gotten the flu, the odds of becoming hospitalized if you have a confirmed case of COVID-19 are thought to be higher than the odds of being hospitalized with influenza.)
Children are a high risk group for complications from flu, but this doesn't seem to be the case for COVID-19 — few children have been hospitalized with the new coronavirus. A study of COVID-19 cases in the United States published March 18 found that, among 4,226 reported cases, at least 508 people (12%) were hospitalized, and of these, less than 1% were younger than 20 years old.
But recently, COVID-19 has been linked to a rare but serious inflammatory syndrome in children, called pediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome. New York City has confirmed 100 cases of the syndrome in children, according to The New York Times.
It's important to note that, because respiratory viruses cause similar symptoms, it can be difficult to distinguish different respiratory viruses based on symptoms alone, according to the World Health Organization .
Related: Can homemade masks protect you from COVID-19?
Death rate
The death rate from seasonal flu is typically around 0.1% in the U.S., according to news reports.
Though the death rate for COVID-19 is unclear, almost all credible research suggests it is much higher than that of the seasonal flu.
It's important to note that there is no one death rate for COVID-19; the rate can vary by location, age of person infected and the presence of underlying health conditions, Live Science previously reported .
Among reported COVID-19 cases in the U.S., nearly 6% have died. This is what's known as the case fatality rate, which is determined by dividing the number of deaths by the total number of confirmed cases. But the case fatality rate is limited for a few reasons. First, not everyone with COVID-19 is being diagnosed with the disease — this is in part due to testing limitations in the U.S. and the fact that people who experience mild or moderate symptoms may not be eligible for or seek out testing. As the number of confirmed cases goes up, the fatality rate may decrease.
Researchers from Columbia University recently estimated that only 1 in 12 cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. are documented, which they said would translate to an infection fatality rate of about 0.6%, according to The Washington Post . But even this lower estimate is still at least six times higher than that of the flu. (The case fatality rate in people who become sick with flu may be 0.1%, but when you account for people who become infected with flu but never show symptoms, the death rate will be half or even a quarter of that, the Post reported.)
What's more, unlike the flu, for which there is a vaccine, everyone in the population is theoretically susceptible to COVID-19. So while the flu affects 8% of the U.S. population every year, according to the CDC , between 50% and 80% of the population could be infected with COVID-19, according to a study published March 30 in the journal The Lancet . In the U.S., that would translate to 1 million deaths from COVID-19 if half the population becomes infected and there are no social distancing measures or therapeutics, the Post reported.
Another limitation with the case fatality rate is that some people who are counted as confirmed cases may eventually die from the disease, which would lead to an increase in the death rate. For example, South Korea initially reported a case fatality rate of 0.6% in early March, but it later rose to 1.7% by the beginning of April, according to New Scientist .
Related: Why are more men dying from COVID-19?
It's also important to note that estimates of flu illnesses and deaths from the CDC are just that — estimates (which make certain assumptions) rather than raw numbers. (The CDC does not know the exact number of people who become sick with or die from the flu each year in the U.S. Rather, this number is estimated based on data collected on flu hospitalizations through surveillance in 13 states.) A recent paper published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine emphasized this point when it found that, in the U.S., there were 20 times more deaths per week from COVID-19 than from the flu in the deadliest week of an average influenza season, Live Science previously reported.
Virus transmission
The measure scientists use to determine how easily a virus spreads is known as the "basic reproduction number," or R0 (pronounced R-nought). This is an estimate of the average number of people who catch the virus from a single infected person, Live science previously reported. The flu has an R0 value of about 1.3, according to The New York Times .
Researchers are still working to determine the R0 for COVID-19. Preliminary studies estimated an R0 value for the new coronavirus to be between 2 and 3, according to a review study published Feb. 28 in the journal JAMA . This means each infected person has spread the virus to an average of 2 to 3 people.
Some studies suggest COVID-19 has an even higher R0 value. For example, a study published April 7 in the journal Emerging Infectious Disease used mathematical modeling to calculate an R0 of nearly 6 in China.
It's important to note that R0 is not a constant number. Estimates can vary by location, depending on such factors as how often people come into contact with each other and the efforts taken to reduce viral spread, Live Science previously reported .
Pandemics
Seasonal flu, which causes outbreaks every year, should not be confused with pandemic flu , or a global outbreak of a new flu virus that is very different from the strains that typically circulate. This happened in 2009 with the swine flu pandemic, which is estimated to have infected up to 1.4 billion people and killed between 151,000 and 575,000 people worldwide, according to the CDC . There is no flu pandemic happening currently.
On March 11, the WHO officially declared the outbreak of COVID-19 a pandemic. This is the first time the WHO has declared a pandemic for a coronavirus.
Related: When will a COVID-19 vaccine be ready?
Prevention
Unlike seasonal flu, for which there is a vaccine to protect against infection, there is no vaccine for COVID-19. But researchers in the U.S. and around the world are working to develop one.
In addition, the flu has several treatments approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), including antiviral drugs such as amantadine and rimantadine (Flumadine), and inhibitors of influenza, such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza). In contrast, the FDA has yet to approve any treatments for COVID-19, although approval for remdesivir , an antiviral initially developed to treat Ebola , is pending.
In general, the CDC recommends the following to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, which include both coronaviruses and flu viruses: Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; avoid touching your eyes , nose and mouth with unwashed hands; avoid close contact with people who are sick; stay home when you are sick; and clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces .
Wearing cloth face coverings in public and practicing social distancing — or staying at least 6 feet (1.8 meters) away from other people — is also recommended to prevent the spread of COVID-19.


foxnews--2020-04-02--Police in India raise coronavirus awareness with virus costumes while directing traffic, on patrol

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In order to raise awareness about coronavirus , apparently , you sometimes have to wear it .
Police officers in one India city are now wearing virus costumes as part of an awareness campaign about COVID-19 .
The Hyderabad City Police held a rally to launch the campaign on Tuesday , displaying signs that read `` Do n't Shake Hands , '' `` Please Avoid Gathering '' and `` Social Distancing is Social Responsibility . ''
INDIAN MAN , 93 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ODDS Hyderabad Police Commissioner Anjani Kumar said in a video on Twitter that traffic policemen wearing the virus masks would be at various city junctions .
The officers wore the virus-themed helmets while on horseback .
In addition to raising awareness about coronavirus , officers are reminding people of the restrictions in place to fight the deadly virus .
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on March 25 a nationwide lockdown for 21 days .
People are allowed to leave their homes only for essentials ; religious gatherings are explicitly banned .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of migrant workers from cities to villages across the country .
Many were forced to make the journey on foot after the country 's rail system was then shut down .
Large crowds of migrant workers defying the three-week lockdown to head home have resulted in violent clashes and videos of officials spraying down people with disinfectants , prompting investigations .
COVID-19 restrictions also are impacting how Hindus celebrate a holy nine-day period called Chaitra Navaratri that began with what for many is considered the Hindu New Year .
It culminates with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is fasting , worshipping together , offerings in temples and festivals .
But this year , celebrations and prayers are homebound , and if there is group worship , it 's live-streamed .
CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP As of Thursday , there were at least 962,977 positive cases of COVID-19 and at least 49,180 deaths worldwide , according to Johns Hopkins University .
In India , there are at least 2,032 confirmed coronavirus cases and 58 deaths so far .
The Associated Press contributed to this report .

