Broadway shows to close until April 13…beginning at 5 p.m. today.
I’m one of those over 65 poll workers. I have politely asked for Purell stations for the primary in April. I’ve been told…they can not get the stuff.
Wondering if there will be an uptick in absentee balloting?
This looks like all Broadway shows are closed until April 12.
From today’s congressional testimony:
“US tests only 11,000 people compared to South Korea’s 10,000 per day”
That’s 11,000 people TOTAL, since testing started.
NYS started looking into getting enough medical personnel (National Guard medics, medical school staff, former drs/nurses) and hospital capacity ready.
@NYGovCuomo
Our priority is treating infected patients, and we are carefully watching the hospitalization rate and looking at options:
-Accelerating staffing
-Identifying State facilities that could serve as temporary hospitals if needed
-Coordinating among upstate/downstate hospitals
We must plan for every contingency & we are taking measures to create a reserve workforce of health care professionals in the event of a staffing shortage.
We are identifying potential reserve staff now, incl. National Guard medics, medical school staff, former drs/nurses & more
We are focused on taking special precautions with nursing homes & senior care facilities.
We are requiring that all staff at nursing homes wear masks and be monitored for symptoms.
No non-medical staff will be permitted to visit nursing homes.
Supreme Court building to close to the public
Beginning at 4:30 p.m. ET, the Supreme Court building will be closed to the public until further notice, according to a note sent out by the court’s public information officer.
The building will remain open for official business, and case filing deadlines are not extended under Rule 30.1, according to the statement.
Rule 30.1 of the “Rules of the Supreme Court” reads:
In the computation of any period of time prescribed or allowed by these Rules, by order of the Court, or by an applicable statute, the day of the act, event, or default from which the designated period begins to run is not included. The last day of the period shall be included, unless it is a Saturday, Sunday, federal legal holiday listed in 5 U. S. C. § 6103, or day on which the Court building is closed by order of the Court or the Chief Justice, in which event the period shall extend until the end of the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, federal legal holiday, or day on which the Court building is closed. (CNN)
Miami mayor is in self-quarantine after being in same room as Brazilian president and entourage
From CNN
Miami Mayor Francis Suarez has gone into self-quarantine after he was in the room with Brazil’s president and his entourage, according to a video message that was played during a news conference.
In the recorded video message, Suarez said he was in the same room as Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro and his entourage. Suarez said he feels well, but he has taken this step out of an abundance of caution.
More on this: Concerns arose among political officials after a Brazilian government aide tested positive for coronavirus.
Fabio Wajngarten, Brazilian president’s press secretary, tested positive for coronavirus on Thursday, according an official statement from the Brazilian president’s office, Thursday.
The health of the Brazilian president is being monitored.
Wajngarten was with Bolsonaro on last weekend’s US trip, during which the Brazilian president dined with President Trump at Mar-a-Largo. Wajngarten posted a picture of himself with Trump on Instagram a few days ago.
Israel’s Netanyahu calls for emergency government with rival
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday called for the formation of an emergency government with his chief rival to confront a growing crisis over the coronavirus, offering a potential way out of the deadlock that has paralyzed the political system for the past year.
Netanyahu made the offer in a nationally televised address.
“I call for the formation now, even this evening, of a national emergency government,” he said.
“It will be an emergency government for a limited period. Together we will fight to save the lives of citizens,” he added (Al Jazeera)
Top adviser to Iran’s supreme leader infected with coronavirus: local media
A top adviser to Iran’s utmost authority Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been infected with the new coronavirus, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported.
“Ali Akbar Velayati, who also is the head of Tehran’s Masih Daneshvari hospital, had contacts with many coronavirus patients in past few weeks. He has been infected and is under quarantine now,” Tasnim reported.
UK coronavirus peak 10 to 14 weeks away - Government chief scientific adviser
The peak for coronavirus cases in the United Kingdom may still be 10 to 14 weeks away, the government’s chief scientific adviser Patrick Vallance said.
“We think that the peak may be something like 10 to 14 weeks away - it could be a bit longer,” he said
Britain likely has between 5,000 and 10,000 people infected with coronavirus, Vallance added.
Turkey schools, universities to shutdown over coronavirus
Turkish schools will be closed for one week and universities for three weeks from March 16, and all sports events will be played without spectators until the end of April in response to the coronavirus outbreak, presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said.
The moves came after Turkey confirmed its first coronavirus infection on Wednesday, becoming the last major economy to report an outbreak after taking what the World Health Organization (WHO) described as vigilant measures.
China locks down Mount Everest climbing routes
Mountain climbing expedition operators on Mount Everest says Chinese mountaineering officials will not allow spring climbs from their side of the world’s highest mountain due to fears of coronavirus.
On the other side of the mountain in Nepal, operators say cancellations for the popular spring climbing season have been pouring in, despite the mountain being open for business.
All from Al Jazeera
Bahrain accuses Iran of ‘biological aggression’
Bahrain accused Iran of “biological aggression” by covering up the spread of the coronavirus and failing to stamp the passports of Bahraini travellers.
Many of the recorded infections throughout the Gulf region are linked to travel to Iran, which hosts several important shrines and pilgrimage sites for Shia Muslims. No Gulf Arab state has so far reported a coronavirus death.
“With this behaviour, Iran has allowed the disease to travel abroad, and in my estimation this constitutes a form of biological aggression that is criminalised by international law, as it has put in danger our safety and health and that of others,” Bahraini Interior Minister General Sheikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa said on Twitter.
Bahrain has reported 77 new infections among citizens evacuated from Iran. A second government-chartered repatriation flight is scheduled for Thursday. (Al Jazeera)
[Bahrain has 195 confirmed cases]
India reports first death from coronavirus
The Indian Health Ministry announced Thursday the death of a 76-year-old man who was infected with the coronavirus.