Get all the latest news on coronavirus and more delivered daily to your inbox. Sign up here.
In order to raise awareness about coronavirus, apparently, you sometimes have to wear it.
Police officers in one India city are now wearing virus costumes as part of an awareness campaign about COVID-19.
The Hyderabad City Police held a rally to launch the campaign on Tuesday, displaying signs that read "Don't Shake Hands," "Please Avoid Gathering" and "Social Distancing is Social Responsibility."
INDIAN MAN, 93, AND 88-YEAR-OLD WIFE RECOVER FROM CORONAVIRUS AGAINST ODDS
Hyderabad Police Commissioner Anjani Kumar said in a video on Twitter that traffic policemen wearing the virus masks would be at various city junctions.
The officers wore the virus-themed helmets while on horseback.
In addition to raising awareness about coronavirus, officers are reminding people of the restrictions in place to fight the deadly virus.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on March 25 a nationwide lockdown for 21 days. People are allowed to leave their homes only for essentials; religious gatherings are explicitly banned.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE
The abrupt announcement led to a mass exodus of migrant workers from cities to villages across the country. Many were forced to make the journey on foot after the country's rail system was then shut down.
Large crowds of migrant workers defying the three-week lockdown to head home have resulted in violent clashes and videos of officials spraying down people with disinfectants, prompting investigations.
COVID-19 restrictions also are impacting how Hindus celebrate a holy nine-day period called Chaitra Navaratri that began with what for many is considered the Hindu New Year. It culminates with the festival of Ramanavami. Normally, there is fasting, worshipping together, offerings in temples and festivals.
But this year, celebrations and prayers are homebound, and if there is group worship, it's live-streamed.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP
As of Thursday, there were at least 962,977 positive cases of COVID-19 and at least 49,180 deaths worldwide, according to Johns Hopkins University. In India, there are at least 2,032 confirmed coronavirus cases and 58 deaths so far.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.


foxnews--2020-04-02--McDonald's launches coronavirus checks for employees, plans to take workers' temperatures

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McDonald ’ s is playing it safe during the coronavirus pandemic , with the launch of new precautionary health safety checks for employees across the U.S. On Wednesday , the fast-food chain announced that it would be implementing “ extra precautionary measures ” to ensure restaurant workers are in good health at the start of each shift .
In partnership with its independent franchisees , McDonald ’ s confirmed that upon reporting for duty , employees will be asked if they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ symptoms associated with COVID-19 , if they have been in close contact within the last two weeks with anyone infected with the viral disease and if they have been advised to self-quarantine by a health care provider or public health official due to potential exposure to or suspected case of the novel coronavirus .
If the employee answers “ yes ” to any of the questions , they will be sent home and not allowed to return to work until they have been cleared by a medical professional , McDonald ’ s said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to all of the coronavirus-check questions will be allowed to begin working as usual .
Looking ahead , a source close to the matter also confirmed to Fox News that the fast-food chain is also working to launch temperature checks for employees across America as an additional step of the new wellness policy , in the near future .
`` We have secured thermometers and we 're in the process now of quickly making them available to all of our restaurants , '' David Tovar , vice president of U.S. communications at McDonald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS Joe Erlinger , president of McDonald ’ s USA , described the health checks as “ extra precautionary measures ” to protect both employees and customers during the unprecedented pandemic .
“ Implementing these extra precautionary measures is another way employees can feel good about where they work , and customers can trust their favorite McDonald ’ s menu items are being prepared by healthy crew members , ” Erlinger said in the Wednesday statement .
“ This is one of the many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part to help stop the spread of COVID-19 at this critical time.
” Furthermore , if an employee of a company-owned restaurant is impacted by COVID-19 , they will receive two weeks paid leave , McDonald ’ s said .
Workers across a “ large percentage '' of franchised chains can receive emergency paid leave through the Families First Coronavirus Response Act .
As for other precautionary measures during the COVID-19 crisis , the Golden Arches has closed many of its dine-in areas at restaurants , shuttered all play spaces , increased cleanings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made hand sanitizer available in all restaurants , among other social distancing measures .
Mickey D 's will follow competitors Burger King and Popeyes in mandating temperature checks for employees during the worldwide COVID-19 outbreak .

Get all the latest news on coronavirus and more delivered daily to your inbox. Sign up here.
McDonald’s is playing it safe during the coronavirus pandemic, with the launch of new precautionary health safety checks for employees across the U.S.
On Wednesday, the fast-food chain announced that it would be implementing “extra precautionary measures” to ensure restaurant workers are in good health at the start of each shift.
In partnership with its independent franchisees, McDonald’s confirmed that upon reporting for duty, employees will be asked if they have been diagnosed with or are exhibiting symptoms associated with COVID-19, if they have been in close contact within the last two weeks with anyone infected with the viral disease and if they have been advised to self-quarantine by a health care provider or public health official due to potential exposure to or suspected case of the novel coronavirus.
MCDONALD'S REDUCING MENU, ELIMINATING ALL-DAY BREAKFAST DURING CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK
If the employee answers “yes” to any of the questions, they will be sent home and not allowed to return to work until they have been cleared by a medical professional, McDonald’s said. Staffers who answer “no” to all of the coronavirus-check questions will be allowed to begin working as usual.
Looking ahead, a source close to the matter also confirmed to Fox News that the fast-food chain is also working to launch temperature checks for employees across America as an additional step of the new wellness policy, in the near future.
"We have secured thermometers and we're in the process now of quickly making them available to all of our restaurants," David Tovar, vice president of U.S. communications at McDonald's, told Business Insider on Wednesday.
FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS
Joe Erlinger, president of McDonald’s USA, described the health checks as “extra precautionary measures” to protect both employees and customers during the unprecedented pandemic.
“Implementing these extra precautionary measures is another way employees can feel good about where they work, and customers can trust their favorite McDonald’s menu items are being prepared by healthy crew members,” Erlinger said in the Wednesday statement. “This is one of the many ways McDonald’s is doing its part to help stop the spread of COVID-19 at this critical time.”
Furthermore, if an employee of a company-owned restaurant is impacted by COVID-19, they will receive two weeks paid leave, McDonald’s said. Workers across a “large percentage" of franchised chains can receive emergency paid leave through the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.
CLICK HERE FOR FOX NEWS' CONTINUING CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE
As for other precautionary measures during the COVID-19 crisis, the Golden Arches has closed many of its dine-in areas at restaurants, shuttered all play spaces, increased cleanings, especially of high-traffic areas, and made hand sanitizer available in all restaurants, among other social distancing measures.
Mickey D's will follow competitors Burger King and Popeyes in mandating temperature checks for employees during the worldwide COVID-19 outbreak.


foxnews--2020-03-29--Pelosi says Trump has downplayed severity of coronavirus: 'As the president fiddles, people are dyin

Pelosi says Trump has downplayed severity of coronavirus: 'As the president fiddles, people are dying'

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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , called out President Trump on Sunday over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic , saying that his denial of the seriousness of the pathogen and his delay in ramping up the federal government ’ s response to it has proved “ deadly ” for Americans .
“ His denial at the beginning was deadly , his delaying of getting equipment ... to where it is needed is deadly , and now the best thing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more loss of life , rather than open things up so that , because we just do n't know , ” Pelosi said during an interview on CNN ’ s “ State of the Union.
” Pelosi also criticized Trump for suggesting that he would relax federal guidelines on business closures and social distancing in parts of the country so far less affected by the coronavirus – arguing that the U.S. “ should be taking every precaution ” and questioning whether Trump is listening to public health officials ’ suggestions .
CORONAVIRUS IN @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president fiddles , people are dying .
We just have to take every precaution , ” she added .
Pelosi ’ s comments come after the president repeatedly said last week that he wants to open the country back up as soon as possible .
Speaking from the Rose Garden last week during a Fox News town hall , Trump said he `` would love to have the country opened up and just raring to go by Easter . ''
The holiday this year lands on April 12 .
Trump ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – and jump-start an economy crippled by the outbreak – has been met with skepticism from many Washington insiders and state and local officials across the country .
“ I have to respectively disagree that we ’ re looking to be done with this soon , ” New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said during a news conference last week .
“ We are doing all we can just to get through March .
April will unquestionably be worse than March .
May could be worse than April . ''
New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with more than 53,000 infections reported in the state – more than 30,000 of which are in New York City alone .
Members of Trump ’ s own Republican Party have also expressed skepticism in Trump ’ s boost to have the economy up and running by Easter .
Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney , who serves as House Republican Conference chair , urged caution on Tuesday , although she did n't explicitly address Trump 's comments .
`` There will be no normally functioning economy if our hospitals are overwhelmed and thousands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our doctors and nurses , lay dying because we have failed to do what ’ s necessary to stop the virus , '' Cheney tweeted .
Indeed , health experts have made clear that unless Americans continue to dramatically limit social interaction -- staying home from work and isolating themselves -- the number of infections will overwhelm the health care system , as it has in parts of Italy , leading to many more deaths .
While the worst outbreaks are concentrated in certain parts of the country , such as New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disease is certain to spread .
“ That ’ s really very flexible , ” Dr. Anthony Fauci , the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a prominent member of the White House 's coronavirus task force , said on Tuesday of Trump 's Easter timeline .
“ You can look at a date but you ’ ve got to be very flexible and on a literally day-by-day and week-by-week basis .
You need to evaluate the feasibility of what you ’ re trying to do . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., called out President Trump on Sunday over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, saying that his denial of the seriousness of the pathogen and his delay in ramping up the federal government’s response to it has proved “deadly” for Americans.
“His denial at the beginning was deadly, his delaying of getting equipment ... to where it is needed is deadly, and now the best thing would be to do is to prevent more loss of life, rather than open things up so that, because we just don't know,” Pelosi said during an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
Pelosi also criticized Trump for suggesting that he would relax federal guidelines on business closures and social distancing in parts of the country so far less affected by the coronavirus – arguing that the U.S. “should be taking every precaution” and questioning whether Trump is listening to public health officials’ suggestions.
CORONAVIRUS IN THE US: STATE-BY-STATE BREAKDOWN
“As the president fiddles, people are dying. We just have to take every precaution,” she added.
Pelosi’s comments come after the president repeatedly said last week that he wants to open the country back up as soon as possible.
Speaking from the Rose Garden last week during a Fox News town hall, Trump said he "would love to have the country opened up and just raring to go by Easter." The holiday this year lands on April 12.
Trump’s hope to open the country back up – and jump-start an economy crippled by the outbreak – has been met with skepticism from many Washington insiders and state and local officials across the country.
“I have to respectively disagree that we’re looking to be done with this soon,” New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said during a news conference last week. “We are doing all we can just to get through March. April will unquestionably be worse than March. May could be worse than April."
New York is currently the epicenter of the virus, with more than 53,000 infections reported in the state – more than 30,000 of which are in New York City alone.
Members of Trump’s own Republican Party have also expressed skepticism in Trump’s boost to have the economy up and running by Easter.
Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney, who serves as House Republican Conference chair, urged caution on Tuesday, although she didn't explicitly address Trump's comments.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE
"There will be no normally functioning economy if our hospitals are overwhelmed and thousands of Americans of all ages, including our doctors and nurses, lay dying because we have failed to do what’s necessary to stop the virus," Cheney tweeted.
Indeed, health experts have made clear that unless Americans continue to dramatically limit social interaction -- staying home from work and isolating themselves -- the number of infections will overwhelm the health care system, as it has in parts of Italy, leading to many more deaths. While the worst outbreaks are concentrated in certain parts of the country, such as New York, experts warn that the highly infectious disease is certain to spread.
“That’s really very flexible,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a prominent member of the White House's coronavirus task force, said on Tuesday of Trump's Easter timeline. “You can look at a date but you’ve got to be very flexible and on a literally day-by-day and week-by-week basis. You need to evaluate the feasibility of what you’re trying to do."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.


foxnews--2020-04-02--Oregon veteran, 104, could be oldest coronavirus survivor

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A World War II veteran who just celebrated his 104th birthday with a social distancing party could be the world ’ s oldest coronavirus survivor , according to local reports .
Bill Lapschies is among at least 15 residents of the Edward C. Allworth Veterans ’ Home who tested positive for the illness , Portland 's KOIN-TV reported .
Two of those patients have died , the Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs wrote on Facebook on Monday .
Lapschies has recovered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do so , his family told KOIN .
“ Our most senior veteran resident survived COVID-19 and today celebrates his 104th birthday , ” the veteran ’ s home wrote in a Facebook post .
Lapschies was born in 1916 , two years before the Spanish flu pandemic infected an estimated one-third of the world ’ s population and killed more than 50 million people – 675,000 of them in the U.S. Lapschies was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1943 and served in the Aleutian Islands , OPB reported .
To @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , family members remained outside the veteran ’ s home , which is closed to visitors , with balloons and facemasks and cake and stayed a minimum of 6 feet apart , according to the outlet .
Photos of the little gathering show Lapschies in a light-blue mask of his own and a hat emblazoned in gold letters spelling out WWII Veteran .
And while he might be the oldest , he ’ s not the first WWII vet to fight through the virus .
Bill Kelly , 95 , recently recovered as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ died from COVID-19 in the United States as of Wednesday afternoon , according to data from Johns Hopkins University .
Fox News ’ Frank Miles and James Rogers contributed to this report .

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A World War II veteran who just celebrated his 104th birthday with a social distancing party could be the world’s oldest coronavirus survivor, according to local reports.
Bill Lapschies is among at least 15 residents of the Edward C. Allworth Veterans’ Home who tested positive for the illness, Portland's KOIN-TV reported. Two of those patients have died, the Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs wrote on Facebook on Monday.
Lapschies has recovered, making him possibly the oldest patient to do so, his family told KOIN.
“Our most senior veteran resident survived COVID-19 and today celebrates his 104th birthday,” the veteran’s home wrote in a Facebook post.
Lapschies was born in 1916, two years before the Spanish flu pandemic infected an estimated one-third of the world’s population and killed more than 50 million people – 675,000 of them in the U.S.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE
Lapschies was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1943 and served in the Aleutian Islands, OPB reported.
To celebrate both his recovery and his birthday, family members remained outside the veteran’s home, which is closed to visitors, with balloons and facemasks and cake and stayed a minimum of 6 feet apart, according to the outlet.
Photos of the little gathering show Lapschies in a light-blue mask of his own and a hat emblazoned in gold letters spelling out WWII Veteran.
And while he might be the oldest, he’s not the first WWII vet to fight through the virus. Bill Kelly, 95, recently recovered as well.
CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE
At least 3,873 people had died from COVID-19 in the United States as of Wednesday afternoon, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
Fox News’ Frank Miles and James Rogers contributed to this report.


Today on : Feb. 25, 2020

Fox & Friends , 6 a.m .
ET : Judge Andrew Napolitano , Fox News senior judicial analyst ; GOP legislator and 19 co-sponsors are pushing to ban sanctuary cities in Georgia .
The Fox News Rundown podcast : `` Martha MacCallum on Harvey Weinstein , Coronavirus and 2020 '' - Fox News anchor Martha MacCallum joins Tuesday 's `` Rundown '' to discuss her new book about World War II and Fox Nation Special `` Unknown Valor : A Story of Family , Courage , and Sacrifice from Pearl Harbor to Iwo Jima . ''
She explains her family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decided to write the book .
Also on the Rundown : Coronavirus fears infected stock markets around the world on Monday .
It was a global sell-off that included a big plunge on Wall Street .
The Dow was down over 1,000 points before gaining some of it back .
Fox News Radio international reporter Simon Owen discusses how Europe is trying to cope with the outbreak .
Then , Carl Goldman , who was on the Diamond Princess Cruise and has been diagnosed with the coronavirus , joins the Rundown from a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Medical Center to describe what it 's like living with the illness .
Plus , commentary by Deroy Murdock , contributing editor with National Review and Fox News contributor .
Want the Fox News Rundown sent straight to your mobile device ?
Subscribe through Apple Podcasts , Google Play , and Stitcher .
The Brian Kilmeade Show , 9 a.m .
ET : Special guests include : Jim DeMint , former U.S. senator from South Carolina ; Allen West , former Florida congressman and more .