India has 12 new cases totaling 74.
Armenia to replace used banknotes with new ones
The Armenian central bank said it would gradually replace used banknotes with new ones to try to prevent the spread of coronavirus and advised people to avoid making cash payments where possible.
In a post on its official Facebook page, the central bank also advised people to use online banking services in preference to cash where possible.
Armenia has recorded four cases of coronavirus, according to the health ministry. (Al Jazeera)
Singapore to close mosques to prevent coronavirus spread
Singapore will close all mosques for at least five days for deep cleaning to prevent the spread of coronavirus after a number of congregants in the city-state attended an Islamic conference in neighbouring Malaysia linked to infections.
The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore said the closures would take effect on Friday, and that authorities are trying to track down about 90 Singaporeans who attended the three-day religious event in Malaysia’s capital Kuala Lumpur. (Al Jazeera)
[Singapore has 9 new cases totaling 187]
The CDC recommends polling sites take these steps for Tuesday’s elections
From CNN
Several states — including Florida, Ohio, Illinois and Arizona — are voting on Tuesday in primary elections
The The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released recommendations for election polling locations. Here’s a look at some of the steps health officials suggest:
Encourage voters to use voting methods that minimize direct contact with other people and reduce crowd size at polling stations.
For poll workers handling mail-in ballots, practice hand hygiene frequently.
Provide hand sanitizer and other sanitizing materials.
Frequently wipe down voting machines.
Rome to shut Ciampino airport, close terminal at Fiumicino
The authorities announced that Rome’s Ciampino airport would shut from Friday night, with a terminal closing at the city’s main Fiumicino facility next week as airlines slash flights to Italy because of the coronavirus outbreak.
Ciampino will close at midnight on Friday, a spokesman for the company that runs both airports told AFP news agency, with Terminal 1 at Fiumicino closing on Tuesday.
Spanish minister tests positive for coronavirus
Spain’s Equality Minister Irene Montero was diagnosed with the new coronavirus. The country’s Deputy Prime Minister Pablo Iglesias was quarantined.
Spanish cabinet meeting scheduled for Thursday will be attended only by ministers whose presense is needed to approve the new coronavirus measures.
All other meetings of the country’s prime minister will be held through a video conference.
(Al Jazeera)
Governor of Ohio has just closed K-12 schools in Ohio starting on Monday, for three weeks.
Israel orders immediate closure of schools and universities
From CNN
Israel will close its schools and universities for five weeks to prevent the spread of coronavirus, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Thursday evening.
Schools will close immediately and will remain closed until after the annual Passover holiday, which concludes on April 16. The new directive does not include kindergartens, boarding schools, special education classes, and schools for at-risk youth.
The announcement comes as Israel has recorded 109 confirmed coronavirus cases. In addition, there are 31 cases in the West Bank, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
Netanyahu also called for the formation of an emergency unity government “without hesitation, without delay,” as Israel tries to handle the spread of coronavirus.
“It will be an emergency government for a limited period of time and together we will fight to save the lives of our citizens. We have to put politics aside. There will be time to return to exactly the same place,” Netanyahu said. “The national responsibility and the personal responsibility will overcome every other consideration.”
Israel is mired in more than a year of ongoing political deadlock which has made it difficult to pass budgets, set priorities, and manage the country, after three elections failed to deliver a clear majority for Netanyahu or his main rival Benny Gantz.
The swearing-in of Israel’s new parliament, scheduled to take place this coming Monday, will be done in small groups and with no spectators to minimize the risks of contamination.
I’m stuck in France for now and I feel safer actually.
People have stopped ‘faire la Bise’, 1,500 tests a day right away, thorough contact tracing, gathering of 1,000 are banned in places without a case, festivals and sports tournaments have been postponed, there’s a daily official briefing, Purrell’s price is controlled and pharmacists have been authorized to manufacture it from an approved “recipe”, 400,000 kids are on homeschool/online learning mode (although I think more schools could be closed). The PSAs (radio, TV, posters about “measures barrières” or “fencing off measures”) are everywhere.
You can’t avoid them (unless you really try to).
I did go see a doctor because I had a cough (not Coronavirus symptoms). You went through a station making you desinfect your hands before you could proceed. People staying one or 2 chairs apart, coughing in their elbow, purrell on their hands immediately. There was a little kid, asking about asthma (what he was there for) and coronavirus.
(I’m fine BTW).
Friends in medicine tell me they’re reasonably confident - hospitals don’t have a major onslaught of patients yet but are ready for it (it’s called Plan Blanc). 4th year Med students and recently retired doctor’s have been called up, doctors have been asked to help their colleagues even if outside their specialties.
The president is talking right now and will likely announce things.
@katliamom : I don’t see panic but I do think it’s taken seriously.
I really feel safer here than if I were in PA.
According to Governor Cuomo, 25%-35% of NYS hospital beds are occupied by elective surgery patients.
It’s scary that the preparations in NYS are moving in this direction, but it’s also absolutely necessary to be prepared to handle as many coronavirus patients as possible.
Donald Trump is considering extending travel restrictions to domestic travel between California and Washington. There is no confirmation and no details from the president on this yet.
Donald Trump said the US wants to lose as few people as possible to the virus, predicted, once again, that it will “go away” and also that financial markets will rebound.
Reported by the Guardian.
Schools in France will close over coronavirus
France will impose measures to try and contain the spread of coronavirus including closing schools, postponing non-essential medical procedures and advising elderly people to stay at home, according to French President Emmanuel Macron.
What is Gov. Newsom thinking? Close all gatherings of more than 250, but Disneyland and casinos and theaters get an exemption? Does the coronavirus know this?
Ridiculous and bad for public health.