STAY TUNED
On Fox News:
Fox & Friends, 6 a.m. ET: Judge Andrew Napolitano, Fox News senior judicial analyst; GOP legislator and 19 co-sponsors are pushing to ban sanctuary cities in Georgia.
On Fox News Radio:
The Fox News Rundown podcast: "Martha MacCallum on Harvey Weinstein, Coronavirus and 2020" - Fox News anchor Martha MacCallum joins Tuesday's "Rundown" to discuss her new book about World War II and Fox Nation Special "Unknown Valor: A Story of Family, Courage, and Sacrifice from Pearl Harbor to Iwo Jima." She explains her family ties to the war and why she decided to write the book.
Also on the Rundown: Coronavirus fears infected stock markets around the world on Monday. It was a global sell-off that included a big plunge on Wall Street. The Dow was down over 1,000 points before gaining some of it back. Fox News Radio international reporter Simon Owen discusses how Europe is trying to cope with the outbreak. Then, Carl Goldman, who was on the Diamond Princess Cruise and has been diagnosed with the coronavirus, joins the Rundown from a biocontainment unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center to describe what it's like living with the illness.
Plus, commentary by Deroy Murdock, contributing editor with National Review and Fox News contributor.
Want the Fox News Rundown sent straight to your mobile device? Subscribe through Apple Podcasts, Google Play, and Stitcher.
The Brian Kilmeade Show, 9 a.m. ET: Special guests include: Jim DeMint, former U.S. senator from South Carolina; Allen West, former Florida congressman and more.


foxnews--2020-02-25--Austria, Croatia confirm first coronavirus cases

Austria and Croatia are two of the latest countries to confirm cases of the novel coronavirus , which as of Tuesday has sickened more than 80,000 people globally and killed some 2,700 .
Three cases were confirmed between the two countries , two in Austria and one in Croatia .
The Associated Press , citing the Austrian public broadcaster ORF , reported that at least one of the two patients in Austria “ involved a person from northern Italy , ” which has recently experienced a surge in cases .
GLOBAL OUTBREAK CAUSES CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC FEARS AFTER CASES JUMP IN @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now isolated at a hospital in Innsbruck .
In Croatia , the country ’ s first case was confirmed Tuesday in a man who had recently traveled to Turin , Italy , as per The Associated Press .
`` We have determined that we have the first patient who has been confirmed to have the virus , '' said Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic .
AFGHANISTAN SEES FIRST CORONAVIRUS CASE AS NUMBERS SPIKE IN NEIGHBORING IRAN He said it 's a “ younger man , with a mild form of the disease , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good.
” No other details were immediately available .
The Associated Press contributed to this report .

Austria and Croatia are two of the latest countries to confirm cases of the novel coronavirus, which as of Tuesday has sickened more than 80,000 people globally and killed some 2,700.
Three cases were confirmed between the two countries, two in Austria and one in Croatia. The Associated Press, citing the Austrian public broadcaster ORF, reported that at least one of the two patients in Austria “involved a person from northern Italy,” which has recently experienced a surge in cases.
GLOBAL OUTBREAK CAUSES CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC FEARS AFTER CASES JUMP IN ITALY, SOUTH KOREA
Both patients are now isolated at a hospital in Innsbruck.
In Croatia, the country’s first case was confirmed Tuesday in a man who had recently traveled to Turin, Italy, as per The Associated Press.
"We have determined that we have the first patient who has been confirmed to have the virus," said Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic.
AFGHANISTAN SEES FIRST CORONAVIRUS CASE AS NUMBERS SPIKE IN NEIGHBORING IRAN
He said it's a “younger man, with a mild form of the disease, he has been isolated and his condition is good.”
No other details were immediately available.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.


foxnews--2020-02-25--Coronavirus fits criteria for 'Disease X,' WHO expert says

The novel coronavirus has sickened over 80,000 people worldwide and killed at least 2,700 , across 35 countries , leading one expert to say that it fits the criteria for “ Disease X , ” a designated placeholder on the World Health Organization ’ s ( WHO ) list of illnesses that have potential to reach international epidemic levels .
“ Disease X is a term that was coined by WHO , ” Marion Koopmans , a member of WHO ’ s emergency committee , and head of viroscience at Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam , told Fox News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ West Africa , they did an in-depth evaluation on what went wrong , and the so-called R & D blueprint for emerging disease was developed.
” “ Disease X ” was added to WHO ’ s “ Prioritizing diseases for research and development in emergency contexts ” list of illnesses that includes Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever ( CCHF ) , Ebola and Marburg virus disease , Lassa Fever , MERS , SARS , Nipah and henipaviral diseases , Rift Valley fever and Zika .
“ There is a number of diseases on that list @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Disease X , ' ” she told Fox News .
“ That is meant to alert the world to think about how to prepare for these diseases.
” Under its definition , the health agency noted that “ Disease X represents the knowledge that a serious international epidemic could be caused by a pathogen currently unknown to cause human disease , and so the R & D Blueprint explicitly seeks to enable cross-cutting R & D preparedness that is also relevant for an unknown ‘ Disease X ’ as far as possible.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ named by WHO , “ fits the Disease X category , ” Koopmans wrote in the journal Cell last week .
According to Koopmans , it ’ s the first time a disease fits the criteria for “ Disease X ” since the blueprint was created in 2016 .
Koopmans said the blueprint helps the agency think ahead to what possible threats may be looming so that it can better prepare to handle a widespread pandemic or outbreak .
It also helps the agency prepare for funding needs and ways to fast-track vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to label the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic on Monday , Koopmans said that it has little relevance as to whether it would qualify as “ Disease X.
” “ Pandemic simply means there is global widespread circulation , ” she said .
“ The blueprint diseases can also be a disease with regional major impact.
” SIGN UP FOR THE FOX HEALTH NEWSLETTER The outbreak has seen a number of unprecedented shutdowns and quarantines across the globe , with China first cutting off Wuhan , the virus epicenter , in an effort to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ returning from coronavirus-hit regions have been under 14-day quarantine periods while airlines have suspended routes to the disease hotspots .
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the past few weeks have demonstrated “ just how quickly a new virus can spread around the world and cause widespread fear and disruption.
” Still , as new countries report cases of coronavirus , experts caution that not every case may stem from China .
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “ Many different countries around the world may be sources of COVID-19 infections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of infectious disease epidemiology at the University of Edinburgh , told The Associated Press .
“ This makes it much harder for any one country to detect and contain .
”

The novel coronavirus has sickened over 80,000 people worldwide and killed at least 2,700, across 35 countries, leading one expert to say that it fits the criteria for “Disease X,” a designated placeholder on the World Health Organization’s (WHO) list of illnesses that have potential to reach international epidemic levels.
AUSTRIA, CROATIA CONFIRM FIRST CORONAVIRUS CASES
“Disease X is a term that was coined by WHO,” Marion Koopmans, a member of WHO’s emergency committee, and head of viroscience at Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam, told Fox News. “After the Ebola crisis in West Africa, they did an in-depth evaluation on what went wrong, and the so-called R&D blueprint for emerging disease was developed.”
“Disease X” was added to WHO’s “Prioritizing diseases for research and development in emergency contexts” list of illnesses that includes Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), Ebola and Marburg virus disease, Lassa Fever, MERS, SARS, Nipah and henipaviral diseases, Rift Valley fever and Zika.
“There is a number of diseases on that list that we know, but also ‘Disease X,'” she told Fox News. “That is meant to alert the world to think about how to prepare for these diseases.”
IRAN'S CORONAVIRUS TASK FORCE HEAD CONTRACTS ILLNESS AS COUNTRY'S DEATH TOLL HITS 15
Under its definition, the health agency noted that “Disease X represents the knowledge that a serious international epidemic could be caused by a pathogen currently unknown to cause human disease, and so the R&D Blueprint explicitly seeks to enable cross-cutting R&D preparedness that is also relevant for an unknown ‘Disease X’ as far as possible.”
COVID-19, as it’s been named by WHO, “fits the Disease X category,” Koopmans wrote in the journal Cell last week.
According to Koopmans, it’s the first time a disease fits the criteria for “Disease X” since the blueprint was created in 2016.
Koopmans said the blueprint helps the agency think ahead to what possible threats may be looming so that it can better prepare to handle a widespread pandemic or outbreak. It also helps the agency prepare for funding needs and ways to fast-track vaccine development.
And while the agency declined to label the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic on Monday, Koopmans said that it has little relevance as to whether it would qualify as “Disease X.”
“Pandemic simply means there is global widespread circulation,” she said. “The blueprint diseases can also be a disease with regional major impact.”
SIGN UP FOR THE FOX HEALTH NEWSLETTER
The outbreak has seen a number of unprecedented shutdowns and quarantines across the globe, with China first cutting off Wuhan, the virus epicenter, in an effort to stop the spread. Elsewhere, those returning from coronavirus-hit regions have been under 14-day quarantine periods while airlines have suspended routes to the disease hotspots.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the past few weeks have demonstrated “just how quickly a new virus can spread around the world and cause widespread fear and disruption.”
Still, as new countries report cases of coronavirus, experts caution that not every case may stem from China.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“Many different countries around the world may be sources of COVID-19 infections,” Mark Woolhouse, a professor of infectious disease epidemiology at the University of Edinburgh, told The Associated Press. “This makes it much harder for any one country to detect and contain.”


foxnews--2020-02-25--CDC issues coronavirus warning against nonessential South Korea travel

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) issued a warning to American travelers Monday against making any unnecessary trips to South Korea as coronavirus cases continue to spike there .
South Korea has reported eight deaths and nearly 900 infections from the virus that first began in China late last year .
The CDC warning said travelers should `` avoid all nonessential travel to South Korea '' because of `` limited access to adequate medical care in affected areas . ''
`` A novel coronavirus is causing an outbreak of respiratory illness ( COVID-19 ) in South @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Illness with this virus has ranged from mild to severe .
Signs and symptoms of infection include fever , cough , and difficulty breathing .
Sore throat also has been reported in some patients .
Some patients also have reported diarrhea without other symptoms , '' reads the CDC 's warning .
`` This new coronavirus has caused severe disease and death in patients who developed pneumonia .
Risk factors for severe illness are not yet clear , although older adults and those with chronic medical conditions may be at higher risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ GET THE FOX NEWS APP The majority of deaths and infections have been reported in China , particularly , the Hubei province , where the virus first began .
As of Monday night , nearly 2,700 people had died and over 80,000 are sickened worldwide .
Many nations and airlines have restricted travel to China and instituted mandatory quarantines for travelers returning from affected areas .

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a warning to American travelers Monday against making any unnecessary trips to South Korea as coronavirus cases continue to spike there.
South Korea has reported eight deaths and nearly 900 infections from the virus that first began in China late last year. The CDC warning said travelers should "avoid all nonessential travel to South Korea" because of "limited access to adequate medical care in affected areas."
"A novel coronavirus is causing an outbreak of respiratory illness (COVID-19) in South Korea," the warning reads. "Illness with this virus has ranged from mild to severe. Signs and symptoms of infection include fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. Sore throat also has been reported in some patients. Some patients also have reported diarrhea without other symptoms," reads the CDC's warning.
"This new coronavirus has caused severe disease and death in patients who developed pneumonia. Risk factors for severe illness are not yet clear, although older adults and those with chronic medical conditions may be at higher risk for severe illness.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The majority of deaths and infections have been reported in China, particularly, the Hubei province, where the virus first began. As of Monday night, nearly 2,700 people had died and over 80,000 are sickened worldwide.
Many nations and airlines have restricted travel to China and instituted mandatory quarantines for travelers returning from affected areas.


foxnews--2020-02-25--Korean Air cabin crew worker tests positive for coronavirus, report says

A cabin crew worker from Korean Air tested positive for coronavirus the airline said Tuesday and details about what routes the employee flew were not immediately known , according to a report .
Reuters , citing an airline spokeswoman , reported that the company closed its office near the main South Korean airport .
The rapid surge of new coronavirus cases in South Korea has prompted the Centers for Disease Control to issue its highest travel warning level -- level 3 -- advising American travelers to avoid nonessential travel to the country .
South Korea now has 893 cases , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The country now has the second-largest amount of cases in the world , with an increase of 130 infected in the past 24 hours .
`` There is a widespread , ongoing outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a novel ( new ) coronavirus that can be spread from person to person , '' the CDC said .
`` There is limited access to adequate medical care in affected areas . ''
The CDC also announced 18 more cases in the US on Monday , bringing the total infected to 53 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday requesting at least 2.5 billion dollars to fight the virus after saying back in early February that `` we have pretty much shut it [ the virus ] down coming in from China . ''
“ But we can ’ t have thousands of people coming in who may have this problem , the coronavirus .
We ’ re going to see what happens , but we did shut it down , yes , '' he said on Feb. 3 .
The cases in the U.S. include 39 evacuees from the severely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chinese city of Wuhan -- the epicenter of the virus .
In the Middle East , Iran 's government disputed claims on Monday by a lawmaker from Qom who reported a death toll of 50 in the city .
They now say only 12 people have died from the coronavirus .
The new outbreak in Italy has prompted Paramount Pictures on Monday to halt production of the new `` Mission : Impossible '' film starring Tom Cruise .
Over 200 people have been infected with the coronavirus in the European country , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been reported in Milan and Venice -- where the movie was planning to shoot for three weeks .
Asian stocks shared losses on Tuesday after the Dow Jones Industrial Average plummeted 1,000 points due to fears over the virus .
China has suffered the most from the virus , which is now known as COVID-19 , with the country having 99 percent of the cases .
Asian stocks shared losses on Tuesday after the Dow Jones Industrial Average plummeted 1,000 points due to fears over the virus .
CDC officials added there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coming days and weeks , including among other people recently returned from Wuhan.
” The U.S. had announced that Americans who traveled to China within the last 14 days would be sent to designated airports for enhanced screenings .
Foreign nationals who recently went to China would be denied entry in the U.S. , except for the immediate family of American citizens and permanent residents .
China 's Foreign Ministry had said the U.S. has n't given the country any substantive help in its fight against the coronavirus outbreak .
They added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ panic surrounding the illness , Reuters reported .
The World Health Organization ( WHO ) declared the outbreak a global emergency as it spreads to countries outside of China and the number of infected patients continues to grow .
Countries around the globe have increased travel restrictions to the infected mainland China and Hubei province — with the U.S. State Department increasing its advisory to level 4 : `` Do Not Travel . ''
The CDC has issued an advisory to avoid all nonessential travel to the country .
Coronavirus has now killed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around the world than were sickened during the SARS outbreak in the early 2000s .
The SARS outbreak killed 349 people in mainland China in 2002-2003 -- with 744 deaths and 8,096 infections globally , according to the CDC .
Here are the latest figures .
How many have been infected or have died ?
The virus has claimed the lives of 2,663 people and infected 77,658 in mainland China .
There are now 80,038 cases around the globe with 33 deaths officially reported outside of mainland China .
Hong Kong , Japan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Taiwan , France , and the Philippines all recorded fatalities from the virus .
The WHO said the number of cases will keep growing as tests are pending on thousands of suspected cases .
Where is the virus ?
Roughly 99 percent of new cases have appeared in China with the vast majority of the cases in Hubei province and its provincial capital , Wuhan -- the epicenter of the virus .
Roughly 2,291 cases of the virus have been recorded in 33 countries around the globe The United Kingdom has 13 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus and the flu ?
The flu has estimated to have killed roughly 10,000 to 25,000 people with nearly 19 to 26 million infected in the U.S. between October 1 , 2019 , and January 25 , 2020 , according to the CDC .
Coronavirus has impacted a far lesser number , although it 's not yet clear how many have been infected or how widespread it is .
There have also been reports it can be spread without symptoms showing up .
In respiratory illnesses , people with the most symptoms are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Children and those over 65 are the most likely to get sick from the flu , the CDC added .
Unlike the coronavirus , there 's a seasonal vaccine for the flu .
People over six months out are advised by the agency to get it during annual vaccination , with certain rare exceptions , such as severe allergies to the shot .
No vaccine has been developed for coronavirus as of yet , which makes it dangerous in that respect .
How did it start ?
It 's not entirely clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believe the virus may have originated in bats .
The pangolin , a type of scaly anteater was reported to be a possible host , according to a Chinese University .
A study by the Wuhan Institute of Virology said that genome sequences from seven patients tested were identical to the bat coronavirus .
How does it transmit ?
It 's believed the normal coronavirus can be transmitted most commonly through respiratory droplets in the air , as well as close contact with an infected person or touching areas contaminated with the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also transmit the disease , according to scientists from the Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University and the Wuhan Institute of Virology of the Chinese Academy of Science .
They recently discovered `` virus genetic material '' in feces samples and rectal swabs from some patients , Chinese state media reported .
What are the current travel restrictions ?
The U.S. declared the coronavirus a public health emergency with Trump signing an order barring entry to foreign nationals who recently were in China , other than the immediate family of American citizens and permanent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advised travelers to avoid all nonessential travel to the country .
The U.S. State Department raised its China travel advisory to `` Level 4 : Do Not Travel . ''
`` Those currently in China should consider departing using commercial means .
The Department of State has requested that all non-essential U.S. government personnel defer travel to China in light of the novel coronavirus , '' The advisory said .
Officials at the CDC have advised travelers to avoid all nonessential travel to South Korea and restrictions have also been placed by countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Jordan temporarily banning people from traveling to South Korea The United Kingdom requires self-quarantine from people who visited South Korea Kiribati , Samoa , Brunei , Turkmenistan require quarantine or medical checks for people traveling from South Korea Afghanistan , Armenia and Pakistan have imposed restrictions on border crossings Turkey closed land border with Iran and Turkish airlines cease flights to and from the country Vietnam stopped all flights to and from China .
Japan , Singapore , Indonesia , New Zealand , and Australia all have similar policies to the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have shut their borders .
Singapore said it would ban travelers from China 's Hubei province .
Pakistan says they 're halting all flights to and from China The United Kingdom and New Zealand advised their people against nonessential travel to China .
Russia has signed an order to close the border between them and China .
They also blocked tour groups from China .
China has cut off access to Wuhan , the epicenter of the outbreak , trapping more than 50 million people Japan bars foreign nationals who had been to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ denying boarding of people who travel to China within 14 days .
South Korea urged an increase in its level of caution to `` restraint '' when traveling to China .
Hong Kong reduced half its flights and shut down rail service to mainland China .
Cathay Pacific Airways asks 27,000 employees to take three weeks of unpaid leave .
United Airlines suspends all flights between China and the U.S. United 's pilots , concerned for their safety , were able to drop trips to China without pay , a union memo said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pilots Association ( APA ) , which represents 15,000 pilots for American Airlines filed a lawsuit to halt service with the airline , citing “ serious , and in many ways still unknown , health threats posed by the coronavirus . ''
`` I am directing all APA pilots to cease flight operations between the United States and China , '' said APA president Eric Ferguson .
`` Until further notice , if you are scheduled , assigned , or reassigned a pairing into China , decline the assignment by calling your Chief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them you are declining in accordance with the CDC and WHO declarations . ''
British Airways suspended all flights to and from mainland China .
Lufthansa suspending flights to and from China Air India and Seoul Air halting all flights to the country .
Air Canada suspending all direct flights to Beijing and Shanghai .
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE FOX HEALTH NEWSLETTER The Associated Press contributed to this report

A cabin crew worker from Korean Air tested positive for coronavirus the airline said Tuesday and details about what routes the employee flew were not immediately known, according to a report.
Reuters, citing an airline spokeswoman, reported that the company closed its office near the main South Korean airport.
The rapid surge of new coronavirus cases in South Korea has prompted the Centers for Disease Control to issue its highest travel warning level -- level 3 -- advising American travelers to avoid nonessential travel to the country.
South Korea now has 893 cases, compared to just 28 on Feb. 14. The country now has the second-largest amount of cases in the world, with an increase of 130 infected in the past 24 hours.
"There is a widespread, ongoing outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a novel (new) coronavirus that can be spread from person to person," the CDC said. "There is limited access to adequate medical care in affected areas."
TUCKER CARLSON SAYS CORONVIRUS RESPONSE SHOWS HOW 'IDENTITY POLITICS TRUMPED PUBLIC HEALTH'
The CDC also announced 18 more cases in the US on Monday, bringing the total infected to 53. Trump sent a letter to Congress on Monday requesting at least 2.5 billion dollars to fight the virus after saying back in early February that "we have pretty much shut it [the virus] down coming in from China."
“But we can’t have thousands of people coming in who may have this problem, the coronavirus. We’re going to see what happens, but we did shut it down, yes," he said on Feb. 3.
The cases in the U.S. include 39 evacuees from the severely infected Diamond Princess cruise ship and the Chinese city of Wuhan -- the epicenter of the virus.
In the Middle East, Iran's government disputed claims on Monday by a lawmaker from Qom who reported a death toll of 50 in the city. They now say only 12 people have died from the coronavirus.
The new outbreak in Italy has prompted Paramount Pictures on Monday to halt production of the new "Mission: Impossible" film starring Tom Cruise. Over 200 people have been infected with the coronavirus in the European country, the largest amount outside of Asia. Cases have been reported in Milan and Venice -- where the movie was planning to shoot for three weeks.
AMID CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK, CHINA BANS CONSUMPTION, TRADE OF WILD ANIMALS, REPORTS SAY
Asian stocks shared losses on Tuesday after the Dow Jones Industrial Average plummeted 1,000 points due to fears over the virus.
China has suffered the most from the virus, which is now known as COVID-19, with the country having 99 percent of the cases.
Asian stocks shared losses on Tuesday after the Dow Jones Industrial Average plummeted 1,000 points due to fears over the virus.
CDC officials added there will “likely be additional cases in the coming days and weeks, including among other people recently returned from Wuhan.”
The U.S. had announced that Americans who traveled to China within the last 14 days would be sent to designated airports for enhanced screenings. Foreign nationals who recently went to China would be denied entry in the U.S., except for the immediate family of American citizens and permanent residents.
China's Foreign Ministry had said the U.S. hasn't given the country any substantive help in its fight against the coronavirus outbreak. They added the U.S. was contributing to the international panic surrounding the illness, Reuters reported.
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a global emergency as it spreads to countries outside of China and the number of infected patients continues to grow.
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ASKS CONGRESS FOR $2.5b TO COMBAT CORONAVIRUS
Countries around the globe have increased travel restrictions to the infected mainland China and Hubei province — with the U.S. State Department increasing its advisory to level 4: "Do Not Travel."
The CDC has issued an advisory to avoid all nonessential travel to the country.
Coronavirus has now killed about three times the amount of people around the world than were sickened during the SARS outbreak in the early 2000s. The SARS outbreak killed 349 people in mainland China in 2002-2003 -- with 744 deaths and 8,096 infections globally, according to the CDC.
Here are the latest figures.
How many have been infected or have died?
The virus has claimed the lives of 2,663 people and infected 77,658 in mainland China. There are now 80,038 cases around the globe with 33 deaths officially reported outside of mainland China.
Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Italy, Iran, Taiwan, France, and the Philippines all recorded fatalities from the virus.
The WHO said the number of cases will keep growing as tests are pending on thousands of suspected cases.
Where is the virus?
Roughly 99 percent of new cases have appeared in China with the vast majority of the cases in Hubei province and its provincial capital, Wuhan -- the epicenter of the virus.
Roughly 2,291 cases of the virus have been recorded in 33 countries around the globe
The United Kingdom has 13 cases in the country.
Japan -- 838 cases (691 from a Diamond Princess cruise ship) (4 deaths)
South Korea -- 833 cases (7 deaths)
Italy -- 219 cases (5 deaths)
Singapore -- 89 cases
Iran -- 61 cases (12 deaths)
United States: 52 cases
Thailand: 35 cases
Taiwan: 28 cases (1 death)
Australia -- 23 cases
Malaysia -- 22
Germany -- 16
Vietnam -- 16 cases
France -- 12 cases (1 death)
United Arab Emirates -- 13 cases
Canada -- 10
Philippines -- 3 cases (1 death)
Kuwait -- 3 cases
India -- 3
Russia -- 2
Spain -- 2
Israel -- 2
Oman -- 2
Bahrain --1
Lebanon -- 1
Belgium -- 1
Nepal --1
Sri Lanka --1
Sweden --1
Cambodia --1
Finland --1
Egypt --1
Afghanistan --1
Hong Kong -- 79 (2 deaths)
Macao -- 10
Differences between coronavirus and the flu?
The flu has estimated to have killed roughly 10,000 to 25,000 people with nearly 19 to 26 million infected in the U.S. between October 1, 2019, and January 25, 2020, according to the CDC. Coronavirus has impacted a far lesser number, although it's not yet clear how many have been infected or how widespread it is.
There have also been reports it can be spread without symptoms showing up. In respiratory illnesses, people with the most symptoms are the most contagious, the agency said. Children and those over 65 are the most likely to get sick from the flu, the CDC added.
Unlike the coronavirus, there's a seasonal vaccine for the flu. People over six months out are advised by the agency to get it during annual vaccination, with certain rare exceptions, such as severe allergies to the shot.
No vaccine has been developed for coronavirus as of yet, which makes it dangerous in that respect.
How did it start?
It's not entirely clear how it started, but Chinese scientists believe the virus may have originated in bats. The pangolin, a type of scaly anteater was reported to be a possible host, according to a Chinese University. A study by the Wuhan Institute of Virology said that genome sequences from seven patients tested were identical to the bat coronavirus.
How does it transmit?
It's believed the normal coronavirus can be transmitted most commonly through respiratory droplets in the air, as well as close contact with an infected person or touching areas contaminated with the virus before washing. The digestive tract may also transmit the disease, according to scientists from the Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University and the Wuhan Institute of Virology of the Chinese Academy of Science.
They recently discovered "virus genetic material" in feces samples and rectal swabs from some patients, Chinese state media reported.
What are the current travel restrictions?
The U.S. declared the coronavirus a public health emergency with Trump signing an order barring entry to foreign nationals who recently were in China, other than the immediate family of American citizens and permanent residents.
Officials at the CDC have advised travelers to avoid all nonessential travel to the country. The U.S. State Department raised its China travel advisory to "Level 4: Do Not Travel."
"Those currently in China should consider departing using commercial means. The Department of State has requested that all non-essential U.S. government personnel defer travel to China in light of the novel coronavirus," The advisory said.
Officials at the CDC have advised travelers to avoid all nonessential travel to South Korea and restrictions have also been placed by countries surrounding Iran.
'MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 7' MOVIE PRODUCTION PAUSES OVER CORONAVIRUS CONCERNS
Israel, Bahrain, and Jordan temporarily banning people from traveling to South Korea
The United Kingdom requires self-quarantine from people who visited South Korea
UAE, Oman bans citizens fro traveling to Iran
Kiribati, Samoa, Brunei, Turkmenistan require quarantine or medical checks for people traveling from South Korea
Iraq closes border with Iran
Afghanistan, Armenia and Pakistan have imposed restrictions on border crossings
Turkey closed land border with Iran and Turkish airlines cease flights to and from the country
Vietnam stopped all flights to and from China.
Japan, Singapore, Indonesia, New Zealand, and Australia all have similar policies to the U.S. on restricting non-citizens.
Mongolia and Singapore have shut their borders.
Singapore said it would ban travelers from China's Hubei province.
Pakistan says they're halting all flights to and from China
The United Kingdom and New Zealand advised their people against nonessential travel to China.
Russia has signed an order to close the border between them and China. They also blocked tour groups from China.
China has cut off access to Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak, trapping more than 50 million people
Hong Kong quarantining visitors from mainland China
Japan bars foreign nationals who had been to Hubei province.
Carnival and Royal Caribbean denying boarding of people who travel to China within 14 days.
Italy suspended all flights to China.
South Korea urged an increase in its level of caution to "restraint" when traveling to China.
Hong Kong reduced half its flights and shut down rail service to mainland China.
Cathay Pacific Airways asks 27,000 employees to take three weeks of unpaid leave.
Delta suspended all service to China.
United Airlines suspends all flights between China and the U.S.
United's pilots, concerned for their safety, were able to drop trips to China without pay, a union memo said, according to Reuters.
American Airlines suspends all flights to China.
The Allied Pilots Association (APA), which represents 15,000 pilots for American Airlines filed a lawsuit to halt service with the airline, citing “serious, and in many ways still unknown, health threats posed by the coronavirus."
"I am directing all APA pilots to cease flight operations between the United States and China," said APA president Eric Ferguson. "Until further notice, if you are scheduled, assigned, or reassigned a pairing into China, decline the assignment by calling your Chief Pilot or IOC Duty Pilot. Inform them you are declining in accordance with the CDC and WHO declarations."
British Airways suspended all flights to and from mainland China.
Virgin Atlantic suspending operations to Shanghai
Lufthansa suspending flights to and from China
Air India and Seoul Air halting all flights to the country.
Egypt Air suspended all fights
Air France suspending all flights
Finnair, Cathay Pacific, and Jetstar also stopping service.
Lion Air canceled 50 flights to China into February.
Air Canada suspending all direct flights to Beijing and Shanghai.
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Kenya Airways suspends all flights to China.
The Associated Press contributed to this report


foxnews--2020-02-24--'Mission: Impossible 7' movie production pauses over coronavirus concerns

Production on the seventh “ Mission : Impossible ” film has been halted due to growing concerns about the coronavirus .
“ Mission : Impossible 7 '' had been scheduled to shoot for three weeks in Venice .
More than 200 people have tested positive for the virus in Italy , the largest number outside Asia .
While most of those cases are in the neighboring Lombardy region , authorities said three people in Venice have tested positive for the virus .
Paramount released a statement to several outlets including Variety , explaining that the delay comes “ out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and well-being of our cast and crew , and efforts of the local Venetian government to halt public gatherings in response to the threat of coronavirus , we are altering the production plan for our three-week shoot in Venice ... '' 'ONWARD ' MOVIE TO FEATURE DISNEY 'S FIRST OPENLY LGBTQ ANIMATED CHARACTER , VOICED BY LENA WAITHE The statement explains that the stint in Venice was the `` scheduled first leg of an extensive production '' on the film .
Paramount stated that they will continue to work with government officials to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the `` Mission : Impossible '' franchise was originally set for a July 2021 release , which could change following the delay .
The film will star feature Tom Cruise , Rebecca Ferguson , Vanessa Kirby and more .
2020 'S MOST ANTICIPATED MOVIES , FROM 'TOP GUN : MAVERICK ' TO 'F9' Paramount also on Monday postponed the Chinese release of “ Sonic the Hedgehog , ” which had been set for Friday .
Cinemas in China have been shuttered due to the outbreak , closing down the world 's second-largest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the James Bond film “ No Time to Die ” canceled its planned Beijing premiere and promotional tour .
The film is to open in Britain on April 2 and in North America on April 10 .
Disney 's anticipated live-action “ Mulan ” remake is also set to open worldwide soon , with a particular focus on China .
It 's due to open there on March 27 .
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Reps for Paramount did not immediately respond to Fox News ' request for comment .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @

Production on the seventh “Mission: Impossible” film has been halted due to growing concerns about the coronavirus.
“Mission: Impossible 7" had been scheduled to shoot for three weeks in Venice. More than 200 people have tested positive for the virus in Italy, the largest number outside Asia. While most of those cases are in the neighboring Lombardy region, authorities said three people in Venice have tested positive for the virus.
Paramount released a statement to several outlets including Variety, explaining that the delay comes “out of an abundance of caution for the safety and well-being of our cast and crew, and efforts of the local Venetian government to halt public gatherings in response to the threat of coronavirus, we are altering the production plan for our three-week shoot in Venice ..."
'ONWARD' MOVIE TO FEATURE DISNEY'S FIRST OPENLY LGBTQ ANIMATED CHARACTER, VOICED BY LENA WAITHE
The statement explains that the stint in Venice was the "scheduled first leg of an extensive production" on the film.
Paramount stated that they will continue to work with government officials to monitor the situation.
The seventh film in the "Mission: Impossible" franchise was originally set for a July 2021 release, which could change following the delay. The film will star feature Tom Cruise, Rebecca Ferguson, Vanessa Kirby and more.
2020'S MOST ANTICIPATED MOVIES, FROM 'TOP GUN: MAVERICK' TO 'F9'
Paramount also on Monday postponed the Chinese release of “Sonic the Hedgehog,” which had been set for Friday. Cinemas in China have been shuttered due to the outbreak, closing down the world's second-largest box office market.
Last week, the James Bond film “No Time to Die” canceled its planned Beijing premiere and promotional tour. The film is to open in Britain on April 2 and in North America on April 10.
Disney's anticipated live-action “Mulan” remake is also set to open worldwide soon, with a particular focus on China. It's due to open there on March 27.
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Reps for Paramount did not immediately respond to Fox News' request for comment.
The Associated Press contributed to this report


foxnews--2020-02-25--Stuart Varney: No way on 'God's green Earth' that a socialist will beat Trump

Reacting to Sen. Bernie Sanders ’ surge in national polls and success in the early-voting states , Fox Business anchor Stuart Varney said on Tuesday that “ there ’ s no way on God 's green Earth ” that “ a socialist will beat President Trump in an election.
” “ It ’ s not going to happen , ” he added during an appearance on “ Fox & Friends ” on Tuesday .
The self-described democratic socialist ’ s apparent front-runner status has Democratic Party elders increasingly concerned about the Vermont senator ’ s potential to become their nominee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's South Carolina primary with a massive lead .
“ He ’ s on track to win the nomination from the Democrats , ” Varney acknowledged but stressed that he doesn ’ t think Sanders can beat Trump .
“ If Bernie Sanders goes head to head with Donald Trump in November , Bernie Sanders will lose many , many states , he ’ ll lose to Trump , '' he added , predicting Republicans “ will keep control of the Senate '' and `` they ’ ll flip the House.
” When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thinks more centrists are in line with Trump compared to Sanders given “ he ’ s so far left , ” he answered : “ I think you could see some Democrats voting for Trump in the event of a matchup between the two.
” SANDERS DOUBLES DOWN ON HIS FIDEL CASTRO PRAISE AMID CRITICISM : 'TEAHING PEOPLE TO READ AND WRITE IS A GOOD THING' “ Let 's not forget 20 percent of the people that go to these massive Trump rallies are Democrats , ” he added .
Varney made the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doubling down on his remarks praising former Cuban dictator Fidel Castro during a televised town hall on Monday night after he raised eyebrows for complimenting the brutal leader 's education reforms .
`` When Fidel Castro first came into power ... you know what he did ?
He initiated a major literacy program .
It was a lot of folks in Cuba at that point who were illiterate and he formed the Literacy Brigade ... and they went out and they helped people learn to read and write You know what ?
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a good thing , '' Sanders said in response to criticism .
He continued , `` I have been extremely consistent and critical of all authoritarian regimes all over the world including Cuba , including Nicaragua , including Saudi Arabia , including China , including Russia .
I happen to believe in democracy , not authoritarianism .
... China is an authoritarian country ... but can anyone deny , I mean the facts are clear , that they have taken more people out of extreme poverty than any country in history .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- that 's the truth .
So that is the fact .
End of discussion . ''
MSNBC 'S CHRIS MATTHEWS MAKES ON-AIR APOLOGY TO SANDERS FOR LINKING NEVADA VICTORY TO NAZI RISE : ' I WAS WRONG' Sanders was criticized for remarks he said during a `` 60 Minutes '' interview over the weekend .
Several Democratic lawmakers , many of them who represent Cuban-Americans in Florida , blasted Sanders for those remarks .
“ He loves Castro because if elected , Bernie Sanders would do something pretty similar to what Castro @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reacting to the senator ’ s comments complimenting Castro ’ s education reforms .
“ The seizure of private homes , private businesses and private wealth .
That 's what he would do.
” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “ The only thing that Bernie Sanders has ever done is to move his party to the left .
He ’ s achieved nothing in a lifetime of politics , ” he added .
Fox News ’ Joseph A. Wulfsohn and Brooke Singman contributed to this report .

Reacting to Sen. Bernie Sanders’ surge in national polls and success in the early-voting states, Fox Business anchor Stuart Varney said on Tuesday that “there’s no way on God's green Earth” that “a socialist will beat President Trump in an election.”
“It’s not going to happen,” he added during an appearance on “Fox & Friends” on Tuesday.
The self-described democratic socialist’s apparent front-runner status has Democratic Party elders increasingly concerned about the Vermont senator’s potential to become their nominee -- as he heads into this weekend's South Carolina primary with a massive lead.
“He’s on track to win the nomination from the Democrats,” Varney acknowledged but stressed that he doesn’t think Sanders can beat Trump.
“If Bernie Sanders goes head to head with Donald Trump in November, Bernie Sanders will lose many, many states, he’ll lose to Trump," he added, predicting Republicans “will keep control of the Senate" and "they’ll flip the House.”
When host Ainsley Earhardt asked Varney if he thinks more centrists are in line with Trump compared to Sanders given “he’s so far left,” he answered: “I think you could see some Democrats voting for Trump in the event of a matchup between the two.”
SANDERS DOUBLES DOWN ON HIS FIDEL CASTRO PRAISE AMID CRITICISM: 'TEAHING PEOPLE TO READ AND WRITE IS A GOOD THING'
“Let's not forget 20 percent of the people that go to these massive Trump rallies are Democrats,” he added.
Varney made the comments on Tuesday reacting to Sanders’ doubling down on his remarks praising former Cuban dictator Fidel Castro during a televised town hall on Monday night after he raised eyebrows for complimenting the brutal leader's education reforms.
"When Fidel Castro first came into power ... you know what he did? He initiated a major literacy program. It was a lot of folks in Cuba at that point who were illiterate and he formed the Literacy Brigade ... and they went out and they helped people learn to read and write You know what? I think teaching people to read and write is a good thing," Sanders said in response to criticism.
He continued, "I have been extremely consistent and critical of all authoritarian regimes all over the world including Cuba, including Nicaragua, including Saudi Arabia, including China, including Russia. I happen to believe in democracy, not authoritarianism. ... China is an authoritarian country ... but can anyone deny, I mean the facts are clear, that they have taken more people out of extreme poverty than any country in history. Why you criticize when I say that -- that's the truth. So that is the fact. End of discussion."
MSNBC'S CHRIS MATTHEWS MAKES ON-AIR APOLOGY TO SANDERS FOR LINKING NEVADA VICTORY TO NAZI RISE: 'I WAS WRONG'
Sanders was criticized for remarks he said during a "60 Minutes" interview over the weekend.
Several Democratic lawmakers, many of them who represent Cuban-Americans in Florida, blasted Sanders for those remarks.
“He loves Castro because if elected, Bernie Sanders would do something pretty similar to what Castro did,” Varney said on Tuesday reacting to the senator’s comments complimenting Castro’s education reforms. “The seizure of private homes, private businesses and private wealth. That's what he would do.”
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“The only thing that Bernie Sanders has ever done is to move his party to the left. He’s achieved nothing in a lifetime of politics,” he added.
Fox News’ Joseph A. Wulfsohn and Brooke Singman contributed to this report.